EPA moves to roll back soot standard
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signaled it will abandon a tougher national fine‑particulate (PM2.5) air‑quality standard on Nov. 25, 2025. Reversing the stricter limit would affect how Minnesota and Twin Cities regulators assess air quality and industrial permitting, with implications for public health and compliance planning if the change proceeds through rulemaking.
📌 Key Facts
- Agency action: EPA moves to abandon a tougher PM2.5 (soot) standard
- Date: Reported November 25, 2025
- Local impact: Would alter Minnesota/Twin Cities attainment status reviews and permitting thresholds if finalized
📊 Relevant Data
Long-term exposure to PM2.5 contributed to 4.14 million deaths globally in 2019.
Health Impacts of PM2.5 — State of Global Air
In 96.6% of US counties, Black Americans had the highest PM2.5-attributable mortality.
More Black Americans die from effects of air pollution — Stanford Medicine
The annual average PM2.5 concentration in Minneapolis is approximately 8.4 µg/m³.
Minneapolis Air Quality Index (AQI) and USA Air Pollution — IQAir
Lowering the PM2.5 standard could lead to the loss of over 300,000 manufacturing jobs annually, according to a study cited by industry advocates.
Subcommittee Chair Johnson: “EPA will prevent manufacturing expansion in U.S.” — House Committee on Energy and Commerce
From 2012 to 2021, in 14 metropolitan areas with tightened air quality standards, unemployment rates decreased by 2% and real GDP increased, according to analysis.
Data Reveals Economic Success Amidst Clean Air Rules — Earthjustice
EPA finalized a rule in 2024 lowering the primary annual PM2.5 NAAQS from 12.0 μg/m³ to 9.0 μg/m³.
EPA finalized stricter National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter (PM) — Harvard Environmental & Energy Law Program