EPA splits Philadelphia ozone air quality area into three smaller zones
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Table of Contents
The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a decision to split one large regional air quality zone into three separate areas. The original zone covered parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland around the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City region. Under this new rule, Cecil County in Maryland and New Castle County in Delaware will be treated as distinct nonattainment areas for ozone pollution standards.
Why it matters: This is primarily an administrative adjustment that changes how federal air quality rules apply locally. For state and local officials in Cecil County and New Castle County, it may alter the specific deadlines for meeting ozone standards and the types of control measures they must implement. It does not change the underlying national health-based limits on ozone pollution, but it does shift who is responsible for fixing any remaining problems within those smaller boundaries.
Who it affects
- State environmental agencies in Maryland (MDE) and Delaware (DNREC)
This action was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency as a final rule published in the Federal Register. You should check the original document for the full technical analysis and legal citations before relying on this summary.
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Source: Federal Register — read the official document