Air quality is better now than it's ever been in Chattanooga and Hamilton County. But with a recent tightening of federal standards, we must work harder to meet them. Currently, we do not meet the standards for two pollutants, ozone and particulate. The following graphs show pollution levels at local monitors from 2000-2006. The downward trend is expected to continue, with a projection that we will meet both standards by 2007.
Looking Ahead to 2007 - Meeting the new federal standards
The EPA, working with environmental groups and air pollution organizations, created a way to achieve cleaner air faster. Areas destined to be out of compliance with federal standards were allowed to form Early Action Compacts. These compacts are agreements to take voluntary measures to clean up the air. If Chattanooga and Hamilton County can do this by 2007, we will avoid being out being out of "attainment" with federal standards for ozone. (We were declared out of attainment for particulate in early 2005.) This is of distinct importance because not meeting the standards hampers our ability to bring new industry and new roads to our hometown.
Our state, county and city have taken several progressive steps toward achieving attainment as a result of the Compact. These include:
Without the cooperation among government, industry, and a concerned citizenry, the progress Chattanooga has made would not have been possible. Please help us make air pollution history--in Chattanooga and Hamilton County now and for generations to come.
