Description

Register now of our upcoming webinar on the Cleveland ozone nonattainment area and their reclassification to "Serious" nonattainment. For facility managers and environmental compliance professionals located in the Cleveland 2015 ozone nonattainment area, the regulatory changes resulting from the reclassification bring new challenges that require appropriate actions to maintain operational flexibility. Learn from OCTC member Mike Ractanus with BSI about the new requirements and considerations for your facility.

Background

In the December 17, 2024 Federal Register, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Cleveland ozone nonattainment area failed to attain the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by the applicable attainment date. The area was therefore reclassified to "Serious" nonattainment, effective January 16, 2025.

This reclassification affects facilities in seven Ohio counties: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit. Specifically, it applies to any facility within these seven counties that have, or may have, facility-wide potential nitrogen oxide (NOx) or volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions greater than 50 tons per year (i.e., the serious area major source threshold).