The EPA announced on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2010, that it will hold three public hearings on the proposal to strengthen the nation's air quality standards for ground-level ozone. The hearings will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 7:30 p.m. local time, or later if necessary, at the following locations:

Feb. 2: Arlington, Va.
Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
2799 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Arlington, Va. 22202

Feb. 2: Houston
Hilton Houston Hobby Airport
8181 Airport Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77061

Feb. 4: Sacramento, Calif.
Four Points by Sheraton at Sacramento International Airport
4900 Duckhorn Dr.
Sacramento, Calif. 95834

To register to speak at these hearings, contact Tricia Crabtree at crabtree.tricia@epa.gov or (919) 541-5688. The public may also register on the day of the hearing but may not be given a specific time slot to speak.

The EPA also will accept written comments on the proposed standards until March 22, 2010.

The agency is proposing to set the "primary" standard, to protect public health, at a level between 0.060 and 0.070 parts per million measured over eight hours. The EPA is also proposing to set a separate, seasonal "secondary" standard to protect the environment, especially plants and trees.