Columbus, Ohio, Is First City to Hit Ozone Pollution Goals

Columbus, Ohio, is the first U.S. city to meet federal ozone pollution targets after previously failing to meet them, the EPA announced Aug. 21.

As a result of the state capital and largest city meeting the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone, area businesses will face fewer air permitting restrictions, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement.

Ground-level ozone is caused by emissions from industry, utilities, and motor vehicles, among other sources.

The EPA said the pollution reduction in America’s fourteenth largest city, where workers commute predominantly via personal automobiles, was driven by federal regulations impacting fuel ...