Arizona Farmers Say Proposed Dust Standard Will Slow Economic Recovery

Arizona, September 28, 2010 – “EPA is considering tighter dust regulations that will strangle economic recovery and future growth of Arizona,” according to Kevin Rogers, President of the Arizona Farm Bureau. Arizona’s arid desert climates make it very difficult to reach the current air quality standard. Currently Maricopa, Pinal, and Yuma Counties are non-attainment areas for coarse dust particles known as PM10. 
 
According to Rogers, “This proposal will severely impact agriculture and any other business that creates even the smallest amount of dust.”
 
Arizona Farm Bureau is contacting Arizona’s congressional delegation asking them to oppose EPA’s proposed changes to air quality regulations for dust. This change alone would propel the majority of the state into non-attainment and trigger costly and many times impractical control measures for everyone in those areas.
 
“This proposal is unnecessary and will only succeed in further prolonging economic recovery,” says Rogers. “Every business, city, county and recreational activity will be affected. Also, if we cannot meet the new standard, we will once again be faced with losing hundreds of millions of dollars in highway funding from the federal government.”