Air quality is important to our human and economic health. With the Midlands region threatened by “nonattainment” status, it has become paramount that proactive measures be taken for improving air quality and ensuring attainment with current and future national ambient air quality standards. This situation creates an ideal opportunity for the diverse stakeholders of the Midlands region to collaborate and formulate a regional action plan; hence, the development of the Midlands Air Quality Forum. 

The Midlands Air Quality Forum was established by the Central Midlands COG to serve as a collaborative effort to reduce ground-level ozone and other forms of air pollution across the Central Midlands Region.  Participation in the Forum presents an ideal opportunity for all stakeholders across the region to take proactive steps toward improving air quality, regardless of any designation by U.S. EPA for air pollution standards. Failure to act now could lead to serious public health and economic challenges. Poor air quality not only worsens existing respiratory problems, but also contributes to heart disease, lung cancer and premature death. Possible economic ramifications include the inability of municipalities to recruit new industries and limit the amount of funding available for major transportation projects.

Strong regional leadership in taking a cooperative, proactive approach will help to protect the health and quality of life of the many 500,000-plus citizens that live, work, and play in the Midlands.

For more information about the state of air quality in the Midlands, refer to the Midlands Air Quality Report (2007).

View the Midlands Air Quality Report

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