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Announcements
March 12, 2008
EPA significantly strengthens the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone.
Learn more
This Web site provides information about the Clean Air 8-hour Ground-level Ozone rule, an EPA action designating areas whose air quality does not meet the health-based standards established in 1997 for ground-level ozone pollution. Learn more in the box to the right.
A designation is a legal status (e.g., "attainment" or "nonattainment") relating to whether an area violates a national ambient air quality standard or contributes to a nearby violation. EPA publishes designations for the six common pollutants known as criteria pollutants for which an air quality standard has been established. Those pollutants include ground-level ozone, which can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion.
The designation process plays an important role in letting the public know whether air quality in a given area is healthy. Once nonattainment designations take effect, the state and local governments generally have three years to develop implementation plans designed to meet the standards by reducing air pollutant emissions contributing to ground-level ozone concentrations.
This web site contains the following information:
State Designations: Provides a table of EPA's final designations.Tribal Designations: Provides a table of EPA's final designations.
Reclassifications: Provides information pertaining to reclassification of areas near the threshold of their classifications.
Redesignation Requests: Section 107(d)(3)(E) of the 1990 CAA allows states to request nonattainment areas be redesignated to attainment providing certain criteria are met. EPA is beginning to receive redesignation requests.
Ozone Conditions: Provides regional ozone maps showing current (in season) and historical ozone conditions.
Air Quality Forecast: Two-day air quality forecasts, including ozone, for dozens of cities. (Some include web cam shots of real-time conditions)
Basic Information: Background on ozone attainment issues and EPA actions to address ozone emission concerns.
Regulatory Actions: Links to regulatory documents and information explaining regulatory actions related to ozone emissions.
Myths & Facts: Clears up common misconceptions concerning nonattainment and its impacts.
SIP Toolkit: Resources to assist state, local, and tribal air quality agencies in developing plans to implement the 8-hour ozone standard.
CTG & ACT Documents: Links to control measure guidance documents
Ozone Docket: To read comments submitted to the public docket about the recommendations from States and Tribes, please visit the 8-hour ground-level ozone designations docket, number OAR-2003-0083.
Technical Data: Links to air quality technical data and technical support information relating to an area's designation status.
Early Action Compacts: Information on an alternative route to clean air.
Timeline: This timeline traces more than 30 years ozone regulation history.
Frequent Questions: Answers to common questions regarding ozone and the designations process.
Related Links: Related sites offering further information and assistance.
Glossary: Explanations of the technical terms and acronyms used throughout the site.
Policy Guidance: Provides access to rules, policy, and guidance documents produced by EPA's Office of Air and Radiation.
EPA designated PM2.5 nonattainment areas in December 2004. Visit the PM designations page to learn more about that action.