What does the new standard mean for North Carolina? It puts certain metropolitan counties, including those in the Triangle, further out of compliance with what are considered acceptable ozone levels. And other smaller metro areas, including Greenville, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Asheville and areas along the Interstate 85 and I-40 corridors, could now also be out of compliance.
Will there be changes to meet the new requirement? Counties have to come up with plans for curbing ozone, which primarily results from tailpipe emissions.“That’s hugely timely in the Triangle, as decisions are being made about how we’re going to grow and what should be the transportation future for North Carolina,” said David Farren, attorney for the advocacy group Southern Environmental Law Center.
What happens if counties don’t improve the air quality? They could face sanctions, including the loss of federal transportation dollars.
How is ozone harmful? It causes respiratory problems.
Is the new standard a victory for people in polluted areas? Any improvement in air quality helps public health, but Farren said the new guidelines should have been much stricter.
“Even with this, the vast majority of North Carolina citizens are not breathing clean air,” he said.