August 03, 2017
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Download PDF
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) is announcing a request for public input in regards to efforts to maintain Crittenden County, Arkansas compliance with the Clean Air Act Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”).
The agency states that it is requesting public input on the development of a plan to enact voluntary measures and actions in Crittenden County to ensure continued ozone compliance.
Ozone is an irritant gas not emitted by any particular source and therefore is a secondary air pollutant. It is formed in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight and heat from other precursor air pollutants including nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons.
Ozone is one of the air pollutants currently designated as a Clean Air Act criteria air pollutant. As a result of this designation, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) many years ago set a NAAQS for the pollutant. NAAQS are ambient air standards that apply throughout the United States. The states have an obligation through State Implementation Plans to ensure its various air quality regions’ air either attains or maintains compliance with each NAAQS.
ADEQ states that it is developing an Ozone Advance Path Forward Plan for Crittenden County. It describes this program as a collaborative effort among EPA, states, local governments, business and industry. The goal of the program is stated to be the reduction of ground-level ozone and ozone precursors in order for participating areas to continue to meet the NAAQS for ozone. EPA is stated to provide technical assistance and other support to state and local governments administering an Ozone Advance Program.
ADEQ has set a deadline for submitting comments on the request for information at 4:30 p.m. on September 25th.
Copies of the Crittenden County Ozone Advance Path Forward Plan can be found at https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/air/planning/ozone/crittenden.aspx.
The Between the Lines blog is made available by Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. and the law firm publisher. The blog site is for educational purposes only, as well as to give general information and a general understanding of the law. This blog is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Use of this blog site does not create an attorney client relationship between you and Mitchell Williams or the blog site publisher. The Between the Lines blog site should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.