Ozone readings in Southeast Missouri have exceeded the limit three times this year

As the summer heat is just beginning, Southeast Missouri has already seen several ground-level ozone readings above EPA limits.

It's a troubling trend for economic developers to watch with another review of ozone standards set to begin next year.

If the area's ozone levels fail to meet the standards, restrictions could be placed on future emissions allowed by new or expanding businesses in the region.

As of June 11, the ozone monitor in Farrar, Mo., exceeded the standard of 75 parts per billion three times, according to data collected by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Preliminary ozone reports on the DNR website also show the Farrar monitor with another exceedence Friday, coming in at 76 parts per billion.

David Grimes, deputy director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, who heads its Air Quality Committee, says he's puzzled by the readings.

"I don't understand, I really don't know how or why that Farrar monitor keeps coming up so high," Grimes said. Of the 23 ozone monitors in the state, the Farrar monitor is the southernmost monitor.

While it's true that ozone is fueled by heat and sunlight and the area has seen some record highs, the entire state has had the same high temperatures and other monitors are still reading in compliance, he said.

Through June 11, the Farrar monitor had three exceedences, the second most in the state after the West Alton monitor in St. Charles County, which has had four exceedences so far this year.

The peak season for ground-level ozone is from April through October. Ozone is created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen, which are produced by combustion, volatile organic compounds such as gasoline or solvents, and heat.

"Many urban areas tend to have high levels of ground-level ozone, but even rural areas are subject to increased ozone levels because wind carries ozone and pollutants that form it hundreds of miles away from their original sources," said Renee Bungart, director of communications for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Grimes said according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website's weather models the air flow was coming from the north on the days Farrar's monitor rose above the standard.

Still, Grimes said this doesn't directly explain the trend because on those same days, St. Louis ozone monitor were in compliance.

When an area is determined by DNR and EPA to exceed the standard, which has happened in St. Louis and Kansas City, there are measures put in place to limit the factors that contribute to ozone.

Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO John Mehner said to see this many exceedences in the ozone standard this early in the season is troubling.

"There are a lot of if's. First, if we exceed the standard. Then if they are going to enforce the same rules in the rural areas that they do in the metro areas. If they do, it could be difficult for companies looking to expand to get the emissions permits they need to go through with their plans," Mehner said.

DNR and EPA use a measurement of ozone called the Design Value to determine if an area is designated "nonattainment" and fails to meet the standard. The Design Value is a three-year rolling average of the fourth highest readings from each year on the monitor. The Design Value for the Farrar monitor from 2010 to 2012 is currently 73 parts per billion, just below the 75 parts per billion standard.

Through June 11, the four highest readings for the 2012 ozone season at the Farrar monitor are 82, 81, 76 and 71, said Bungart.

"When looking at the last two years of data and averaging it with the 2012 data, the Farrar monitor would need to reach an eight-hour average reading of 78 ppb or higher before the end of the 2012 ozone season before the monitor would violate the ozone standard," she said.

A summer full of exceedences at the Farrar monitor could do just that, which worries Grimes.

"It's getting awfully close to that nonattainment number. If they re-evaluate the standard and do anything like they were talking about last year bringing the standard down to the 60 or 70 level, then we'd be out of compliance," he said.

In 2009, Ste. Genevieve and Perry counties were recommended by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to the EPA as nonattainment areas based on monitoring data from 2006 to 2008. Before the recommendation was acted upon, the EPA began considering lowering the acceptable ozone level of 75 parts per billion set in 2008 under the George W. Bush administration.

In September 2011 President Barack Obama announced that the reconsideration process for existing standards for ground level ozone would be discontinued. Ozone standards are typically reviewed every five years, so the 2008 standard is now scheduled for review in 2013.

There are some steps individuals can take to help reduce ozone on their own, Grimes said. These were compiled in a Clean Air Action Plan developed by the SEMO Regional Planning Commission.

"Stop at the Click" is one program included in the plan to encourage people not to over fill their vehicle's gasoline tanks after the automatic cutoff on the fuel nozzle has stopped the flow of gas.

Topping off the tank one "click" too many will cause fuel spills releasing volatile organic compounds into the air, Grimes said.

Other steps in the plan include replacing old gasoline cans with new ones that minimize spills and control vapors; using battery-powered lawn equipment; and using electric starters rather than lighter fluid when grilling.

Implementing "Clean Air Zones," where cars are prohibited to run idle, is another project proposed in the plan. These zones could be established in areas where idling is common, such as schools where parents wait to pick up their children.

The commission had applied for a grant from EPA to publicize and implement the program, but didn't receive funding.

Grimes said the commission is still on the look out for other sources of funding for the Clean Air Action Plan.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

Farrar, Mo.