Areas that do not attain the EPA's new air standards after fully implementing the prescribed nitrogen oxide reductions will have additional time to take further action. All areas must attain the new ozone standard by 2012. The EPA's action has the potential to help the Bay because airborne deposition contributes about a quarter of all the nitrogen that enters the Chesapeake. Excess amounts of nitrogen spur algae blooms that block sunlight to important underwater plants which provide food and habitat for waterfowl, blue crabs, juvenile fish and other species. When the algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that depletes the water of oxygen needed by other species.
Nitrogen oxides can travel hundreds of miles after leaving a smokestack or tailpipe.
The EPA's proposed action requires significant reductions from many states within that airshed, especially those directly upwind in the Ohio Valley. Nitrogen oxide emissions from those states have been blamed for being a major contributor to chronic summertime smog problems in many East Coast cities. In fact, many Northeast states say the EPA is not taking action fast enough. Pennsylvania, New York and several New England states filed papers in October announcing their plans to file suit against the EPA to force faster action. Pennsylvania alone cannot solve its air quality problems - we need every state to do its share, in a timely fashion.