Levels of Non-attainment

Do Your Share For Cleaner Air

Extreme

Severe (Houston)

Serious (El Paso and Beaumont-Port Arthur)

Moderate (Dallas)

Marginal

Dallas is classified as 'moderate non-attainment.' That designation requires a 15% emmission reduction by November 1996 from the 1990 emmissions inventory. Unlike Houston, Beaumont-Port Arthur and El Paso, the majority of emmissions in teh Dallas area come from mobile sources such as cars, trucks, planes, boats, and off-road equipment. Mobile sources make up 56 percent whereas area sources -- gas stations, drycleaners, paints, & solvents, make up 32%; stationary sources like factories omprise only 12 percent of the total.

In business terms, non-attainment means:

federally-mandated restrictions on the growth of the area

possible loss of federal highway funds

federal mandates relating to travel restrictions for large firms (us).

possible dollar costs to area businesses

if the emission levels are not brought into compliance by the deadline, additional and more strigent mandates are required.

In area terms, if Austin goes non-attainment, the designation would more than likely include 4-5 surrounding counties, maybe more if San Antonio also goes non-attainment.

In consumer/resident terms, nonattainment means dirtier air and probably increased fuel/transportation costs.