Area Designations for 1997 Ground-level Ozone Standards
Ozone & Health - A Timeline
Ground-level Ozone triggers a variety of health problems even at very low levels and may cause permanent lung damage after long-term exposure. It is one of six common pollutants for which the Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions are major sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) that help to form ozone.
1971
EPA established a 1-hour NAAQS ozone standard of 0.08 ppm.
1979
EPA revised the 1-hour standard to 0.12 ppm.
1991
Number of counties designated for non-attainment reached 371. Concerned about the new science indicating adverse effects at levels allowed by that NAAQS, American Lung Association went to court to compel EPA to act.
1994
EPA obtained a voluntary remand based on a promise to consider the newer studies.
1995
EPA and 37 eastern states form the Ozone Transport Assessment Group work with stakeholders to study ozone transport for two years.
1996
EPA issued a three-volume criteria document encompassing hundreds of new scientific studies, finding "strong" scientific evidence of adverse health effects from ozone at levels allowed by the 1979 NAAQS.
1997
July - EPA revised the air quality standards for ozone replacing the 1979 standard with an 8-hour standard set at 0.08 pp. Three states and dozens of industry plaintiffs quickly challenged the new standards.
(October) EPA acts on the work of the Ozone Transport Assessment Group and proposes NOx regional reductions in the eastern US.
1998
EPA issues final rule on regional NOx reductions, known as the NOx SIP Call.
1999
DC Circuit Court of Appeals sent standards back to EPA for further study. EPA appealed.
2001
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the Clean Air Act as EPA had interpreted it in setting health-protective air quality standards. The Supreme Court also reaffirmed EPA's long-standing interpretation that it must set these standards based solely on public health considerations without consideration of costs.
2002
EPA began process by which states (governors) and tribes submit recommendations for what areas would be designated non-attainment (failing to meet the standard).
2003
June - EPA proposes the clean air ozone implementation rule with options for how areas would transition from the 1-hour ozone standard to the 8-hour ozone standard.
July - States and tribes recommend designations - 412 counties are included.
December - EPA responds to states and tribes describing intended modifications to their recommended designations - 506 counties are
included.
December - EPA proposes the Clean Air Interstate Rule that will help areas in the US meet the 8-hour ozone standard.
2004
April 15 - EPA finalizes Clean Air Ozone designations and basic implementation rule (w/details, such as how to monitor progress, to be finalized in August).
2007
June - State plans for meeting the health-based 8-hour ozone standard are submitted to EPA.