Unsanctioned haze: Jefferson, Shelby fail to meet new EPA ozone guidelines

In this mention

Birmingham's Jefferson and Shelby counties were placed on the EPA's dirty-air list after failing to meet new, stricter ozone standards that took effect in May 2004. Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, criticized utilities including Alabama Power for not doing enough to reduce power plant emissions, noting that favorable weather conditions in recent years may have masked the region's air quality problems.