The Wake County Board of Commissioners today voted to join an area compact along with other local governments to focus on ways to make the air cleaner and meet the federal government's ozone standards for the future.
In a special meeting, the Board voted to join an "early action compact" with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The deadline for joining the compact is December 31. By entering into the compact, the County is joining with other local governments in hopes of gaining more time to take actions that help the area meet EPA's ozone standards, and therefore retain future transportation funding opportunities.
"This is a leadership opportunity for Wake County on an issue that is crucial for economic development and our overall quality of life," Commissioners' Chair Herb Council said. "We must achieve cleaner air in order to maintain our economic viability in this region, and it is important that we get out ahead of this issue and play an active role."
The early action compact is offered by EPA and DENR's Division of Air Quality to local governments as a way to gain more time to take actions to meet ozone standards. The Triangle area currently does not meet EPA's ozone standards, and will be designated as "non-attainment" for the new ozone standard by December 2004. If an area is designated as "non-attainment status," the federal government may withhold funding for transportation improvements.
EPA will require those who joined the compact to prepare a State Implementation Plan earlier than would normally be required (December 2004, rather than December 2007) in return for the EPA deferring designation of the area as non-attainment until December 31, 2007.
"Essentially, this gives our area time to take actions to help us comply with ozone standards," Council said. "Obviously, clean air doesn't stop at city, county or state boundaries, so we need to all work together for the good of our entire region. I hope that all local governments will become active partners as we pursue solutions to air quality issues."
Several cities and counties around the state have already adopted resolutions to join the Early Action Compact; nearby, those include the counties of Durham, Person, Granville and Franklin, and the towns of Zebulon and Clayton.
For more information, contact:
Contact: Commissioners' Chair Herb Council: 919-856-5565
or Environmental Services Director Rick Rowe: 919-856-7444