EPA’s Proposed NAAQS Limits for Ozone Could Send Midwest Cities into Non-Attainment

Recently proposed stricter rules from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone could send many Midwest cities into non-attainment status.  EPA’s proposed lowered limits reflect a popular view among scientists that less smog than previously thought can trigger breathing problems, especially in children and the elderly.

Non-attainment status would be likely for many cities in the Midwest. Chicago, which just met standards for the first time in May, would fail again under the proposed rules. Even at the current requirements, cities such as Kansas City are failing to meet air quality standards.

Under the latest EPA proposal, required ozone levels could drop to between 70 and 75 parts per billion (ppb) – and possibly as low as 60 ppb. The current rule, last revised a decade ago, sets the standard for ozone at 80 ppb.

EPA will take public comment on its proposal for 90 days following publication of the proposal in the Federal Register. A final decision is expected by March 2008.

TCEQ Regulates – and Funds – NOx Emissions Control in 33 East Texas Counties

New regulations regarding NOx emissions for spark ignited (SI) natural gas engines (like those used in gas compression) were adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in May, 2007. Called the East Texas Combustion Rule, this regulation impacts 33 Texas counties.

Engines affected by this regulation:

Colorado’s new limits are shown in the adjacent table.  Further information on these requirements is available at the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment, Air Pollution Control Division.

Western States Band Together to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Governors of California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico, have banded together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a regional and state level.

The Western Regional Climate Action Initiative (WRCAI) was formed following a February, 2007 speech by California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger regarding the impact of global warming on the climate of the Western United States. Schwarzenegger told fellow governors, “In the West, we understand how a hotter climate can jeopardize our precious resources, including our water supply, farming and ranching industry...higher temperatures are an economic threat as well and we literally cannot afford to stand by and do nothing.”