Thursday, May 06, 1999
Area congressmen ask for smog level upgrade
BY PAUL BARTON
Enquirer Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — The Cincinnati-area congressional delegation thinks the Tristate deserves a higher air-quality grade from federal officials — and they want it now, before summer comes.
Area members are lobbying Carol Browner, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to have Cincinnati redesignated from a “moderate nonattainment” area to an “attainment” area.
The change is warranted based on environmental monitoring data for 1996-1998 accumulated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the delegation says.
The data show the Cincinnati area went through three summers without a serious violation of federal ozone standards.
Reps. Steve Chabot, R-Cincinnati; Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park; John Boehner, R-West Chester; Ken Lucas, D-Richwood; Ted Strickland, D-Lucasville; and Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, recently wrote Ms. Browner, noting that the EPA recently redesignated 10 other cities from nonattainment to attainment status.
“It is our belief that your agency should take prompt action to address this important issue,” the letter said.
EPA is considering the request, spokesman Dave Ryan said.
A cleaner classification would leave Cincinnati in less danger of dropping into “serious nonattainment” should there be a series of intense ozone readings this summer.
Serious non-attainment can result in federal sanctions, such as loss of highway money or much more stringent anti-smog regulations for smaller businesses.
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