Northwest Indiana blames Chicago for air pollution

High ozone levels in two northwest Indiana counties have resulted in a battle between the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Illinois officials.\nThe Indiana Department of Environmental Management is petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to declare Porter and Lake counties in compliance with ozone level standards. The Indiana department blames Chicago for contributing to pollution in the area, and said the two counties should not have to pay fees that go along with noncompliance. But Illinois officials said redesignating the counties as compliant could suggest the counties aren’t contributing to the ozone issue.\nSince 1997, the U.S. EPA has held an eight-hour ozone standard at 0.08 parts per million, labeling counties as either in attainment, which means ozone levels are equal or below the standard, or nonattainment, which means ozone levels are above the standard. According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management Web site, this standard is the highest possible ozone level that can be reached and still protect public health.\nLake and Porter Counties in Indiana are now considered in nonattainment, as a portion of Chicago-Gary-Lake County, Ill.-Ind. nonattainment area.\nRob Elstro, a spokesman for air issue relations for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, said his department is now petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to redesignate these counties, possibly resulting in attainment.\nTo redesignate, the counties must show a three-year average of ozone concentrations below federal standards, Elstro said.\nTim Maloney, senior policy director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, said the counties will reap many benefits if the government decides they’ve met attainment. The air will be healthier and the counties won’t have face the federal funding restrictions that are placed on nonattainment areas, he said. \nThe Hoosier Environmental Council reports that ozone levels are still showing problems in Lake County, and the direct source of the pollution is not clear. Wind currents, along with emissions from industrial campuses and vehicles, can contribute heavily to the amount of pollution in the air.\nBrian Urbaszewski, director of Environmental Health Programs at Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, said there is an economic impact within a nonattainment area, but if Lake and Porter counties are considered in attainment, it would be as if the counties are labeled as not contributing to the problem.\n“I don’t believe that the counties are guiltless in regulating the issue at heart,” Urbaszewski said.\nUrbaszewski said air pollution doesn’t respect county borders, and the production of particles used in creating ozone doesn’t just stay in one place. Industries in Indiana also puff out the chemicals, leaving them responsible for pollution.\nAs Indiana continues to push for redesignation of Lake and Porter counties, Chicago continues to object to the blame the counties placed on the city, Urbaszewski said. However, the U.S. EPA is setting a new ozone level standard next month, and Urbaszewski questions if the counties will be able to reach attainment when the new regulation appears even if the counties are redesignated.