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Regional Progress
Many plans and regulations have been developed over the years by the state and local agencies, and approved by EPA, to address air pollution problems in the four-state area. Some of the more noteworthy actions are listed below.
| Year | Major Milestones in Air Pollution Control in Region 7 |
|---|---|
| 1965 | Missouri enacts its Air Conservation Law |
| 1967 | Iowa approves legislation creating an Air Pollution Control Commission Kansas enacts its first statute addressing air pollution |
| 1970 | EPA is created; the Clean Air Act of 1970 is enacted |
| 1971 | EPA promulgates National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) The Nebraska Environmental Protection Act is adopted |
| 1972 | EPA approves statewide air pollution control plans for Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska, primarily addressing control of particulate matter and SO2 |
| 1977 | The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977 are enacted |
| 1978 | EPA establishes "nonattainment" areas for those communities failing to meet one or more of the NAAQS; over 40 areas in Region 7 are identified as not attaining the NAAQS EPA promulgates an air quality standard for lead |
| 1980 | EPA approves major plans to control air pollution in nonattainment areas in Iowa and Missouri, including the first set of rules controlling emissions of volatile organic compounds in ozone nonattainment areas in Region 7 EPA approves pre-construction permitting programs for new sources in nonattainment areas in Iowa and Missouri |
| 1981 | EPA approves Kansas' plan to control air pollution in nonattainment areas including a pre-construction permitting program for new sources EPA approves the first lead plans developed by the state of Missouri to address ambient air lead problems in the vicinity of the lead smelters; the lead industry sues but EPA prevails |
| 1982 | EPA approves Missouri's plan to require pre-construction permits in attainment areas to prevent significant deterioration of air quality |
| 1983 | EPA approves Nebraska's plan to control air pollution in nonattainment areas |
| 1984 | EPA approves Nebraska's pre-construction permitting program for new sources in nonattainment areas EPA approves Kansas' and Nebraska's plan to require pre-construction permits in attainment areas to prevent significant deterioration or air quality The vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program begins in the St. Louis area |
| 1986 | EPA approves a new control plan to address ozone (smog) in the St. Louis area including vapor recovery devices at gasoline refueling stations |
| 1987 | EPA approves Iowa's plan to require pre-construction permits in attainment areas to prevent significant deterioration or air quality EPA promulgates a new PM10 standard which replaces the standard for total suspended particulate matter; initially, no areas in Region 7 violate the standard |
| 1990 | The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 are enacted |
| 1991 | EPA promulgates new nonattainment designations and classifications; seven areas in Region 7 are designated nonattainment (lead - 4; ozone - 2; carbon monoxide - 1) EPA approves Iowa's plan to address violations of the SO2 standard in Clinton; no further violations are recorded |
| 1992 | EPA approves the first maintenance plan in the country to attain the ozone (smog) standard in Kansas City, including a voluntary program to limit the volatility of gasoline |
| 1993 | EPA approves small business assistance plans developed by the states of Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri |
| 1994 | EPA approves Kansas' small business assistance plan |
| 1995 | EPA approves Nebraska's and Iowa's plans to require major stationary sources of air pollution to have operating permits and pay emissions fees The Central States Air Resources Agency (CenSARA) is formed to foster a collaborative effort on the part of the nine states that comprise the central area of the United States |
| 1996 | EPA approves Kansas' and Missouri's plans to require major stationary sources of air pollution to have operating permits and pay emissions fees EPA approves Missouri's regulations which require transportation plans to conform to air quality plans in nonattainment areas |
| 1997 | EPA approves a major lead emissions control plan to address ambient air lead problems at the smelter in Glover; no further violations are recorded after the plan is implemented EPA approves a major lead emissions control plan to address ambient air lead problems at the lead refinery in Omaha; Asarco decides to close the facility EPA promulgates a new 8-hour ozone standard and a new fine particulate (PM2.5) standard; legal challenges prevent EPA from implementing the standard EPA approves Iowa's plan to address violations of the SO2 standard in Muscatine; no further violations are recorded The Missouri charcoal kiln industry signs a consent agreement with EPA to spend $1.75 million to install air emission controls on 165 kilns or remove the kilns from operation |
| 1999 | EPA approves plans submitted by the state of Iowa to address violations of the SO2 and PM10 standards in Cedar Rapids and Buffalo respectively; no further violations are recorded |
| 2000 | The new, centralized vehicle inspection and maintenance program starts-up in St. Louis EPA approves the state's plan to achieve a 15 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds in the St. Louis area to address the ozone (smog) problem EPA approves Missouri's regulation for controlling statewide NOx emissions from electric generating units to address the ozone (smog) problem in St. Louis EPA and the state of Missouri sign a consent agreement with the Doe Run Company which addresses lead emissions from the Herculaneum lead smelter |
| 2001 | The Supreme Court upholds EPA's new 8-hour ozone and fine particulate standards |
Another measure of progress in determining whether air quality has improved is to look at how the number of areas not meeting the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) has changed over the years. The following tables show areas in Region 7 which once had an air pollution problem but through EPA, state, and local efforts were able to address that problem successfully.
