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EPA Proposes to Approve Beaumont/Port Arthur Area Clean Air Plan

Release Date: 12/19/2000
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the clean air plan for the Beaumont/Port Arthur area. The plan, formally known as the ozone attainment demonstration for the State Implementation Plan or SIP, details how the Beaumont/Port Arthur area will ensure it meets the national health-based air quality standard for ozone by 2007.

     The Beaumont/Port Arthur clean air plan is the first in Texas where EPA recognized the impact of ozone traveling from the Houston/Galveston area to other areas in the state. As a result of the impact of ozone from Houston, EPA has given the Beaumont/Port Arthur area the same clean air attainment date as the Houston/Galveston area.

     "I congratulate the state, local government, business, and citizens of the Beaumont/Port Arthur area for their commitment in developing a plan to improve air quality for their children and families.  The Beaumont/Port Arthur clean air plan is the first to prove air pollution does not recognize jurisdictional boundaries.  The citizens of Beaumont/Port Arthur will be closely watching the state of Texas as it finalizes Houston's clean air plan later this month.  The Beaumont/Port Arthur area's success in achieving clean air is ultimately dependent on a combination of local control measures and the Houston area clean air plan," EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke said.

     Beaumont/Port Arthur's plan includes a range of actions to reduce air pollution focusing on local controls and a mid-course review in May 2004 to assess how controls are working and make revisions if needed.

     Based on the proposed approval, EPA will not reclassify Beaumont/Port Arthur to a higher non-attainment level and require more stringent air pollution requirements.  

     A 30-day public comment period will begin after EPA's proposed approval is printed in the Federal Register.