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3 1 � 2 . New EPA Ground - Level Ozone Rules / Regional Non -Attainment Ground - level ozone is a major source of air pollution . The primary sources for this pollution are vehicle emissions , industrial emissions , use of various paints and solvents , and some natural sources . Air pollution from ground - level ozone has been shown to have detrimental effects on public health ; damaging lung tissue and aggravating or increasing susceptibility to respiratory disorders . New Federal standards for ground - level ozone ( an 8 - hour ozone standard ) have been approved . Based on existing and projected data , It appears that the Triangle ' s exceedances of this standard will cause the region to be designated " non - attainment " for ozone . Other areas of North Carolina that will also be designated include the Charlotte area , the Triad , Asheville , Hickory and Fayetteville . In April 2004 , the US EPA will designate the Triangle as a " non - attainment " area . Being designated non - attainment means a series of more - restrictive requirements for permits for new large industrial sources , and requires that all new transportation plans must demonstrate that they will not worsen air quality . If regional transportation plans fail to conform , Federal transportation dollars are withheld and transportation projects put on hold ( except for projects that help achieve improved air quality , potentially including projects such as pedestrian , bicycle and transit options ) . Orange County does not have an ozone monitor , and it is expected that most of the factors contributing to the region ' s impending non - attainment occur in the neighboring counties . However , as part of the region , the County will very likely be designated along with its neighbors . A plan late last year to create an " early - action compact " to defer some of the ramifications of non - attainment was withdrawn after unanswered questions and objections from a number of local governments , including Chapel Hill , Cary and Orange County . Once the non - attainment status is made official in April 2004 , local governments have one year ( April 2005 ) to develop local control measures and create Transportation Conformity Analysis reports . It is unclear ( pending further elaboration from EPA and the State ) whether these reports will be generated at the local level or coordinated through the MPO . It is expected that both local governments and the MPO , as the regional transportation entity , will be involved in these analyses of transportation conformity . These reports will be ORANGE COUNTY 20e02 NORTH CAROLINA C, EUDRATING 250 YEARS