Proposed Monitoring Plan Revisions; Notice of Availability [28 Pa.B. 2544] The Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality, is proposing to revise its ambient air pollution monitoring system and is seeking comments on this proposal.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established new standards for fine particles (under 2.5 microns in size). States will need to measure the amount of fine particles to which their citizens are exposed. The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is proposing to install new PM2.5 monitors to fulfill this need. The Department has also taken this opportunity to review the Commonwealth's entire air quality monitoring program in order to propose necessary changes that will make the program more effective. The current monitoring program exceeds minimum EPA requirements, consistently measures levels for many pollutants well below Federal health based standards, and measures for total suspended particulate (TSP) for which a Federal standard no longer exists. The Department is proposing to restructure the program to measure the pollutants most likely to violate the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
The proposal is available on the Department web site at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (choose Information by Subject/Air Quality/Pennsylvania's Clean Air Plans). To obtain a hard copy, call Vickie Walters at (717) 787-4310. Persons interested in submitting written comments should send the comments to J. Wick Havens, Chief, Division of Air Resource Management, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468 by the close of business, June 1, 1998. Comments may also be submitted electronically to J. Wick Havens at havens.wick@al.dep.state.pa.us.
JAMES M. SEIF,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-862. Filed for public inspection May 29, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
