EPA Tightens Ground Level Ozone Standard

The United States Environmental Protection Agency released its final version of the new National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground level ozone on October 1, 2015, which cuts the current limit from 75 ppb to 70 ppb.  EPA had previously proposed a standard with a range of 65 ppb to 70 ppb and requested comments for a standard as low as 60 ppb.

EPA stated that its tightening of the ozone standard “will improve public health protection, particularly for at-risk groups including children, older adults, people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma, and people who are active outdoors, especially outdoor workers.”

Litigation over the new ozone rule is a near certainty.  Several states contain numerous counties that would have been out of compliance under the new standard.  In Arkansas, an EPA map shows both Pulaski and Crittenden counties to be among those counties that would not be in compliance under the new standard.  However, EPA projects that all Arkansas counties will meet the new ozone standard by 2025.

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality Director Becky Keogh has stated that she believes the new ozone standard is achievable in Arkansas without any operational changes in the state.

EPA estimates the total cost of implementing the new 70 ppb ozone standard to be between $2.9 to 5.9 billion annually in 2025.

For a copy of the final rule, click here.