EPA Plans Building Limits for L.A., 13 Other Areas as Penalty for Bad Air Quality

The Environmental Protection Agency today announced tentative plans to ban construction of major new sources of air pollution in Los Angeles and 13 other metropolitan areas that are not meeting federal air quality standards.

The agency cited the entire South Coast Air Quality area of California, which includes Los Angeles and other areas, and said the problem included both ozone and carbon monoxide.

Other California areas cited were Fresno, Sacramento, Ventura and Kern counties.

The targeted areas are among about 80 that do not meet the federal standards for ozone, a key constituent of smog, or carbon monoxide. Ozone, which at high altitudes protects the Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays but is a pollutant at ground level, can worsen breathing problems. Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Next Dec. 31 is the deadline for all areas to meet the federal standard. Many will do so without any action as cleaner cars come into service, but others will need to make greater efforts.

The announcement came by coincidence on the day a Senate subcommittee opened drafting sessions on proposals to ease the deadline by five years for urban areas that are close to the standards and by 10 years or more for the dirtiest areas.

The construction bans were announced in proposals to disapprove state air pollution control plans for the 14 areas. If EPA proceeds with the proposals after a period reserved for public comment, state air quality agencies will have to submit new plans that show how standards will be met.

A major source of air pollution is defined as one that emits more than 100 tons a year of carbon monoxide or chemicals in the “volatile organic “ class that form ozone in sunlight. Gasoline vapors are by far the dominant “volatile organic” in most cities.

A major source might be a petroleum refinery, an auto assembly plant’s paint shop, a steel mill, a utility power plant.

Other areas listed were Chicago, the Indiana suburbs of Chicago, East St. Louis, Ill., the Indiana suburbs of Louisville, Ky., Cleveland, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and Reno.

The agency’s long-awaited announcement said only one area, Cleveland, faced loss of federal highway aid and grants for air pollution control programs.