EPA PROPOSES CLEAN AIR STANDARDS TO CURTAIL SOOT POLLUTION AND PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH On June 15, EPA proposed updating its national air quality standards to reduce harmful fine particle pollution (PM2.5) from the current annual standard of 15 micrograms per cubic meter, to within 12 micrograms to 13 micrograms per cubic meter. EPA will accept public comment for 63 days after the proposed standards are published in the Federal Register and will issue the final standards by Dec. 14. For more information, go to _http://www.epa.gov/pm_ (http://www.epa.gov/pm) .