Ground-level ozone standards up in the air

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is awaiting new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, that will set new standards for ozone emissions.

The EPA standards are currently at 75 parts per billion.

It may now be reduced to anywhere between 65 and 70 parts per billion.

While St. Louis is already non-compliant, the tougher regulations could make a big difference for Missouri counties that are straddling the fence between compliance and non-compliance according to the DNR’s Air Pollution Control Program interim director, Kyra Moore.

“If the standard is lowered to 65 and brings in, I’m just speculating, 10 to 15 other counties, these are people that have never had to deal with this before. And so it would take a lot of outreach by the Department to explain what they need to do, what they can do to help with ozone levels,” Moore said.

Ground-level ozone is a component of smog and affects people with respiratory problems such as asthma. It is caused automobiles, power plants, and factories.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

Posted in: EPA,Kyra Moore,Missouri Department of Natural Resources,Ozone Standards