NC Strategic Scorecard
5.1.1 Clean Air

Target: Less than 100% of US median smog rate
Actual: 127% of US median
US Rank 2003: 37th (up from 46th in 1999)
SE Rank 2003: 8tht (8th in 1999)
SE Region: AL FL GA KY MS NC SC TN VA WV   Updated 3/30/06
 
Primary Performance Indicator

Ozone Exceedance (Unhealthy Smog) Days
 Performance Trend:
Improving
The trend depicts the degree to which actual performance has approached the target in recent years.
Comments
•
 Despite emissions from adjoining states, NC’s air quality has steadily improved since 1998 (except for 2002 when a hot summer increased ozone levels).
•
 NC’s ozone exceedance day rate is the 3rd highest in the SE and 15th highest in the US.
•
 States with large populations and monitoring programs often report the highest ozone rates. NC has the 3rd largest population in the SE and the 11th largest in the US.
  Definition (What Is Being Measured)
Definition
Source: Source and links		 Relevance (Why This Is Important)
Relevance
 
Other Highlights
North Carolina
•
 We are taking steps to improve air quality, and overall air emissions are down in NC.
•
 In 2004, NC won the US EPA's Clean Air Excellence Award in recognition of the state’s innovative Clean Smokestacks Act aimed at reducing multiple air pollutants (Source: NC DENR).
•
 From 2001 to 2004, NC counties (with monitors) violating the 8-hour ozone standard fell from 21 to 12, and NC counties violating the fine particle (PM2.5) standard fell from 14 to 2.
•
 From 2001 to 2004, NC counties (with monitors) violating the 8-hour ozone standard fell from 21 to 12, and NC counties violating the fine particle (PM2.5) standard fell from 14 to 2.
  
Other
• In 2002, NC was ranked 46th in the US in air quality (as measured by the number of unhealthy ozone days per the EPA Air Quality Index), down from 44th the year before.
Southeast Region
• The ten states of the Southeast Region are all among the top 20 states in the nation in terms of total air emissions (Source: US EPA).
National
•
 In 2003, ozone levels in 40 states exceeded the 8-hour health standard 4,583 times. The states of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming did not have any exceedances of ozone in 2003.
Global
  Data Links
US Environmental Protection Agency
American Lung Association
  
Environmental Defense Fund
Foundation for Clean Air Progress
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Imperative 5:   A Sustainable Environment
Goal 5.1: Ensure Clean Air & Water Resources