New ozone standard announced

Federal law requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review air quality standards periodically to ensure that they reflect the latest scientific research for health and environmental protection. In September, EPA lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb. EPA’s announcement launches a multi-year process in which EPA and state air quality agencies will begin incorporating the new standard into their monitoring and planning work.

While the region experienced mild summer weather this year, three of the 2015 ozone readings would have been categorized as orange alert days — unhealthy for sensitive groups — under this stricter standard. EPA uses a three-year rolling average to determine whether a metro area is in attainment with the ozone standard or not. Early indications are that Kansas City’s 2015 ozone readings meet the new standard, while 2014 readings did not. Next summer’s ozone levels, as part of a 2014/2015/2016 average, will likely be used to determine whether the region is in attainment with the new standard.

The Kansas City region continues to employ voluntary strategies to reduce ozone-forming and greenhouse gas emissions.6 average, will likely be used to determine whether the region is in attainment with the new standard.

The participation in the EPA’s Ozone Advance program and implementation of MARC’s award-winning Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) both leverage local community actions to reduce ozone levels and pollutants.

Learn more about the Kansas City region’s air quality program at www.marc.org/airq.

KC region in violation of federal ozone standard

Good to moderate air quality was forecast for most of the beginning and ending months of ozone season this year. But due to extreme heat and little precipitation, 23 Ozone Alerts were issued between June 9 and September 12 — more than double the number issued during the entire 2011 season. On Aug. 7, the region experienced the worst air quality readings since 2007, when ozone reached a level considered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be unhealthy for everyone.

The Kansas City region is currently violating the 2008 EPA standard for ground-level ozone. The region anticipates a nonattainment designation next time the EPA goes through its formal redesignation process, likely to happen in the next two years.

Kansas City’s ozone season runs from April 1 through Oct. 31 when ground-level ozone is most likely to reach high levels making the air unhealthy to breathe. Throughout the seven-month season, the Air Quality Program issues a daily SkyCast predicting the next day’s ozone concentrations so people can take actions to protect their health and prevent air pollution.

Bike- and car-sharing programs like B-cycle and Zipcar, which both launched in Kansas City this year, reduce dependency on personal vehicles and provide transit riders a method to run errands or go to a meeting.

2012 Ozone Season Report

Funds available for transportation enhancements projects in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Transportation is accepting applications through the federal Transportation Enhancements Alternatives programs in Kansas for fiscal year 2012. These funds can be used for a variety of projects such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities, landscaping and scenic beautification, historic preservation, bicycle and pedestrian safety and educational activities, and reducing polluted water runoff from roadways. The application deadline is Feb. 13, 2013.

Kansas Transportation Enhancements application details

Projects must relate to surface transportation and involve at least one of the 12 eligible categories. Only local governing entities can submit applications, and a 20 percent local match is required for this reimbursement program.

Sponsors who submit applications for projects located Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami or Wyandotte counties within MARC’s metropolitan planning boundary should also send a copy of their applications to MARC by Feb. 15, 2013. The Kansas Transportation Enhancements Committee will review these applications independently from KDOT and forward recommendations to MARC’s Total Transportation Policy Committee. Applicants may be required to provide additional information for this review.

KDOT expects to announce which projects will receive funding in late summer 2013.

For more information, contact KDOT’s Becky Pepper.