And the deadliest of them all,the smokestack industries?
Augusta's air quality this summer could have far-reaching consequences in terms of the federal government's pending decisions on which communities will face "nonattainment" designations under the U.S. Clean Air Act.
On March 12, Georgia's governor asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to include Richmond County on the state's list of communities with enough air pollution -- particularly ground-level ozone -- to flunk federal clean air standards.
Ozone levels measured during the 2009 ozone season -- which begins Friday and ends Sept. 30 -- will be used to determine three-year compliance averages that could increase Augusta's chances of being placed in nonattainment.
Augusta recorded four ozone violations in 2008, three in 2007, four in 2006 and one in 2005.
The number of violations is expected to increase, even if the air in Augusta is no dirtier than in past years. The reason is a new federal ozone standard unveiled last year that reduced the allowable concentration in the air to no more than 0.075 parts per million -- the old standard was 0.085.
If Augusta is designated a nonattainment area in 2010, stricter controls would be triggered on new industry and would make it more difficult to plan and finance transportation improvements.
One effort under way to reduce ozone in communities with poor air quality is a seasonal burning ban that takes effect Friday in 54 Georgia counties, including Richmond and Columbia.
Residents and businesses in the 54 counties may not burn yard and land-clearing debris. Some activities such as campfires and agricultural activities are exempt.
The American Lung Association issued its annual "State of the Air" report Wednesday that grades communities according to air quality standards.
In ozone pollution, Columbia County received a 'D' and Richmond County received a 'F', said Amanda Fliger, a consultant for the association. Aiken County also received an 'F' on the report card.
Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
WHAT IS OZONE?
What you see coming out of the tailpipe on a car isn't ozone, but the raw ingredients for it. Ozone is formed by chemical reactions of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, also called volatile organic compounds. They are produced primarily when fossil fuels such as gasoline, oil or coal are burned or when some chemicals, such as solvents, evaporate. They combine with heat and sunlight to form ozone smog.
Source: American Lung Association
Comments
And the deadliest of them all,the smokestack industries?
good thing i can still have my backyard campfires. free entertainment
am i not free to pollute? i thought this was america, home of the free.
Nooooo.....it couldn't possibly be all those smokestacks belching particulates, chlorine, and mercury in South Augusta. You notice they are never mentioned as a source of pollution. It's always the little old guy in his back yard burning a few tree limbs that is polluting the air. I guess he doesn't have enough money to pay off the government inspectors. Or they haven't figured out a way to tax him on a per limb basis. We need an Obama Carbon Tax on tree limb burning. Then, just like power plants and cigarettes, we could burn all we want to as long as we give the government some more tax money. Oh wait, that is what this is probably all about anyway. They know we will still burn our limbs on the sly but now they can give us a ticket and raise some revenue that way. Burn at dusk. It is harder for them to see the smoke and not dark enough for them to see the fire.
I know. We can build a massive tank to collect the ozone then ship it to the holes in the atmosphere. Global warming solved.
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