Business leaders concerned about Central Oklahoma air quality

From the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce web site:

Air Quality

The Central Oklahoma region is currently in compliance with all of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean air standards. However, air quality has become a concern over the last year because the Central Oklahoma region is in danger of going into non-compliance with the federal clean air standards for ozone. Last summer, Central Oklahoma had several ozone readings that exceeded the federal standard. If these high ozone readings persist next summer, the region will likely go into non-attainment status.

A non-attainment status results in severe impediments to economic growth by placing restrictions on certain types of businesses. These restrictions discourage new businesses from locating in the region, and discourage existing businesses from expanding their operations.

In June, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revising the nation's air quality standards for ground-level ozone for the first time since 1997. The new ozone standard will be within a range of 0.070 to 0.075 parts per million (ppm). If this were the standard today, Central Oklahoma would have already lost its clean air status. See how the new air quality standards will affect the country.

In an effort to maintain Central Oklahoma's clean air status, the Chamber will work with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and others to address this concern.
To learn more about this issue, visit www.letscleartheair.org or the EPA website.


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