Area around Pekin ethanol plant sees improved air quality following collaboration with EPAs

In Illinois, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Illinois EPA announced the formal redesignation of the Pekin area to attainment of the federal air quality standard for sulfur dioxide. The Pekin area now meets the 2010 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide and all other federal air quality standards set to protect public health.

EPA worked collaboratively with Illinois EPA to develop strategies for attaining the sulfur dioxide standard, which included new emission limits for two power plants and an ethanol plant in the area. The Pekin area is comprised of three townships in Peoria and Tazewell counties. Recent monitoring data and air modeling show that sulfur dioxide concentrations in the Pekin area are below the 2010 NAAQS for sulfur dioxide.