KDHE Home - Environment - Air and Radiation - Air Monitoring and Planning - 8-Hour Ozone Designation Process
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Ozone Basics | The Ozone Designation Process | Stakeholder Involvement | Background The Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. EPA recently reviewed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone and proposed to strengthen them to a more protective level. The new ozone standard is an 8-hour average concentration of 75 parts per billion. Based on this revised standard, all states must evaluate areas for compliance with the ozone standard. The outcome of the designation process will be a recommended list of counties in the state that currently monitor or are contributing to 8-hour ozone violations. Ozone is a primary pollutant of concern in Kansas. Air quality measured against the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), shows that areas across the state are not yet attaining this new standard. If an area monitors or contributes to violations of the ozone standard, actions must be taken to help prevent the emissions that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone Similar to the weather in Kansas, the quality of the air can change from day to day. In order to help citizens understand the quality of the air on a day to day basis, the KDHE provides near real-time monitoring data from the Kansas Air Quality Monitoring Network. The process for designating nonattainment area boundaries allows the department to make a recommendation to EPA, but only EPA has the authority to make the final decision. Guide to 8-Hour Ozone Designation Process The bureau is evaluating areas of the state that are monitoring violations of the ozone standard and/or are contributing to violations. In previous ozone designations, the bureau was asked to consider multiple factors as they developed their designation recommendations. For more information see the previous Boundary Guidance on Air Quality Designations provided by EPA. It is important to note that ozone air quality data obtained from monitoring is only one factor used in determining which counties will be part of a nonattainment area under the new standard. The table below lists the 11 criteria used in the designation process. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The department is hosting a series of public meetings across the state to discuss the designation process for the revised ozone standard. County officials, local government representatives and economic development staff are encouraged to attend. A version of the invitation letter below was sent to various county representatives. Also, see the excel database for a list of who was invited. County-specific information pertaining to economic, employment and population growth will be gathered to assist the department in making more-informed decisions about which counties will be recommended for an ozone nonattainment designation. To submit information for your area, please choose a link below.
Kansas City Meeting August 12, 2008 Kansas City Meeting June 12, 2008 Wichita Meeting June 26, 2008 Guides and Technical Documents
Timeline for Final Ozone Designations
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