South Carolina locks in 2008 air pollution limits through 2036

South Carolina has submitted a plan to the US environmental regulators to maintain 2008 ozone air quality standards in the Charlotte-Rock Hill area through 2036. This plan includes specific limits on vehicle emissions for nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

This document locks in specific air pollution limits for a major bi-state metropolitan area for over a decade. It means that even as the population grows and more vehicles are on the road, the region must find ways to keep these emissions at or below 2008 levels. This creates a long-term constraint on urban planning and transportation development in the area.