Knoxville to receive 2008 8-hour ozone standard designation from EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Monday that it will approve Tennessee’s request to designate Knoxville as having attained the 2008 eight-hour ozone standard based on monitoring from 2011 to 2013.

“We commend the Knoxville area for the effort it has undertaken toward improving air quality and reaching this accomplishment,” EPA Regional Administrator Heather McTeer Toney said. “This progress represents a commitment to hard work by the local, state and federal agencies, private partners, and the many citizens of Tennessee who live and work in the Knoxville area.”

The Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area (KMSA) has partnered with the EPA and local stakeholders for 20 years to reduce ozone levels, and Knox Blount and parts of Anderson Counties have even attained the 2008 eight-hour ozone standard while experiencing large population growths.

“This is something that I and my staff, along with Sen. Lamar Alexander and other state and local officials have worked on for several years, and I’m happy to see our area reach attainment of EPA air quality standards,” Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said. “Being in attainment will not only have a positive impact on the environment and public health, it also will encourage economic development by sending a signal to businesses that Knox County and East Tennessee are open for business.”