(1) The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) manages air pollution in the Hunter and NSW generally by: regulating and licensing industry such as mines and power stations; developing programs and regulation to reduce emissions such as coal dust along the coal transport chain and diesel emissions; providing education and support to local government on issues such as wood smoke reduction; and working with the Commonwealth and other states and territories at a national level to reduce emissions that contribute to air pollution.

The Lower Hunter Particle Characterisation Study did not identify increasing levels of fine air borne particles (PM 2.5) in the Lower Hunter Region. The most comprehensive set of lower Hunter valley monitoring data for PM 2.5, collected at Wallsend and Beresfield, shows no trends of increasing levels of PM 2.5 between the start of 2006 and the end of 2015.

(2) In December 2015, national environment ministers agreed to strengthen national ambient air quality standards for airborne particles. For PM 2.5 , they adopted an annual average standard of eight micrograms per cubic metre and for 24-hour concentrations a standard of 25 micrograms per cubic metre. Ministers also adopted annual average and 24-hour standards for PM 10 of 25 micrograms and 50 micrograms per cubic metre respectively, and endorsed long term goals for PM 2.5 of seven micrograms per cubic metre and 20 micrograms per cubic metre respectively by 2025. The new national standards are amongst the most health protective ambient standards in the world.