Air quality

Determining the extent of air pollution in Missouri's rural counties is not an exact science. Currently, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has one testing device for ozone pollution in four counties: Cape Girardeau, Perry, Bollinger and Ste. Genevieve. That testing device is at Farrar in Perry County -- between Perryville and the Mississippi River and several miles north of Cape Girardeau County.

Testing in 2005-2007 shows ozone pollution exceeded federal minimums 5 percent of the time. In the first half of 2008, there were no days in which the standard was exceeded.

Still, based on one testing device for four counties, it would be possible that all four counties would be labeled as "nonattainment areas," which would impose requirements for vehicle-emission tested and tougher rules for industries seeing pollution permits.

The Cape Girardeau City Council has adopted a resolution requesting that the city not be included in any nonattainment designation based on the fact there are no testing data for the city.

Air quality is a legitimate concern, but before state or federal action is taken, reliable and specific data should be obtained, especially in rural counties where the source of pollution is difficult to identify.