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Environmental groups are hoping
to force the EPA to release a list of areas around the country failing
to meet air quality standards set in 1997. A series of industry legal
challenges has held up implementation of those standards, but according
to Michael Fiorentino, Harrisburg director of the Clean Air Council,
the EPA has had plenty of time to designate compliant and non-compliant
locations.
"Clean Air Council, along with these many other groups, realized
that progress could only be made if we were to adopt and begin enforcing
the 1997 health standards," says Fiorentino. "EPA's got
to take the next step. They've got to designate whether areas in
Pennsylvania and other areas around the country are in attainment
of that standard, or not attaining the standard."
Fiorentino says those official designations are the first step
to improving air quality around the country.
Jeff Holmstead is assistant director of air programs with the EPA.
He says until the current round of litigation is finished, it's
hard to say exactly what makes an area compliant - but that doesn't
mean the EPA is not pushing ozone reductions in other arenas.
"We're working with a number of states who already are taking
actions based on the new standard to clean up air now," says
Holmstead. "They would ideally like to avoid ever being designated
in non-attainment."
Holmstead says the agency currently collects data on air pollution
levels throughout the country, and makes that information available
to states and individuals. He says whether the environmental groups
proceed with a lawsuit or not, a list detailing which areas of the
country comply with the 1997 standards probably wouldn't be published
before 2004.
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