The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as required by a court order promulgated the non-attainment designations for the new 8 hour ozone standard on April 15, 2004.

Each area in the country (including Ohio) is reviewed based on ambient air monitoring data to see if each area is or is not attaining the new 8 hour ozone standard. In Ohio, the basic areas exceed the new 8 hour ozone standard (0.85 ppm) but are les than the older 1 hour ozone standard (0.121 ppm).  However, the red areas (Cleveland area) are designated “moderate” because they not only exceed the new 8 hour ozone standard but they apparently also exceed the older 1 hour ozone standard (0.121 ppm).  Hence, the difference between a “basic” designation and a “moderate” designation.