Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter: III. Early Research Progress

ter and EPA's proposed schedule for regulatory implementation of the new standards (Table 1.1), Congress mandated and appropriated substantial funds for EPA to conduct a major research program to reduce the scientific uncertainties. It also directed the EPA administrator to arrange for the NRC to provide independent guidance for planning the research program and monitoring its implementation. Specifically, the committee was charged to assess research priorities, and develop a conceptual research plan, and monitor research progress made over the 5 years 1998-2002 toward improved understanding of the relationships among airborne PM, its various sources, and its effects on public health.

TABLE 1.1 EPA's Review and Implementation Timetable for Particulate-Matter Standards^a

Past Actions
1971	EPA issues TSP NAAQS
1979-1987	Criteria and standards are reviewed
1987	EPA issues PM₁₀ NAAQS
1994-1997	Criteria and standards are reviewed
1997	EPA issues PM_2.5 and revised PM₁₀ NAAQSs
1999	EPA designates areas as “unclassifiable” regarding attainment of NAAQS for PM_2.5
1998-2000	PM_2.5 monitors are placed nationwide
Planned Actions
1998-2003	PM_2.5 monitoring data to be collected nationwide
2002	EPA will complete 5-year scientific review of PM_2.5 standards, leading to possible revision
2002-2005	EPA will designate nonattainment areas for PM_2.5
2005-2008	States will submit implementation plans for meeting PM_2.5 standard.
2012-2017	States will have up to 10 years and two 1-year extensions to meet PM_2.5 standards
^a The impact of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on this timetable is unknown. That decision is pending at the time of completion of this report.

Table of Contents

Front Matter R1-R20

Executive Summary 1-20

1. The Committee's Task and the Particulate-Matter Research Enterprise 21-36

2. Evaluating Implementation and Progress of Research 37-46

3. Review of Research Progress and Status 47-129

4. Overall Findings and Recommendations 130-148

References 149-155

Appendix A: Biographical Information on the Committee on Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter 156-167

Appendix B: The Committee's Statement of Task 168-168