All News Releases By Date

EPA redesignates Kewaunee County, Wis., to attainment of smog standard

Release Date: 05/14/2008
Contact Information: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA090

(Chicago, Ill. - May 14, 2008) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 announced today it has approved a request by the state of Wisconsin to redesignate Kewaunee County to attainment of the 1997 national health-based eight-hour outdoor air quality standard for ozone (smog).

EPA said complete, quality-assured, outdoor air monitoring data for 2004, 2005 and 2006 show the county met the standard. Monitoring data for 2007 continue to show monitored attainment of the standard.

"Residents of Kewaunee County are enjoying healthier air because of the work Wisconsin has done to improve air quality," said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur. "Better air quality will also enhance the county's ability to attract businesses that prefer to locate in areas that have attained the air quality standard."

The Agency also approved the state plan to maintain the eight-hour health-based ozone standard through 2018 in Kewaunee County and to approve motor vehicle emissions budgets included in the plan.

EPA's action will soon be published in the Federal Register. The redesignation will become effective upon publication.

Ground-level ozone is commonly referred to as smog. Smog is formed when a mixture of pollutants react on warm, sunny days. The pollutants are released from cars, factories and a wide variety of other sources. Smog can cause respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain.

Smog information at https://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/envissues/smog.html
Information about ground-level ozone and its effects at http://airnow.gov/