EPA Approves Air Quality Upgrade to Attainment Status for Ozone in Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry Counties
HARRISBURG (July 25, 2007) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the state Department of Environmental Protection’s requests to redesignate Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon and Perry counties to attainment for the eight-hour ozone quality standard.
EPA had designated these counties as non-attainment in 2004, but monitoring results that show improved air quality, along with the state’s plan to maintain those improved levels over the next 10 years, resulted in the redesignations.
EPA has proposed lowering the ozone level necessary to meet attainment status. This means that Pennsylvania must continue working to lower the pollutants emitted to the air, which can cause ground-level ozone particularly on hot, humid summer days.
Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, and Perry counties were five of 37 Pennsylvania counties designated as non-attainment for ozone in 2004. DEP has submitted redesignation requests for 32 of them. Lancaster and Tioga counties were previously approved by the federal government; the remainder are pending with EPA.
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