AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Clean Air Force of Central Texas has as its primary goal to keep air in this area clean and healthy. The CAF has been doing this good work since 1994.
Jim Stephens is the executive director of the Clean Air Force. He speaks with Rich Segal about the difference between attainment and compliance, specifically how you try to attain clean air goals to be in compliance with the standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Where does Austin stand when it comes to compliance? The short answer is that Austin is not in compliance. That happened in February 2024 when the EPA strengthened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter from 12 micrograms (a unit of mass equal to one millionth of a gram) of particulate matter to 9 micrograms.
Austin was in compliance before the change from 12 to 9 micrograms as this area’s air quality was/is 9.3 micrograms.
The EPA’s goal in making the change was to protect millions of Americans from harmful and costly health impacts.
While Austin is not compliance (but not by much), the EPA is giving Austin (and any other area of the country) two years to work towards getting that 9.3 figure down to below 9. So, there’s time.
In their conversation, Jim will tell you the months where this area’s Ozone season is the worst and the criteria for an Ozone Action Day declaration.
He also says area citizens can sign up to get email alerts when those Ozone Action Days are going to be in effect. They are usually called for 24 hours in advance.
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