On January 31, 2008, EPA announced plans to designate 13 areas (Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson included) as attaining the 1997 8-hour ground level ozone standard under the EAC. EPA proposed "this action because each of the areas has demonstrated that they attained the standard by Dec. 31, 2007."

On March 12, 2008, the EPA Administrator also announced EPA strengthened the 8-hour ozone standard from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm for both the primary and secondary standard. Under this new rule states are required to make attainment, nonattainment, or unclassifiable recommendations to EPA no later than March 2009. EPA will make final designations no later that March 2010. If there is insufficient information to make designation decision, EPA will issue designations no later than March 2011. No later than three (3) years after EPA issues final designations, states must submit their State Implementation Plans (SIPs) outlining strategies to reduce air pollution to meet the new standards. Depending on the severity of air quality in each area, states will be required to meet standards by the deadlines established by EPA for each area. EPA intends to issue a separate rule in June 2008 to address monitoring requirements to implement the new standards. The final monitoring rule requirements will be issued by March 2009.

Greenville County is conducting the Spare the Air: A Path to Clean Air Forever Public Awareness campaign. If you are having a community wide event where we can setup a booth with air quality information or if your organization is interested in having an air quality presentation please contact John Owings, Dan Powell or Sandra E. Yúdice.

Please visit both the SCDHEC website and the USEPA website to learn more about air quality, ground level ozone, and PM2.5 .