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N.E. Ohio exceeds U.S. limits for soot

EPA lists 27 counties that violate tighter rules

By Bob Downing
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2008

Northeast Ohio has not complied with tighter federal limits on microscopic soot from coal-burning power plants, diesel-powered and gasoline-powered vehicles and factories.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday named all or part of 211 counties across the United States — including 27 counties in Ohio — for failing to meet the standards in the federal Clean Air Act.

Area counties with tiny soot or particulate problems resulting in unhealthy air are Summit, Portage, Medina, Stark, Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Trumbull and Mahoning.

Also failing are five counties around Columbus, four in the Cincinnati area, three around Dayton and six Ohio River counties.

The listings, based on data from 2005-07, have been expected, said Lynn Malcolm, executive director of the Akron Regional Air Quality Management District that oversees air pollution in Summit, Portage and Medina counties.

The Ohio EPA needs time to assess the federal action, said spokeswoman Heidi Griesmer.

Ohio had the second-highest number of counties cited, behind California's 30 counties. Pennsylvania had 24 counties designated.

Ohio is one of 25 states where such soot is a problem.

The EPA last August had announced its preliminary list of counties likely to fail the standards, and Northeast Ohio counties were prominent on that list. Only Geauga and Ashtabula counties (where one township has soot problems) escaped the new list.

The new list will go into effect 90 days after publication in the Federal Register, likely sometime in April, the U.S. EPA said.

States will then have three years to draft compliance plans; counties must comply by April 2014. Extensions to 2019 are available for counties with severe problems.

The new 24-hour outdoor standard that Northeast Ohio cannot meet is 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

Northeast Ohio was already out of compliance with an older soot limit of 65 micrograms per cubic meter and faced federal mandates to comply by April 2010.

The EPA tightened the tiny soot limits on Sept. 21, 2006, to better protect human health.

Counties that do not comply could face sanctions on highway building and emission reductions for new businesses.

Tiny soot is a health threat because people breathe it deep into their lungs. It can cause heart and lung problems. Children and older adults are particularly sensitive. Soot also contributes to smog and acid rain.

Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.

Northeast Ohio has not complied with tighter federal limits on microscopic soot from coal-burning power plants, diesel-powered and gasoline-powered vehicles and factories.

Get the full article here.


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ed

Posted 07:16 AM, 12/23/2008

Where is the soot coming from? there aren't any factorys left to emmit soot. I'd rather have the jobs with a little dirty air.


Betamax
Akron, OH

Posted 07:57 AM, 12/23/2008

Is the soot increasin' or is it that they are reducin' the standards so that the area looks as iff'n they not in compliance?

With industry bein' shut down or leavin' the area as fast as they can, I don't see industry bein' responsible.

Ed has it right, a little dirty air with some jobs are preferable.


ed

Posted 10:23 AM, 12/23/2008

Is it soot or dust?


Born in the rust belt

Posted 12:15 PM, 12/23/2008

"The EPA tightened the tiny soot limits on Sept. 21, 2006, to better protect human health."

The government dose not give a d@%m about the health of citizens. Their only goal is to collect taxes.


LawCat

Posted 04:06 PM, 12/23/2008

A "little soot" in the air is fine...until people start getting cancer, asthma, heart attacks or some other disease that microscopic soot causes.

It comes from industries like power plants, boilers, diesel engines and wood fires. In fact, wood fires, BBQ's, lawn mowers, farm equipment, off-road diesel engines, cars, school buses, trucks and smaller engines were the top soot emitters in Ohio in the last couple years, not industry. Put a filter or a scrubber on it and reduce it. Simple.


ed

Posted 06:29 PM, 12/23/2008

Maybe, but who says it's soot? Dust in the air gets caught in the filters used to measure soot and become part of the total weight of soot measured.
















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