California’s pursuit of clean air just got much harder: EPA establishes new soot standards

The Biden administration has set this week a new, more rigorous standard for a dangerous air pollutant that has plagued vast swaths of California for decades: Fine particles, commonly called soot.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new annual soot standard could throw seven new California counties out of compliance, totaling 29 counties, according to EPA information released today based on 2020 through 2022 data.