EPA Designates Metro Area/Northern Front Range Marginal Nonattainment Under 2008 Ozone Standards

As required by the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 30, 2012 announced final designations for 45 areas under the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone.  The nine-county Denver Metro Area/Northern Front Range was issued marginal nonattainment status under the designation. 

The EPA’s final designations are based on air quality monitoring data; recommendations submitted by the states and tribes; and other technical information including emissions, commuting patterns, population growth, weather patterns and topography.  A non-attainment area is one in which air quality does not meet the ozone standards set forth by the federal government in 2008, which is 0.075 parts per million over an eight-hour period.

The marginal nonattainment designation does not impose any new planning requirements on the State of Colorado at this time; however, the Denver Metro Area/North Front Range region must meet the standard before 2015 or new requirements may be imposed.  

Please visit our programs page to learn more about how you can help to reduce ground-level ozone and help to bring the region back to attainment status.