In the early 2000s, an Early Action Compact (EAC) allowed the counties of Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg to develop and implement a series of activities toward achieving emissions reductions under the 1997 standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for air quality, ground level ozone. By signing the compact, the three counties viewed their participation in the EAC as a proactive means of achieving compliance with the 1997 8-hour ground level ozone standard ahead of the federally-mandated compliance date, while avoiding unnecessary and burdensome federal restrictions that normally apply to non-attainment areas. The implemented strategies achieved required milestones included in the EAC before December 31, 2007.

In early 2008, EPA designated 13 areas, including the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area, as attaining the 1997 8-hour ground level ozone standard under the EAC. EPA proposed "this action because each of the areas has demonstrated that they attained the standard by Dec. 31, 2007." In March 2008, the EPA Administrator announced that the agency had strengthened the 8-hour ozone standard from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm for both the primary and secondary standards. As of 2016, Greenville County remains in attainment with both standards: ground level ozone and PM2.5.

As required by the Clean Air Act, EPA reviewed the ground level ozone standard and, on October 1, 2015, EPA promulgated the new standard at 70 part per billion (ppb). Below is the designation timetable for areas that will be designated as non-attainment with respect to the new 2015 ozone standard.

Greenville County continues implementing the Spare the Air Public Awareness campaign. To view the State of Air Quality in Greenville County presentation click here. If your organization is interested in having an air quality presentation please contact Ikein Asangqua.

Please visit both the SCDHEC website and the USEPA website to learn more about air quality, ground level ozone, and PM2.5.