Ozone and Air Quality

Ozone and Air Quality have recently become important and pressing issues in the MAPA Region. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releases air quality standards called the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These standards establish acceptable level of ozone pollutants in the air based on the effects on health and the environment. The EPA regularly reviews the standards and may be lowering the acceptable level of ozone in the air. If this occurs, the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area may be over the standard, pushing the area into what is called "Non-Attainment." This essentially means that there is too much ozone in the air and therefore the area is over the limit set by the EPA.

If the area goes into non-attainment (or over the ozone standard) there are several consequences. The states will have to draft State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that spell out how the area will reduce emissions and lower levels of ozone. Additionally, new pollution controls may be required and industries would need to identify pollution offsets for new or expanding facilities. For example, an industry that would like to expand could be forced to purchase pollution reduction equipment for another business or even purchase another business and close its doors to reduce emissions. Consequently, going into non-attainment can have serious economic development ramifications. Non-attainment areas are also required to keep an emissions inventory, meaning more paperwork and reporting for businesses.

All metro-area transportation projects would have to conform to onerous ozone-reduction plans, which adds time to the project development process and can limit the types of transportation improvements that get funded.

Citizens, businesses, government, and industry are all affected by a non-attainment designation from the EPA. It is important to take steps now to remain in attainment with clean, healthful air for our community.

For more information on ozone and what is being done, please click here.

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