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EPA: Parts of Cincinnati-Hamilton area now meet smog standards

Release Date: 03/01/2010
Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 10-OPA019

(CHICAGO - March 1, 2010) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 is proposing to approve a request from the states of Indiana and Ohio to redesignate parts of the Cincinnati-Hamilton area in attainment of the national health-based eight-hour outdoor standard for ozone. Ground-based ozone is commonly referred to as smog. EPA will address the Kentucky portion of the area in a separate action.

The affected parts of the area include Lawrenceburg Township in Dearborn County, Ind., and Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio.

EPA said three years of complete, quality-assured, outdoor air monitoring data for 2007, 2008 and 2009 show that the area meets the standard.

EPA also proposes to approve Ohio and Indiana's plans to continue to meet the eight-hour health-based ozone standard through 2020 and to approve motor vehicle emission budgets for the Ohio and Indiana portions of the area.

The actions were published Friday, Feb. 26 in the Federal Register. The public has 30 days to comment. Comments may be entered at http://www.regulations.gov. For the Cincinnati-Hamilton area refer to dockets ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-2009-0928 and EPA-R05-OAR-2010-0046 and follow online instructions for submitting comments. Comments may also be e-mailed to [email protected] or faxed to 312-886-2551.

Smog is formed when a mixture of pollutants react on warm, sunny days. The pollutants are released from cars, factories and a wide variety of other sources. Smog can cause respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain.