Council Submits Comments to EPA on Smog Designations

On January 19, 2012, the Clean Air Council submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding EPA Responses to State and Tribal Ozone Designation Recommendations. Ozone is formed through the mixture of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxide in the presence of sunlight and can cause damage to the lungs and other health related issues. Ozone and its precursors can travel over hundreds or thousands of miles. Therefore states can have issues attaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone due to emissions in other states. 

The Council encouraged the EPA to designate larger, regional nonattainment areas in order to address the transportation of ozone across state lines. The Council believes ozone is a regional issue and cannot be adequately addressed solely through creating small, local nonattainment zones.