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Maricopa County exceeds the new federal limit on ozone pollution,but is close enough to complying that it won't be required toimpose stricter rules on motorists or industries, the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday. The finding was part of the EPA's long-awaited decision on whichU.S. cities and counties violated the ozone limit, which wasactually established in 2008 but put on hold while the Obamaadministration considered an even more restrictive standard. Special report: The Air We Breathe In Arizona, only the Phoenix metropolitan area, which includes mostof Maricopa County and a small part of Pinal County, was listed asout of compliance with the new limit. But the EPA classifiedPhoenix as a "marginal" violator, which means the region is amongthe cities and counties closest to meeting the standard. The health-based standard is now 75 parts per billion; it had been80 parts per billion. If the EPA had classified Phoenix as "moderate" or worse, state andcounty officials would have been required to produce a plan thatoutlined additional measures to reduce ozone pollution or facefederal sanctions, such as restrictions on federal highway money. "Obviously, we think this is a good thing," said Bill Wiley,director of the Maricopa County Air Quality Department. "That said,we still have our challenges. We still have days where we exceedthe health-based standards and it's on those days we need everyoneto do their part." Maricopa County exceeded the ozone standard at at least one monitoron 23 days last year and on 10 days in 2010. But when measured onan annual average, ozone levels have decreased from 88 parts perbillion in 2000 to 77 parts per billion last year, according tocounty air quality data. The EPA measures compliance using air-monitor readings based ondaily eight-hour periods, then averaged over three years. Theagency used readings from 2008, 2009 and 2010 to determine thestatus of each city or county. Ground-level ozone, the primary component of smog, forms when heatand sunlight react with nitrogen oxides and volatile organiccompounds. Vehicle exhaust, gasoline fumes and industrial pollutioncan contribute to ozone. The pollutant damages lung tissues and can sicken people andshorten lives. It is especially harmful to children and people withexisting respiratory ailments. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as H Frame Presses Manufacturer , Servo Motor Press Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Hydraulic Press Machine.
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