Ozone Monitoring Stations

 

There are six stations that monitor ozone levels for the Central Oklahoma region:

 

  • Memorial Road and Eastern in OKC
  • N.E. 10th and Kelley in OKC
  • S.E. 19th and Broadway Place in Moore
  • Goldsby
  • Yukon
  • Choctaw

 

Checking the curent ozone and carbon monoxide levels

 

To check the current levels for ozone or carbon monoxide, which are updated every hour, every day, depending on the time of year, click here to link to the DEQ Web site.

 

When you reach the page, press "Current Monitoring Data." From there, it will download the current information available at each site, depending on the time of year. Also on DEQ's site, you will find information on the daily air quality index.

 

Note: O3 represents ozone. CO represents carbon monoxide. PPM stands for parts per million. The new ozone standard is a high average reading of eight consecutive hours not to exceed .085 ppm. The top number 00 indicates midnight.

 

The AIRNow Web site

The U.S. EPA, NOAA, NPS, tribal, state, and local agencies developed the AIRNow Web site to provide the public with easy access to national air quality information. The Web site offers daily AQI forecasts as well as real-time AQI conditions for over 300 cities across the US, and provides links to more detailed State and local air quality Web sites.

 

Air Quality Forecasts - Nationwide daily air quality forecasts provided
by State and local Air Agencies for over 300 major U.S. cities.

Air Quality Conditions - Nationwide and regional real-time ozone air
quality maps covering 46 US States and parts of Canada. These maps are updated daily every hour.

 

 

Central Oklahoma Region's Current Status with the EPA:
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the country's air pollution standards in spring 2001, stating that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had the authority to set strict standards for ground-level ozone and soot in 1997.

 

But the court also said the agency's implementation policy for the ozone standard in areas where ozone exceeds the standard was unlawful, and that EPA must develop a "reasonable interpretation" of its implementation policies. Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in the court's opinion that under the law the standards must be set at a level required to protect the public health with an adequate margin of safety. Scalia did note that the law allows regulators to consider costs when determining how to implement the air quality standards.

 

The EPA tightened ozone standards in 1997, citing the need to protect 125 million Americans, including 35 million children, from adverse health effects caused by air pollution.
Aside from health concerns for people with respiratory and heart illnesses, violating the federal clean air standards could result in numerous requirements for the region, including a mandatory comprehensive vehicle inspection and maintenance program, more expensive and refined gasoline, and severe restraints on economic and highway development.

 

While it is certainly good news that Central Oklahoma is currently in compliance with the Clean Air Act, concerted efforts by citizens, businesses and governments must continue to keep our region's air clean.

 

To learn more about ozone vist EPA.gov


 

 

 

 

current air quality in central oklahoma.

 

 

 

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