Ozone Regulation and the EPA

Canada Free Press ^ | 02/14/15 | Jack Dini

[Sean_Anthony]

The west coast sees rising levels of ozone because of emissions from fast-developing Asian countries while the southeast sees increasing ozone from uncontrolled growth of the invasive species kudzu

Thirty percent of the ozone- one of the primary components of photochemical smog found in the skies above the western United States during the spring- comes from coal-fired factories in East Asia (primarily China and India). (1)

In about one week, winds carry ozone formed by emissions from cars, factories, and power plants in Asia to the US west coast, where it can add to locally generated pollution, worsening smog in cities such as Bakersfield, Fresno and Los Angeles. (2)

How does EPA respond to this? Fine folks and also further tighten federal ozone rules. They have proposed changing ozone limits from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to between 65 and 70 parts per billion later this year. A new standard would put more areas of the country in violation of air quality standards.

[Paladin2]

"invasive species kudzu"

Kudzu is also from Asia.....developing....

[mountainlion]

“invasive species kudzu”

Could we get Kudzu to invice DC?

[ptsal]

what about ozone generators used to sanitize food facilities.... are they off limits?

[Elsiejay]

Kudzu was brought into the southeastern states in the early 1930s by the USDA Soil Erosion Service (soon renamed Soil Conservation Service), to help reduce rampant erosion of roadside banks and raw gully surfaces where no native plant species cold gain a foothold on extremely erodible, highly infertile soil surfaces. Being a very aggressive and competitive member of the plant world, kudzu soon exploited and conquered areas where it was not wanted, invaded woodlands and completely covers native trees. As you drive the rural highways and byways of Mississippi you can easily spot trees covered with kudzu vines. My guess is that it crowds out more desirable and commercially useful woodland species.
In other parts of the U.S.A. i.e., Corn Belt states, other non-native, highly invasive/competitive plants introduced to America by the USDA in the 1930s to help control erosion and/or provide wildlife habitat can be found spreading (and achieving dominance) in areas where they were not wanted. Reed Canary grass and multiflora rose are two such plants.