Today the EPA announced plans to seek stronger limits of pollution forming ozone. EPA administrator said in a statement, “Smog in the air we breathe poses a very serious health threat, especially to children and individuals suffering from asthma and lung disease.”

The current limit, set by the Bush administration EPA, is 75 parts per billion (ppb) of ozone and the EPA is proposing to set the limit somewhere between 60 and 70 ppb to comply with current science on the dangers of ground level ozone.

Hampton roads is already at 77 ppb. Regions that are not attaining the legal limit for ozone, or on their way to attaining the legal limit (aka ‘in non-attainment’), can have federal transportation funds withheld as a stick to encourage attainment. ODEC’s proposed 1500 megawatt coal plant in Hampton Roads would add a considerable amount of ozone causing pollutants into the regions air making it much harder for other lesser polluting industries to get approval to move into Hampton Roads.

If ODEC gets its permit, its possible it could be the last new industry to be allowed to move into the area. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out.

The article from the Washington Post can be viewed here.