Ozone levels trigger EPA ‘non-attainment’ designation n San Antonio

Regulations help keep the air clean, leading to health benefits. But the EPA is considering a new rule that would undercut the scientific research that guides regulatory policy. Regulations help keep the air clean, leading to health benefits. But the EPA is considering a new rule that would undercut the scientific research that guides regulatory policy. Photo: Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-News Photo: Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Ozone levels trigger EPA ‘non-attainment’ designation n San Antonio 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Levels of smog-producing ozone in San Antonio’s air have finally triggered what local officials have long feared — a designation of “non-attainment” by the Environmental Protection Agency, which could hurt the city’s economy by delaying transportation and manufacturing projects.

“We’re the last metropolitan area in the United States that had not been put under the new rules,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who criticized the decision.

“For 15 years we fought it and survived, but it looks like our day has come,” Wolff said.

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But given the dangers posed by ground-level ozone — especially for people suffering from asthma or other health problems — environmental advocates applauded the move as a way to force the city’s hand to improve air quality for its citizens.

“This is a positive first step for reducing air pollution in Bexar County,” said Elena Craft, a senior health scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund. “It could prevent dozens of preventable deaths and thousands of hospitalizations each year.”

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement released Wednesday the city is planning a mass transit system to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions by reducing traffic.

“The EPA air quality designation is no surprise,” Nirenberg said. “The science showed clearly for several years that our region has been teetering on the edge of non-attainment because of stricter federal standards.

“As this designation loomed, we made great progress in achieving better air quality,” Nirenberg added. “And we will continue to strive for cleaner air.”

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Wolff said San Antonio has already made great strides reducing pollution voluntarily. Now any future highway expansions — which produce more pollution from traffic — will likely be delayed for years.

“Public transit’s going to be the key,” Wolff said.

The EPA said the non-attainment designation will begin 60 days after the notice is officially published in the Federal Register.

“We look forward to supporting Texas as they work to improve air quality and foster economic opportunity,” EPA’s acting administrator, Andrew Wheeler, said in a statement released Wednesday.

Wheeler said the San Antonio area doesn’t have to be locked in non-attainment forever.

“Information provided by the state indicates that the San Antonio area is on the path toward attainment, and we expect Bexar County will be able to demonstrate that it meets the standard well in advance of the attainment date in 2021,” Wheeler said.

“Analysis from Texas about the role of international emissions, including from Mexico, and the pending closure of a coal-fired power plant in Bexar County will help ensure that implementation of this standard has minimal burdens on economic development,” he added.

Visit ExpressNews.com later today to read more about this developing story.

John Tedesco is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jtedesco@express-news.net | Twitter: @John_Tedesco