In 2004, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated nine counties (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant Counties) in North Central Texas as nonattainment for the pollutant ozone in accordance with the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In 2012, the EPA finalized designations under the 2008 8-hour ozone standard, adding Wise County to the region’s existing nine-county nonattainment area. These standards are designed to protect human and environmental health, and ground-level ozone is monitored and targeted for reductions due to its potentially harmful effects. Four main sources of ozone-causing emissions include On-road Mobile Sources like cars and trucks, Non-road Mobile Sources like construction equipment, Point Sources like electric generating utilities and industrial boilers, and Area Sources like solvent use and agriculture.
Development of an air quality plan, known as the State Implementation Plan (SIP), is required for all nonattainment areas in order to demonstrate how ozone will be reduced to levels compliant with the NAAQS. The SIP for the Dallas-Fort Worth nonattainment area includes programs to get older cars off the road, technologies to clean up vehicles already on the road, and education programs so that citizens can do their part in improving air quality in North Texas. For more information about what individuals and businesses can do to clean the air, visit www.AirNorthTexas.org.
NCTCOG works in cooperation with federal, State, and local partners to ensure all air quality requirements are met. NCTCOG strives to achieve attainment of the ozone NAAQS as early as possible and contributes to a better quality of life for all North Texans. Follow the links to the left to explore various aspects of air quality, or view the "Hot Spots" section highlighted below.
Hot Spots
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