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EPA redesignates three Ohio counties to attainment of smog standard

Release Date: 06/05/2007
Contact Information: CONTACT: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 07-OPA091

CHICAGO (June 5, 2007) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 announced today it has approved a request by the state of Ohio to redesignate Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in the Youngstown metropolitan area to attainment of the national health-based eight-hour outdoor air quality standard for ozone (smog).

EPA said complete, quality-assured, outdoor air monitoring data for 2004, 2005 and 2006 show the counties are meeting the standard.

"Ohio did a great job in reducing smog in these counties," said EPA Regional Administrator Mary A. Gade. "The residents will benefit from both healthier air and an improved business climate."

The Agency also approved the state plan to continue to meet the eight-hour health-based ozone standard for at least the next 10 years and the motor vehicle emissions budgets included in the plan.

EPA's action will soon be published in the Federal Register. The redesignation becomes effective upon publication.

Ground-level ozone is commonly referred to as smog. 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.