Waco could be in trouble over Ozone

28. Oct, 2010 0 Comments

Special to the Citizen

The Waco three-year average for ozone is 70 parts per billion (ppb) of ozone in a cubic meter of air. The current national standard for ozone is 75 ppb. However, as discussed in the attached fact sheet, EPA proposed to reduce that standard to a number between 60-70 ppb. A decision and announcement is expected by the end of this month. Should the standard be set at 70 ppb, Waco would remain in compliance with the national standard. If the standard should be set below 70 ppb, Waco would be reclassified as nonattainment and would require the TCEQ to develop a clean air plan tailored specifically for the Waco area. The time lines are discussed in the fact sheet.(see fact sheet on another page)

The current three-year average of 70 ppb is from data collected during 2008, 2009 and 2010. This data is preliminary and will not be confirmed until after December 31, 2010. Data collected during 2011 will be added to data collected during 2009 and 2010 and 2008 data will be dropped after December 31, 2011. Thus the three-year average and why it changes from year to year. As an example, data from 2007, 2008 and 2009 confirmed a 72 ppb three-year average for the Waco area. After 2007 was dropped and 2010 was added the three-year average dropped from 72 to 70. However, the 70 ppb three-year average is preliminary at this time.