CAPCOG » Regional Planning

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Regional Planning

Air Quality

CAPCOG's Air Quality Program provides technical assistance and information to area businesses, government entities and community groups on regional air quality issues, with particular emphasis on pollution related to ground-level ozone. Enabled through a grant from the TCEQ, program efforts are directed at gaining a better understanding of the sources and extent of regional air quality problems by operating air monitoring stations, estimating and modeling emissions and evaluating emission reduction measures to develop effective strategies for the area. The Air Quality Program also provides support for the Clean Air Coalition (CAC).

CAC Advisory Committee

Proposed Revisions to National Standards for Ground-Level Ozone
January 6, 2010 – The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to strengthen the national ambient air quality standards for ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone is a primary component of smog. The proposed revisions are based on scientific evidence about ozone and its effects on people and sensitive trees and plants. EPA is proposing to revise the level of the primary 8-hour ozone standard within a range of 0.060-0.070 parts per million (ppm), and proposing to establish a separate cumulative secondary standard within a range of 7-15 ppm-hours.

For more information visit http://www.epa.gov/groundlevelozone/actions.html.

Expected Dates for the 2010 Primary Ozone Standard*
Action	Date
Propose Standard**	January 6, 2010
Propose Implementation Rule**	Spring 2010
Final Standards	August 31, 2010
Final Implementation Rule	November 2010
State Designation Recommendations to EPA	January 2011
Propose Designations*	April 2011
Final Designations and Classifications	August 2011
State Implementation Plans Due	December 2013
Attainment Demonstrations	2014-2031 (depends on severity of problem)
EPA is proposing an accelerated schedule for designating areas for the primary ozone standard. Also, EPA is taking comment on whether to designate areas for a seasonal secondary standard on an accelerated schedule or a 2-year schedule. *Opportunity for Public Comment