Ozone and Air Quality
Air quality continues to be an issue in the MAPA region. On October 1, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency imposed tougher national air quality standards related to ground-level ozone. The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area meets these new standards and remains in “attainment” status, but barely. The new standard for ground-level ozone is 70 parts per billion (ppb). Our region’s current measurement according to the area’s air quality monitors is 67 ppb, just three points lower than the new standard.
MAPA manages the Little Steps. Big Impact. ozone awareness and education program to inform the public about the ozone issue in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area and the “little steps” we all can take to help reduce the region’s ground-level ozone.