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- Hand delivery (EPA Docket Centex, Environmental Protection Agency, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC). (FnvuonmentalPmtection Agency,ltt ~// ~ ~g ~/ ~'/ IlntiorJnaagsie~^_~(171um1#hearings, Accessed 9/11/07) Hi~toty of Ground-level Ozone Standards Ground-Level Ozone Is One Of Six Common Pollutants For Which The Clean Air Act Requires The EPA To Set National Standards. "Ground-level Ozone triggers a variety of health problems even at very low levels and may cause permanent lung damage after long-term exposure. It is one of six common pollutants fox which the Clean Aix Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Aix Quality Standards (NAAQS). Vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions axe major sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) that help to form ozone." (U.S. Environmental Protection Agenry, hnp' / /u~ww~ epa govPii ~/ozunepollutiun /Histocy.hcml, Accessed 9/7/07) 1971 EPA established a 1-hour NAAQS ozone standard of 0.08 ppm. 1979 EPA revised the 1-hour standard to 0.12 ppm., The number of counties designated fox non-attainment reached 371. 1991 Concerned about the new science indicating adverse effects at levels allowed by that NAAQS, the American Lung Association went to court to compel EPA to act. 1994 EPA obtained a voluntary remand based on a promise to consider the newer studies. EPA and 37 eastem states form the Ozone Transport Assessment 1995 Group -work with stakeholders to study ozone transport fox two ears. EPA issued a three-volume criteria document encompassing hundreds 1996 of new scientific studies, fording "strong" scientific evidence of adverse health effects from ozone at levels allowed b the 1979 NAA S. Quly) EPA revised the air quality standards For ozone replacing the 1979 standard with an 8-hour standard se[ at 0.08 ppm. Three states (`Ohio, Michigan, And West Vixgixua*] and dozens of industry 1997 laintiffs uickl challen ed the new standards. (October) EPA acted on the work of the Ozone Transport Assessment Group and proposes NOx regional reductions in the eastem US. 1998 EPA issued the £mal rule on regional NOx reductions, known as the NOx SIP Call. 1999 The DC Circuit Court of Appeals sent the 1997 standards back to EPA fox further study. EPA appealed. The U.S. Supreme Court tmanixnously upheld the constitutionality of the Clean Aix Act as EPA had interpreted it in setting the 1997 health- 2001 protective air quality standards. The Supreme Court also reaffirmed EPA's long-standing interpretation that it must set these standards based solely on pubhc health considerations without consideration of costs. EPA began the process by which states (governors) and tribes submit 2002 recommendations fox what areas would be designated non-attainment (failing to meet the 1997 standard . -~~