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Home-->Environment-->Springfield/Greene County meets Ozone standard
 
Springfield/Greene County meets Ozone standard staff
Updated: 2015-10-05 11:06:15
Springfield/Greene County is in compliance with the Ozone standard established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act. According to a recent announcement the area is officially at 68 ppb, although the values are expected to be 61 parts per billion once the 2013-2015 readings are certified. The Ozone standard last revised in 2008 allows a level of 75 ppb. The EPA has proposed a new standard of 70 ppb to be calculated on a three-year rolling average. Springfield/Greene County would meet that new standard as well.

Being "in attainment" or in compliance means that certain types of new businesses and roadway capacity are not subject to additional studies. Non-compliance also traps the region in a 20-year maintenance plan before it can exit the non-attainment program.

Springfield, Greene County and City Utilities of Springfield have been taking steps proactively for a number of years to protect air quality and avoid nonattainment status for ground-level ozone, including being founding members of the Ozarks Clean Air Alliance (OCAA) in 2007, a group of stakeholders including city, county, and state government officials, local businesses and non-profits, area utility companies, and interested citizens.

Health concerns obviously are behind keeping in attainment. The elderly, children and other vulnerable populations, however, feel the effects of air pollution much greater than the general population. See the EPA fact sheet below.


Ozone is a bit complex, not totally harmful, since it shields the earth from harmful rays from the sun. However, at ground level, it can have a negative impact on both human and plant health. It is formed by several pollutants reacting with heat over the course of the day, especially in summer months. Natural and seemingly innocuous sources also can contribute to the formation of ground level ozone coupled with well-known pollutants. Primary contributors include mobile sources (automobiles, buses, trucks, inboard/outboard motors and other gasoline-powered engines and they accout for nearly half of all contributing emissions.

Protecting the environment is a community effort, reminds Barbara Lucks, sustainability officer, city of Springfield. "In the case of air quality, those sources are our cars, trucks, even lawn mowers," she said. "In order for us to continue to meet or exceed standards and to continue to protect the health of our citizens and our enviornment, the entire community must pitch in."

For more information

  • Receive daily air quality level predictions: enviroflash.info.

  • Missouri Department of Natural Resources Air Quality Program Web site: dnr.mo.gov.

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ozone Web site: epa.gov/air.

  • Ozarks Clean Air Alliance: showmecleanair.com. Contact: Natasha Longpine, (417) 865-3042 x103 or Lucks,(417) 864-2005.

  • City Utilities of Springfield: cityutilities.net. Contact: Joel Alexander, (417) 831-8902.

  • Ozarks Transportation Organization: ozarkstransportation.org. Contact: Natasha Longpine, (417) 865-3042 x103.

  • City of Springfield Dept. of Environmental Services Air Quality Section: springfieldmo.gov/airquality. Contact: Brian Adams, (417) 864-1412.

  • Real-time air quality readings: airnow.gov

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