Air Quality and Kansas City's Economy
Knowing
your AirQ also means knowing that
what you do has an economic impact
on your community.
While it’s true the quality of Kansas City’s air has improved because of federal, state and local mandates and proactive measures taken by concerned residents and businesses, ground-level ozone still reaches harmful "Alert" levels several days every summer. These Ozone Alert! Days not only pose health risks to the elderly, pregnant women, children, asthmatics and others with respiratory conditions, they also affect the future of Kansas City.
How so? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raised the standards that define clean air in 2003. The new regulations put Kansas City dangerously close to non-attainment status. This means that if we fall below the new minimum standard and lose our clean air status, the entire metropolitan area may be penalized with a cutback or loss of funds needed for civic improvements such as road and bridge construction.
In addition, this might discourage new businesses from locating in Kansas City and the jobs could go to cities with better air quality.
Being out of attainment according to EPA standards could also mean increased gasoline prices as emission reduction equipment is installed a mandate to test emissions on residents’ vehicles is required.
By working with the EPA and adopting policies and procedures aimed at reducing ground-level ozone emissions and the number of Ozone Alert! Days, we are working to ensure Kansas City keeps its clean air status and its strong economy.