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v* ^^ % U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY - REGION 9
FACT SHEET
FINAL NOTICE APPROVING THE CARBON MONOXIDE
MAINTENANCE PLAN, REDESIGNATION REQUEST AND
WINTERTIME GASOLINE RULE CHANGES FOR THE
LAS VEGAS CARBON MONOXIDE NONATTAINMENT AREA
September 16, 2010
Today's Action
> Communities in Las Vegas are breathing easier because federal
requirements for fuels and engines have resulted in cleaner burning
vehicles. EPA is approving Nevada's request to redesignate the Las
Vegas Valley as an area that is attaining the federal health-based
standard for carbon monoxide (CO). EPA is also approving Nevada's plan
to continue to attain the CO standard (the maintenance plan).
> In 2008, the State of Nevada submitted the Las Vegas Valley CO
redesignation request and maintenance plan In March of 2010, the State
of Nevada submitted a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision, including
the suspension of the local wintertime gasoline rule, and the relaxation of
the state wintertime gasoline rule. In August of 2010, the State of Nevada
submitted the final SIP revision, a commitment to reinstate the state
wintertime gasoline rule as a contingency measure, if needed. EPA is
approving these SIP revisions today.
Las Vegas' Air Quality
> In recognition of the long record of clean air (for CO), it is a great success
story to redesignate the Las Vegas Valley to a CO attainment area. The
Las Vegas Valley is the last remaining nonattainment area before the
carbon monoxide standard is revised.
> Las Vegas was designated as a CO nonattainment area in 1978. In
response to this nonattainment status, Clark County and the State of
Nevada adopted and implemented new air quality plans and control
measures, including state and local wintertime gasoline fuel requirements.
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> These measures helped reduce the number of exceedances of the CO
standard from over 40 each year in the mid-1980s to less than 5 by the
mid-1990s. The last recorded exceedances of the CO air quality standard
occurred in 1998.
Background: Carbon Monoxide's Impact on Public Health
> Carbon monoxide is a threat to human health and the environment.
Exposure to elevated CO levels can cause harmful health effects by
reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs (like the heart and brain)
and tissues and is associated with impairment of visual perception, work
capacity, manual dexterity, and learning ability, and with illness and death
for those who already suffer from cardiovascular disease, particularly
angina or peripheral vascular disease.
Further Information
> The published finding and additional information regarding this action can
be found on our website at: http://www.epa.gov/region09/air.
> For more information, please call Amy Zimpfer, Associate Director, Air
Division, U.S. EPA Region 9 at (415) 947-4146 or Karina O'Connor, Air
Quality Planner, Air Division, U.S. EPA Region 9 at (775) 833-1276.
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