Area tops ozone limit; restrictions to continue

Birmingham was hoping to get off of the Federal list of Clean Air Act violators for ozone pollution. But a violation was recorded yesterday and the limits will continue. What limits?

The Birmingham area has been in violation of ozone standards since 1978. Under current rules, no new polluting industries can locate in Jefferson or Shelby counties without even greater reductions in pollution elsewhere. Economic development officials estimate the area has lost at least $2 billion in capital investment and 11,000 new jobs because of the ozone pollution.

Conservative: "That damned Clean Air Act costs jobs! And money!"

Liberal (Me): "I like being able to breathe. How about figuring out how to not pollute the air, then we won't have a problem."