EPA announces Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina areas meet air standards for carbon monoxide.ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 20, 1995--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and (EPA EPA eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA abbr. eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, n.pr See acid, eicosapentaenoic. EPA, n. ), Region 4, announced today that the areas of Raleigh/Durham (Wake and Durham Counties) and Charlotte (Mecklenburg County Mecklenburg County is the name of two counties in the United States:
Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. have been redesignated to attainment for carbon monoxide carbon monoxide, chemical compound, CO, a colorless, odorless, tasteless, extremely poisonous gas that is less dense than air under ordinary conditions. It is very slightly soluble in water and burns in air with a characteristic blue flame, producing carbon dioxide; . In accordance with the provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA Caa See CCC. ), EPA had classified the above counties as nonattainment because of violations to the carbon monoxide standard during the period between 1987 and 1989. John H. Hankinson, Jr., EPA Region 4 Administrator, said, "We can attribute the attainment of the air quality standard for carbon monoxide in the Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte areas to control strategies that were developed in partnership between North Carolina and EPA. Because of these efforts, citizens in the areas can now enjoy better air." In addition to control strategies developed by North Carolina and EPA, carbon monoxide reductions can be attributed to stricter tailpipe tail·pipe n. The pipe through which exhaust gases from an engine are discharged. Also called exhaust pipe. tailpipe Noun a pipe from which exhaust gases are discharged, esp. standards under the Federal Motor Vehicle Pollution Control program, an Oxygenated Fuel program (Raleigh/Durham area only), and the North Carolina Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I & M) program. Air quality in the Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte areas for the years 1991-1993 met the standard for carbon monoxide. The areas continued to maintain the standard during 1994. The goal of the Clean Air Act is to protect public health and welfare from the harmful effects of air pollution. Under the CAA, EPA has set maximum acceptable limits for six criteria pollutants, including carbon monoxide, in outdoor air. Areas in the United States which exceed the allowable limits of any of these pollutants are classified as nonattainment areas. The State of North Carolina submitted a request to EPA to redesignate the Charlotte area from nonattainment to attainment for carbon monoxide on August 9, 1991. Following EPA's review, North Carolina submitted a supplemental submittal for the Charlotte area on October 7, 1994. Included with the supplemental submittal was a redesignation request for the Raleigh/Durham carbon monoxide nonattainment area. A notice redesignating the areas was published in the Federal Register and became effective on September 18, 1995. CONTACT: EPA, Atlanta Charlis Thompson, Press Office, 404/347-3004, ext. 6756 |
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