Columbus: 'Smog Alerts Just A Start'

(Department of Natural Resources)

Air quality in Columbus is worsening, and the city is starting out the New Year with smog alerts.

Federal and State Environmental Protection agency officials are threatening the city with what's know as “non-attainment” of air quality goals. City officials say the designation would sharply curtail business development.
Today's air quality is at 42, considered according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Although the city says it currently meets federal air-quality smog standards, Columbus admits that in 2007, they racked up no less than ten violations for particle pollution.

Columbus Planning Director Rick Jones says, "...it means simply that our air standards don't meet national standards, that the EPA has established... What we're setting up is an email notification system, to let folks know what the air-quality will be for the next day...”

But Jones says the city's cleaning up their act before the 2009 cutoff date.

In September, the city spearheaded a volunteer program with over 60 municipal and local organizations to cut diesel emissions, car idling, limit open burning and raise public awareness of the issue.

Current air quality information is available here: http://www.air.dnr.state.ga.us/columbussmogforecast/

Georgians will be able to sign up for the emails as of next week at the city's website: http://www.columbusga.com/MPO

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