…The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce has formed an ozone task force to see what we can do to help ourselves before the state hammer hits. It should consider the suggestion put forth yesterday by a Georgia Tech professor to team up with Columbus and Augusta to look at the problem on a broad, regional basis. (Editorial Board; Macon Telegraph; 8/12/99)

…All of which is why the idea of a regional approach to air quality control makes so much sense. Granted the idea of ‘regional’ anything, as we’ve seen repeatedly, is greeted with varying degrees of enthusiasm, skepticism and undisguised contempt by the powers that be in our various communities. But in terms of environmental stewardship it’s not just the best approach – it’s the only approach. (Editorial Board; Columbus Ledger-Enquirer; 8/12/99)

…Non-attainment can seriously stifle economic development. It triggers restrictions on industry, reduces eligibility for transportation dollars and puts in place a harsh vehicle emissions inspection regime. …It would be terrible if the city is stuck with non-attainment status based on faulty data. But even if the city fails the tougher ozone test, the data from more accurate pollution readings would take the guesswork out of developing pollution-fighting decisions. (Editorial Staff; Augusta Chronicle; 8/19/99)

…[Rep. Tom] Buck said the $375,000 added to Gov. Roy Barnes’ proposed spending plan for the rest of this fiscal year is only the ‘start-up’ funding, with additional state money required in coming years. ‘…Augusta, Macon and, to a slightly lesser extent, Columbus are all on the verge of becoming nonattainment areas,’ Buck said, describing the threat posed by worsening air-quality reports from the three mid-state cities. ‘When we do, that puts us in the position we’ve already got up here in metro Atlanta. (Columbus Ledger Enquirer; 2/15/00)

‘…Atlanta is in the process of converging with Los Angeles on the pollution that causes haze,’ Glen Cass, chairman of Georgia Tech's School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, said Thursday. Cass reported preliminary results from a new analysis of data during a pollution conference at Stone Mountain. The study suggests Atlanta's air may become more polluted than Los Angeles' if present trends continue. In Atlanta, the air appears to be getting dirtier, while in Los Angeles the air is getting cleaner - -- decades after officials there initiated stringent engineering controls and tough social policies to clean it up, Cass said. The study also shows air pollution levels in Macon and Rome may be approaching the levels in Los Angeles. (Atlanta Constitution; 5/5/00)

…While the $3 million study only received $750,000 in first-year funding, Mr. Barnes said he’s committed to the work because it will fill a gap in information about pollution outside of metro Atlanta. ‘Whatever it takes, I’m going to fund it,’ he said. (Augusta Chronicle; 5/10/00)

…To their credit, those cities are learning how to manage their air problems in anticipation of being designated so-called ‘nonattainment’ areas. The looming designation prompted them to join forces, under the auspices of the state Environmental Protection Division, on a Fall Line air quality study. (Editorial Staff; Atlanta Constitution; 6/23/00)

…The proposal to the Governor dated October 21, 1999 is pretty well done and makes sense. The people at Georgia Tech who put this together are competent and should be able to deliver on their scope of work. The dollars are probably in the right ball park for what they propose. …Tech proposes to do more air sampling and monitoring than EPD would do. That should result in better technical analyses and ultimate plans for these cities. …[They would also] be doing a lot of the technical and local coordination work that otherwise has to be done by EPD. Since EPD is spread very thin, especially in air quality modeling, this could be a big help, and can get the work done faster. (Mr. Harold F. Reheis; Georgia Environmental Protection Division; 10/29/99)

GRTA is supportive of the proposal submitted to the Governor on October 21, 1999 in regard to the Fall Line Air Quality Study. I spoke with representatives at the EPD and we agree the work is valuable and would begin development of an approach (paradigm) to be followed in regard to areas outside the Atlanta non-attainment area. (Dr. Catherine L. Ross; Georgia Regional Transportation Authority; 12/22/99)

…An important factor in my recommendation is the EPA and Georgia Tech ozone modeling. This indicates that Muscogee, Bibb, and Richmond Counties may attain the 8-hour ozone standard after implementation of the regional nitrogen oxide emission reductions and stricter national fuel and vehicle standards, with no additional local control measures required. In light of this modeling, and given the impact a nonattainment designation will have on any county, I am recommending only those counties outside of metropolitan Atlanta which have ozone monitors showing violations of the standard be designated nonattainment. (Governor Roy E. Barnes; 6/30/00)

...All the work in the Fall Line Air Quality Study has been beneficial. We're going to continue to do that. (Mr. Ron Methier, Air Protection Branch, GA Environmental Protection Division; 2/28/01)

References

• 6/15/00 WMAZ (Macon channel 13).
• 6/15/00 WGXA (Macon channel 24).
• 6/15/00 WPGA (Macon channel 58).
• 6/26/00 WAGT (Augusta channel 26).
• 7/6/00 WAGT (Augusta channel 26).
• 7/6/00 WJBF (Augusta channel 6).
• 7/10/00 WTVM (Columbus channel 9).
• 7/14/00 WTVM (Columbus channel 9).
• 7/20/00 WRBL (Columbus channel 3).
• 7/20/00 WXTX (Columbus channel 54).
• 7/25/00 WRBL (Columbus channel 3).
• 9/6/00 WTVM (Columbus channel 9).

FAQS on the Radio (Incomplete)

• 7/10/00 Lead local (GA) news story on Peach State Public Radio (NPR).
  

Other Notable References

• 10/29/99 "Memorandum: Fall Line Air Quality Study;" Reheis, H. F.; Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
• 12/22/99 "Memorandum: Fall Line Air Quality Study;" Ross, C. L.; Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.
• 6/30/00 Letter from Governor Roy E. Barnes to Mr. John Hankinson (Regional Administrator, US EPA Region IV).