Ozone Alert Lawsuit could Reach High Court soon

The City of Tulsa awaits a final ruiling from the Supreme Court that could mean thousands in fines to the city.<br><br>The case involves the Environmental Protection Agencyâ€™s ozone standards. The city

Thursday, July 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The City of Tulsa awaits a final ruiling from the Supreme Court that could mean thousands in fines to the city.

The case involves the Environmental Protection Agencyâ€™s ozone standards. The city thinks recent tightening of national air quality standards is too stringent. Lower courts agreed, ruling that Tulsa should be held to previous standards.

The EPA lowered itâ€™s limits on â€œOzone Alertâ€ days a city may have in any calendar year in 1999. The agency says Tulsa exceeded that limit last summer and fined the city.

The city fought back, but after early court losses the EPA fought back.

â€œThe Supreme Court will hear this in the next year, so resolution of this issue wonâ€™t happen quickly,â€ said Gaylon Pinc, of the Indian Nations Council of Governments.

Besides levy of those fines from 1999, Tulsa could be forced to use reformulated gas and vapor covers on gas pumps. Other cities in the Midwest have already been forced to take those measures.

For daily updates on possible Ozone Alert Days check the cityâ€™s website.