The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this summer will start working with the 10 states that send their air pollution downwind to Connecticut, which is one of the worst states in the nation for smog, according to Curt Spalding, EPA regional administrator.Smog — or ozone, as the EPA calls it — is created when greenhouse gases […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this summer will start working with the 10 states that send their air pollution downwind to Connecticut, which is one of the worst states in the nation for smog, according to Curt Spalding, EPA regional administrator.
Smog — or ozone, as the EPA calls it — is created when greenhouse gases in the air mix with sunlight and heat to create a haze that, among other things, makes it difficult for people to breath and leads to respiratory problems. Connecticut typically has the most smog days of any New England state, and EPA data shows Connecticut is the only state in the nation where smog impacts every county.
Connecticut's unhealthy ozone days has decreased over the years through various efforts by EPA and the state government. Connecticut had 113 unhealthy days in 1983; last year the number fell to nine days. This year, the state has had five unhealthy ozone days so far.
“Unfortunately, we still have issues here in Connecticut, moreso than anywhere in New England,” Spalding said.
Connecticut suffers from smog more than other New England states because pollution from southern and western states drifts up to our borders, Spalding said. This pollution comes from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.
EPA is developing a good neighbor program where it is going to work with these 10 states to lower the threshold of pollution they generate, or develop methods to cut down on the amount of pollution they send downwind, Spalding said.
EPA also may lower the threshold for what it considers an unhealthy ozone day, with the hopes that pollution will drop even further, Spalding said.
The program is expected to be fully implemented by summer 2018.
— Brad Kane
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