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 meet the standards for ozone and for the annual particle standard (but not the daily standard.) The following graphs show pollution levels at local monitors from 2000-2007. The downward trend is expected to continue.
2007- Meeting the 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 allowed agreements to take voluntary measures to clean up the air. Hamilton County was able to meet the standard by 2007, and avoided being out designated 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 would hamper 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 continue to make air pollution history--in Chattanooga and Hamilton County now and for generations to come.
2009- Meeting the New Federal Standard
In March 2008, EPA tightened the ozone standard to 75 parts per million (ppm). Currently, Hamilton County does not meet this standard. EPA will make ozone status designations beginning in 2010. Until then, we will work hard to reach that standard.
