Chamber warns of permit ‘gridlock’ from tighter PM limits

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is warning that a proposed tightening of national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) would result in permitting “gridlock,” exacerbated by EPA’s failure to account for 2023’s severe wildfire smoke impacts that will expand the number of areas in “nonattainment” with the limits. In a report released Nov. 9, the Chamber urges EPA not to tighten PM2.5 limits as proposed, and to instead retain existing limits in order to allow continued...