Editing Ground-level ozone (section)

==Problem areas==
[[File:US-ozone-non-attainment-2007-06.png|thumb|right|300px]]
The [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] has developed an Air Quality index to help explain [[air pollution]] levels to the general public. 8-hour average ozone [[mole fraction]]s of 76 to 95 nmol/mol are described as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups", 96 nmol/mol to 115 nmol/mol as unhealthy and 116 nmol/mol to 404 nmol/mol as very unhealthy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Smog - Who does it Hurt? EPA-452/K-99-001 |date=July 1999 |website=airnow.gov (EPA) |url=https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2018-03/smog.pdf}}</ref> The EPA has designated over 300 counties of the United States, clustered around the most heavily populated areas (especially in California and the Northeast), as failing to comply with the [[National Ambient Air Quality Standards]].

In 2000, the Ozone Annex was added to the [[U.S.–Canada Air Quality Agreement]]. The Ozone Annex addresses transboundary air pollution that contributes to ground-level ozone, which contributes to smog. The main goal was to attain proper ozone air quality standards in both countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement: Overview |date=25 January 2005 |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-pollution/issues/transboundary/canada-united-states-air-quality-agreement-overview.html}}</ref> The North Front Range of Colorado has been out of compliance with the Federal Air Quality standards. The U.S. EPA designated Fort Collins as part of the ozone non-attainment area in November 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ozone FAQs {{!}}{{!}} Air Quality |website=fcgov.com |url=https://www.fcgov.com/airquality/ozone |access-date=2019-10-26}}</ref> This means that the U.S.'s [[environmental law]] considers the air quality to be worse than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are defined in the Clean Air Act Amendments.<ref>{{cite web |title=NAAQS Table |last=US EPA |first=OAR |date=2014-04-10 |website=US EPA |url=https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table |access-date=2019-10-26}}</ref> In 2024, the Lung Association ranked Fort Collins 16th in the nation for high ozone days out of 228 metropolitan areas, 38 for 24-hour particle pollution out of 223 metropolitan areas, and 136 for annual particle pollution out of 204 metropolitan areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fort Collins, CO |language=en |website=lung.org |url=https://www.lung.org/research/sota/city-rankings/msas/fort-collins-co |access-date=2024-06-22}}</ref>

In monitoring air quality, [[Boulder County, Colorado|Boulder County]], Colorado is classified by the EPA as part of a nine-county group that includes the Denver metro area and North Front Range region. This nine-county zone has recorded ozone levels that exceed the EPA's ozone standard since 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ozone |website=Boulder County |url=https://www.bouldercounty.org/environment/air/ozone/ |access-date=2019-10-26}}</ref> Attempts have been made under the Early Action Compact to bring the area's air quality up to the EPA's standards. However, since 2004 ozone pollution in Boulder County has regularly failed to meet federal standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Simple Steps. Better Air. – A program of Colorado's Regional Air Quality Council |website=simplestepsbetterair.org |url=https://simplestepsbetterair.org/ |access-date=2019-10-26}}</ref> The County of Boulder continues trying to alleviate some of the ozone pollution through programming that encourages people to drive less, and stop ozone polluting activities during the heat of the day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ozone |date=2020 |language=en-US |website=Boulder County |url=https://www.bouldercounty.org/environment/air/ozone/ |access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref>