The Seven ECheck Counties

The U.S. EPA classifies areas based on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) which were initiated as a result of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. For any given area nationwide, the air quality is monitored on an hourly basis for ground level ozone, better known as smog. Ozone levels which exceed the NAAQS for a metropolitan statistical area (population more than 100,000) are categorized into one of five non attainment levels; marginal, moderate, serious, severe, or extreme. Individual states are then required to initiate basic emissions testing in any non-attainment area ranked moderate and above.

On April 15, 2004, U.S. EPA announced that 33 Ohio counties were out of attainment for the eight-hour ozone standard. In order for Ohio to meet the eight-hour standard, additional air pollution control measures may be necessary in these counties.

Under the new eight-hour ozone standard, the following counties in the Cleveland & Akron area are required to continue the E-Check program; Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage & Summit counties.