Matagorda County struggles against inclusion in EPA ozone non-attainment

H-GAC asks for extension

David Crossley, Jan 17, 12.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors today voted unanimously to request an extension in the time for comments for a proposed expansion of the ozone non-attainment area by the Environmental Protection Agency that would include Matagorda County, according to a story in Guidry News:

Currently Harris County and the seven surrounding counties are included in the non-attainment area.

“What is one of the worst things about being in a non-attainment area?” asked Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski. “What are some of the handcuffs that they put on you, economically or otherwise?”

“From time to time we get contacted by businesses or business consultants working on behalf of a business looking to locate or expand in the area,” explained H-GAC Executive Director Jack Steele. “One of the first questions frequently is ‘Are these sites that we are looking at in a non-attainment area?’ If the answer is yes, frequently the business will say ‘Well, we are not going to go forward’.” MORE

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