To help improve air quality nationwide and protect public health, the EPA set new air quality standards, which went into effect in 2003. The new particulate standard requires the monitoring of PM2.5 and is set at a concentration of 15 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3). A new 24-hour standard was set at 65 µg/m3. The ozone standard is 85 parts per billion (ppb) measured over eight hours, replacing the one-hour 125 ppb standard.
In 2003 Hamilton, Marion and Meigs counties in Tennessee banded with Catoosa and Walker counties in Georgia to form an Early Action Compact (EAC). This coalition is working to achieve cleaner air by 2007, and in the process, avoiding the stigma of being declared "non-attainment" for ozone by the EPA. Being out of compliance with the federal standards can cost counties jobs, federal money and new roads.
As part of the EAC, Hamilton County is enacting four voluntary clean-air initiatives, some which focus on industry and others on vehicles.
The EAC is designed to help Hamilton County achieve cleaner air by 2007. If the goal is met by that date, Hamilton County will avoid being declared "nonattainment" for the federal standard, which means we can keep building the businesses and roads we need to help our region grow.
