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CINCINNATI-NORTHERN KENTUCKY MEET OZONE STANDARD

Release Date: 06/07/2000
Contact Information: Carl Terry, (404) 562-8325, [email protected] William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area has met the national outdoor air standard for ozone (smog), a major air pollutant. EPA Regional Administrators in Chicago and Atlanta have signed documents redesignating the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area to attainment of the 1-hour air-quality standard for ozone. EPA Great Lakes Regional Administrator Francis X. Lyons said, ACincinnati now meets this national outdoor air standard. Its citizens can be proud of reaching this milestone. Lyons said Cincinnati's citizens, business, and industry have shown that significant progress can be made toward alleviating long-standing pollution problems by working together. He commended the Regional Ozone Coalition for its leadership in helping to address the city's ozone pollution problem. John H. Hankinson, Jr., Regional Administrator in Atlanta, said, AThe efforts of the Regional Ozone Coalition and the affected communities working together to address air quality in the region are commendable. We are pleased with the progress Northern Kentucky is making toward improving air quality. The benefits derived from implementation of the various pollution control measures will lead to greater public health protection. EPA also has approved Cincinnati's and Northern Kentucky's plans for continuing to meet the air-quality standard. This action affects the counties of Clermont, Hamilton, Butler, and Warren in Ohio, and Campbell, Kenton, and Boone in Kentucky. EPA determined that the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area now meets the air-quality standard based on 3 years of complete, quality-assured, ambient air monitoring data during the 1996, 1997, and 1998 ozone seasons. Ozone monitoring data for 1999 continue to show the area attaining the air-quality standard. Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky have implemented numerous pollution control measures to improve air quality to cleaner levels. The control measures include a vehicle inspection and maintenance testing program, controls on industrial sources, and cleaner gasoline, among others. The Federal initiative requiring newer automobiles to pollute less also contributed to achieving cleaner air. The vehicle emissions testing programs are currently necessary to maintain air-quality standards. They will remain in place until it can be shown that the standards can be maintained without them. The Regional Ozone Coalition's Smog Alert Program has enabled citizens, businesses, and industries, to take steps to help improve air quality on hot summer days. EPA recognizes and applauds the important contribution by the Regional Ozone Coalition and the efforts of the communities and their citizens to improve and maintain air quality. Ground-level ozone is commonly referred to as smog. Smog is formed when a mixture of air pollutants are baked in the hot summer sun. These pollutants are released from cars and factories. Smog can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Asthmatics, children and the elderly are especially at risk. However, these health effects are of concern to everyone. ###