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What is Ozone

Conformity with the Clean Air Act

AQ Agency Update January 2010

GRPC has been working with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) since February 2009, and was asked to serve as Chair of the Gulf Coast Ozone Action Group.   This group is comprised of public, private and other groups that will be affected by EPA’s formal designation of Harrison and Jackson counties as Nonattainment for primary NAAQS for ground level ozone.    

The designation had been expected in 2009, but was deferred by EPA to allow for a Federal review of the NAAQS, and is now scheduled for August 2011. At that time Harrison and Jackson counties will face very strenuous restrictions governing the issuance of air quality permits and the development and funding for transportation projects.  This general assembly has created two focus groups to work on issues pertaining to transportation and economic development. 

This month GRPC convened a Transportation Conformity Group meeting to begin the process of directing the region toward conformity with the Clean Air Act.  In the future this group will meet as necessary to discuss timelines, implementation strategies and resource management.  After August 2011 there will be funding opportunities for certain types of transportation projects and air quality measures, while other transportation facilities and projects will not be approved without demonstrating no additional impact on the air quality in the two counties. 

The industries are working directly with MDEQ on the impact this designation will have on the permitting process for their facilities. 

To maintain a close working relationship with the federal and state agencies, GRPC is part of an Interagency Consultation Group.   This group has a conference call every month to continuously communicate on the policies and regulations that affect the transportation sector.