Staff Writer
PICKENS COUNTY - Recent negative results from a 1970s-era air quality monitor had county leaders crying foul, until state officials said the Environmental Protection Agency approved its removal.
The monitor was placed in an area that county officials said was questionable when it came to accurate readings. Therefore, the county decided to meet with state officials to clear the air.
"We had a meeting last week," said County Administrator Chappell Hurst.
It turns out, the state Department of Health and Environmental control "had already petitioned EPA to stop using that monitor," he said.
"She reported to us that they would discontinue using that monitor and dismantle it right away," Hurst said.
There have been many changes in air quality standards since this local monitor was installed, evidently in the 1970s.
A statewide plan to monitor air quality is being developed in conjunction with EPA standards and pulling down the local piece of equipment goes a long way toward accurately depicting Pickens County's contribution, Hurst said.
"We think that is appropriate and we look forward to that monitor being dismantled," Hurst said, adding that state air quality officials will likely move toward a system that monitors larger areas.
"DHEC is interested in the air quality of the Upstate as a region and will be asking the counties to work with them and participate with them in programs that will lower our ozone ratings," Hurst said, adding that the deadline for counties to show they're serious is March 2009.
Evidently congressional representatives were serios about the matter, as shown by the number of staffers attending the meeting: members from Lindsey Graham, Jim DeMint and Gresham Barrett's offices joined the discussion.
"They were interested because congress gave the EPA power basically to control these standards," Hurst said. "They relinquished their power to the EPA ... the system they've enacted in the past - I don't think it will be enforceable in the future."
With wind patterns drawing pollutants into the area from places as far away as Atlanta and Charlotte, little can be done to shield the county from outside air quality problems.
"We think we are one of the cleaner counties in the state," Hurst said, but local initiatives could make a significant dent in the numbers.
"The county is currently looking at a host of suggestions for county council ... Things that would have an impact but hopefully won't be impacting our citizens in a negative way that affects their daily lives," Hurst said. "Air quality is important and we have to do what we can to preserve it."
Hurst is preparing a checklist of methods and activities the county and municipalities can pursue to improve air quality by the deadline.
"We've got essentially another year to do the best we can to impress DHEC and the EPA that this county will be on the forefront in air quality," Hurst said. "We need to demonstrate to DHEC and EPA that we are concerned about our air quality ...We want to be good neighbors and we don't want to be contributing any more pollution than is necessary."
As far as penalties for current non-attainment, Hurst said the county will not be punished.
"They're really not going to enforce it until after ... 2010, when EPA makes their final determination," Hurst said. "Then that's when the non-attainment will kick in."
Using 2007-09 data, environmental officials will later decide how to proceed, he said.
"They're not going to apply any stringent standards against us," Hurst said. "Hopefully we've got a year now to work on this to do something to impact our air quality."
But the larger issue - federal control over industries' emissions - has yet to be addressed.
"That's why the federal government is important in this: They're the ones that have the control or can control the emissions from factories, coal fired plants and ... auto emissions," Hurst said. "It's an issue that should concern all of us, but the regulatory process is a federal process. They relinquished the power to the EPA to set the standards and I don't think that was a good idea."
Hurst said he doesn't worry about cooperation from the municipalities because they have just as high a stake in the air quality issue as the county.
"Cities are where you have the largest concentrations of emissions," Hurst said.
Hurst will present his findings and the checklist to county council at the next scheduled meeting, at 6 p.m., Monday April 7 in the County Administration Building.
For more information, visit www.co.pickens.sc.us.
Reach Ginny Johnson at 855-0355 or gjohnson@theeasleyprogress.com.
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