EPA Press Release: Phoenix Carbon Monoxide Problem Reclassified as Serious

08/09/96

U.S. EPA SAYS PHOENIX CARBON MONOXIDE 'SERIOUS.' NEW
PLAN NEEDED

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 29 -- The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) today announced that it has reclassified
the Phoenix area's carbon monoxide air pollution status from
"moderate" to "serious", under the federal Clean Air Act, since the
area failed to meet last year's deadline for attaining the federal
health standard.

This change to the area's status does not indicate that carbon
monoxide pollution is worsening, but does give the state and local
governments extra time to develop additional anti-pollution measures
and to reach the clean air standard. Over the past 10 years, the
Phoenix area has actually seen a substantial drop in carbon monoxide
levels, but this improvement was insufficient to meet the health
standard.

The reclassification of the Phoenix area from "moderate" to "serious"
for carbon monoxide air pollution, as required by the Clean Air Act,
allows state and local governments 18 months to develop a new plan to
reduce this pollutant.

U.S. EPA recognizes that planning and implementation of clean air
measures is best done at the state and local level. Under the Clean
Air Act, state and local governments choose their own measures to
achieve the national health standards. The state and local agencies
are already working with the business community, Phoenix area
residents, and U.S. EPA to develop plans that will meet these clean
air goals.

In a related action on May 7, U.S. EPA finalized the reclassification
of the Phoenix area's particulate pollution status from "moderate" to
"serious", thus triggering a requirement for a new plan to reduce that
pollutant.

Today's action is a significant step toward reaching the following
clean air goals:

November 1997: New particulate reduction plan required

Late January 1998: New carbon monoxide reduction plan required

December 31, 2000: New deadline for meeting federal health standard
for carbon monoxide

December 31, 2001: New deadline for meeting federal health standard
for particulate pollution

Carbon monoxide, an odorless but highly toxic gas emitted in motor
vehicle exhaust, reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen. It
harms the nervous system, and is particularly hazardous to people with
heart, circulatory, lung, or breathing problems. Particulates, which
are airborne particles of dust, smoke, and soot, cause nose and throat
irritation, lung damage, and bronchitis.