Suburbs fail federal smog tests State officials predict region will meet standards within next 3 years, before deadline.(News)

0 Comments | Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), April, 2004 | by St. Clair, Stacy

Byline: Stacy St. Clair Daily Herald Staff Writer The Chicago suburbs fail federal smog tests, but state officials say they soon will earn passing marks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cited the Chicago region Thursday for violating new, more protective regulations. The area was marked as being in "moderate" noncompliance and given until June 2010 to improve.

Cook and the collar counties - which include DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will - had been expected to be on the list based upon the state's own recommendations. Roughly one in five counties nationwide flunked the federal standards. The majority were in California and the East Coast. Smog poses severe health risks, especially to children and people with respiratory diseases. Studies...