Officials continue to work to avoid Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties being designated as problem areas for ozone pollution, and hope their community response plan will be enough to prevent state and federal agencies from imposing heavy regulations. A system of flags at area schools may be one method used to raise awareness about air quality.

A draft of the "Path Forward" plan, created by the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission's Air Quality Committee, was reviewed with Environmental Protection Agency representative Lachala Kemp by David Grimes, deputy director of the planning commission, on April 30. Grimes said the plan is largely an effort to raise public awareness, since the committee has no authority to create control measures. He said major industrial sources of air pollution already are regulated by the state and federal governments.

"There's just not a lot we can do," Grimes said.

There are two ozone air quality monitors within the service area of the planning commission, one in Ste. Genevieve County near the city of Bonne Terre, Mo., and one in Perry County near the unincorporated community of Farrar, Mo., about 35 miles north of Cape Girardeau.

In 2012, both monitors had readings that were out of compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground level ozone, currently 75 parts per billion. The Farrar monitor exceeded the standard 14 times. Based on measurements from last year, the Bonne Terre monitor is designated at a "design value" that meets the standard, just barely, at 75 parts per billion, but the Farrar design value is slightly higher, at 77 parts per billion, which technically makes the surrounding area a "nonattainment zone."

In areas considered nonattainment zones, businesses face restrictions on emission of pollutants that contribute to the formation of ozone, such as nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds.

Exposure to ozone causes a variety of respiratory problems for people and can damage vegetation and upset ecosystems, Renee Bungart, director of communications at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, has said.

The EPA is considering lowering the acceptable standard, possibly to about 65 parts per billion, Grimes said. Readings taken April 29, during cool conditions, were 58 parts per billion at Bonne Terre and 56 parts per billion at Farrar.

"That's as good as it's ever going to get," Grimes said. "I'm not persuaded that 75 parts per billion is not too low."

Air Quality Committee members worry that current and potential jobs will be lost because of financially prohibitive regulations for industry.

"Why in the world would a business want to come and take on that burden?" Grimes said. Area residents are at a greater health risk from losing their jobs and health benefits than from ozone levels being a few parts per billion above the standard, Grimes said.

The Path Forward plan involves media outlets, social media networks, gas stations and schools in a program to educate people on how to reduce activities that contribute to the formation of ozone. Stopping at the first "click" heard when using gas pumps instead of "topping off" vehicle fuel tanks, fueling in the evening, reducing idling around schools during drop-off and pickup times, combining errands so vehicles are used less often, mowing lawns in the evening and conserving electricity are among steps to reduce pollutants.

One strategy that may be put into place will be the EPA's School Flag Program to indicate air quality. Based on the EPA's Air Quality Index, green, yellow, orange, red and purple flags are raised, indicating conditions ranging from "good" to "very unhealthy."

According to program materials, children and teenagers "are at greater risk from air pollution because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. When air quality is unhealthy, activities can often be modified or moved inside."

Grimes said the final plan will be submitted May 18 and a ruling on the ozone standard is expected by the end of the year. After the EPA decision, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will determine guidelines for a nonattainment area, Grimes said.

A Twitter feed is now available at twitter.com/SEMOAir1 to provide air quality alerts and information to the community.

Environmental Protection Agency officials for Region 7 were not available Friday for comment, because of furlough requirements stemming from the federal sequester, according the EPA office of public affairs.

salderman@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

Farrar, Mo.

Bonne Terre, Mo.