The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that 33 Ohio counties fail to meet tighter federal ozone limits.

The agency's action, in the works since 1997, gives the Ohio EPA three years to draft a compliance plan that could have sweeping economic effects. Changes could include cleaner-burning gasoline, reductions from coal-burning power plants and industries, and more vehicle tailpipe tests.

Ohio is pleased with the outcome and happy that the county-by-county compliance designations were not more severe, said state EPA spokeswoman Heidi Griesmer. "It's about what we expected."

The designations should provide the state with more flexibility in dealing with ozone, she said. "It's way too early to say what we'll do... but everything's on the table."

The new federal limits will improve public health, especially for the elderly, children and asthmatics, said EPA Region 5 acting administrator Bharat Mathur.

Eight counties in Northeast Ohio -- Summit, Portage, Medina, Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Geauga and Ashtabula -- have the highest ozone levels in Ohio. The region is in "moderate non-attainment" and has until June 2010 to comply.

Ozone, a key ingredient of urban smog, is created when hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide emissions from vehicles, power plants and industry mix in hot, sunny conditions. It can cause breathing problems.

In Ohio, 25 counties -- among them Stark -- were judged to be in "basic non-attainment." That means they have a less severe ozone problem. Corrective action must be taken by 2009.

The Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Toledo and Youngstown areas had some of the 25 "basic" counties, which means they dodged a federal requirement for vehicle tailpipe tests.

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