Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP)
What is the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP)?
The CAAP is a comprehensive, community-based, plan of voluntary strategies to reduce ground-level ozone pollution in Southwest Missouri. The plan includes voluntary initiatives that can be adopted by local governments, businesses, and the general public to reduce pollutants (I.E. NOx and VOC's) that contribute to ground-level ozone formation.
Who is developing the CAAP?
The Ozarks Clean Air Alliance (OCAA). The OCAA is working with other businesses and organizations to gather information to determine the most feasible strategies with the best reductions in pollutants that contribute to ozone formation. The OCAA is working to complete the CAAP in early 2009.
Why is the CAAP being developed?
When the Ozarks Clean Air Alliance was created in early 2007, the group reviewed current levels of air pollution being monitored in the area. As a result, the group determined that due to the population growth rate for the area, ground-level ozone was a pollutant of significant concern. Therefore, the OCAA began educating groups across the Ozarks about ground-level ozone pollution and what can be done to improve air quality. As the effort grew, the OCAA began planning for the development of an action plan that lists voluntary strategies for organizations and individuals that can be adopted throughout the region to reduce ozone pollution. To date, over 35 organizations are currently participating in the OCAA. Of the 35 organizations, a small work group of 8 members was created to aggressively begin developing and CAAP. This work group began in January 2008. Our efforts to reduce ozone pollution were reinforced when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to strengthen the ozone air quality standard in 2007. The final regulation is due in March of this year.
Does the CAAP include any regulatory requirements?
Although the CAAP identifies voluntary strategies to reduce ozone pollution, it will include recommended mandatory strategies that communities could implement if the voluntary strategies are not properly adopted to achieve the necessary ozone reductions to remain in compliance with the EPA standard.
For more information about the CAAP, contact:
Doug Neidigh
Air Quality Control Coordinator
Springfield-Greene County Health Dept.
417/864-1086
Michelle Garand
Administrator of Community Support Services
Community Partnership of the Ozarks
417/888-2020