The Columbus Consolidated Government
Planning Department
Post Office Box 1340 Columbus, Georgia 31902-1340
Telephone (706) 653-4116
Fax (706) 653-4120
Website: www.columbusga.org/planning
02/19/2009
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council
Subject: Air Quality Non Attainment Status for Columbus
The Planning Department has been informed by the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources' (GDNR) Air Protection Branch that Columbus will be designated as an
"nonattainment" area for failure to meet federal requirements for air quality
as it relates to ozone. According to GDNR, over the last three years
ground-level the Columbus area exceeded the new federal standards for this
pollutant, requiring that the community be considered for nonattainment.
While GDNR is prepared to make this recommendation, the city still has the
opportunity to submit information on its behalf as to why nonattainment should
not be imposed. The Planning Department is currently working on this response
to the GDNR. A copy of the letter from GDNR is attached for your review.
Rick Jones, AICP
Director, Planning Department
Attachments