In late January, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced U.S. EPA’s publication of two rules to formally change the air quality designation status in portions of Jackson and Jefferson counties from “nonattainment” to “attainment” for the outdoor air quality standard for sulfur dioxide.
In 2013, EPA designated portions of these two counties as in nonattainment because air quality monitors were regularly measuring violations of the sulfur dioxide air standard EPA established in 2010. DNR worked with industries and stakeholders to develop a plan to bring those areas into compliance, a status they have maintained since 2017.
However, despite the improved air quality levels, EPA has not officially redesignated the areas until now due to statutory and administrative requirements in the Clean Air Act.
For more information, see here.
