http://bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=144049&zoneid=500The federal government recognized Maine’s efforts to reduce smog on Monday by removing nine midcoast and Portland-area counties from a list of locations with ground-level ozone problems.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision means that all Maine counties now meet federal air quality standards for ground-level ozone.
While not necessarily a clean bill of health, the re-designation shows that Maine is making progress with its air pollution programs, state officials said.
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"While Maine is now meeting the federal ozone standard, there remains room for air quality improvement," David Littell, commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, said in a statement. "We need to continue working with
EPA and upwind states to further reduce emissions of ozone precursors and other pollutants, including mercury from power plants."
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