| Area | Nature Of Air Pollution Problem | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Numerous Areas1 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1980 |
| Keokuk | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1982 |
| Des Moines (south central) | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1982 |
| Dubuque | Carbon Monoxide | 1982 |
| Dubuque1 | SO2 | 1982 |
| Numerous Areas2 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1984 |
| Des Moines | Carbon Monoxide | 1989 |
| Clinton3 | SO2 | 1991 |
| Muscatine | SO2 | 1998 |
| Cedar Rapids3 | SO2 | 1999 |
| Buffalo3 | PM10 | 1999 |
1 Soon after the original nonattainment designations were made, a number of areas were able to demonstrate that portions of their areas were clean or that they had attained part of the standard. These areas included: Keokuk, Ft. Dodge, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Mason City, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Davenport, Buffalo, Bettendorf, Riverdale, Waterloo, Clinton, Marshalltown, and Muscatine.
2 The following areas demonstrated further progress in meeting the total particulate matter standard in 1984: Des Moines, West Des Moines, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Ankeny, and Mason City. In 1987, the total particulate standard was replaced with a new PM10 standard.
3 These areas experienced violations of the air quality standards but resolved the problem expeditiously. Consequently, they were never officially designated nonattainment.
| Area | Nature Of Air Pollution Problem | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Topeka1 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1980/85 |
| Wichita | Ozone (1-hour standard) | 1980 |
| Kansas City | Carbon Monoxide | 1983 |
| Kansas City2 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1986 |
| Lawrence | Ozone (1-hour standard) | 1986 |
| Wichita | Carbon Monoxide | 1989 |
| Kansas City3 | Ozone (1-hour standard) | 1992 |
1 Topeka partially attained the standard in 1980 and fully attained the standard in 1985.
2 Kansas City partially attained the standard in 1986. In 1987, the total particulate standard was replaced with a new PM10 standard.
3 Kansas City remains officially designated attainment. However, periodic exceedances of the 1-hour standard in the 1990s necessitated implementation of further control measures under the provisions of the approved maintenance plan.
| Area | Nature Of Air Pollution Problem | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Kirksville | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1980 |
| Bixby | SO2 | 1980 |
| Mexico | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1980 |
| Herculaneum | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1980 |
| Kansas City1 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1980/84 |
| New Madrid1 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1980/85 |
| St. Louis | SO2 | 1980 |
| St. Ann | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1981 |
| St. Joseph2 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1982 |
| Columbia | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1982 |
| Kansas City | Carbon Monoxide | 1988 |
| Kansas City3 | Ozone (1-hour standard) | 1992 |
| St. Louis | Carbon Monoxide | 1999 |
| Boss | Lead | 2000 |
| St. Joseph4 | SO2 | 2001 |
1 Kansas City and New Madrid partially attained the standard in 1980 and fully attained the standard in 1984 and 1985 respectively.
2 St. Joseph partially attained the standard in 1982. In 1987, the total particulate standard was replaced with a new PM10 standard.
3 Kansas City remains officially designated attainment. However, periodic exceedances of the 1-hour standard in the 1990s necessitated implementation of further control measures under the provisions of the approved maintenance plan.
4 Although St. Joseph was never officially designated nonattainment for SO2, it did have violations in the 1990s; actions underway by the state and EPA should ensure attainment in 2001.
| Area | Nature Of Air Pollution Problem | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Sarpy County (except Bellevue) | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1982 |
| Bellevue1 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1982 |
| Douglas County (except Omaha) | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1982 |
| Omaha | Ozone (1-hour standard) | 1982 |
| Weeping Water1 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1984 |
| Omaha1 | Total Suspended Particulate Matter | 1985 |
| Omaha | Carbon Monoxide | 1986 |
| Lincoln | Carbon Monoxide | 1988 |
| Omaha | Lead | 2001 |
1 Bellevue, Weeping Water, and Omaha partially attained the standard in 1982, 1984 and 1985 respectively. In 1987, the total particulate standard was replaced with a new PM10 standard.
If you would like more information on progress in addressing air pollution problems in Region 7, please check the links provided below. You can also contact Joshua Tapp, Chief of the Air Planning and Development Branch at 913-551-7606.
