FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico environmental officials are working on plans to address ozone pollution as a number of counties are pushing the limit set by federal regulators.
The Daily Times in Farmington reports that a monitor near Navajo Lake in northwestern New Mexico has met the ozone limit of 70 parts per billion set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
San Juan County is one of seven New Mexico counties that exceed 95 percent of the national ambient air quality standard for ozone. The others are Eddy, Lea, Dona Ana, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and Valencia.
The state Environment Department is holding meetings and drafting ozone attainment plans.
Right now, any measures taken to lower ozone levels will be voluntary. But if a county goes into non-attainment status, the measures become mandatory.