EPA declares parts of southwest Pa. too sooty

PITTSBURGH - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says parts of southwestern Pennsylvania are too sooty.

On Monday, the EPA notified officials in 211 counties in 25 states that their air did not meet federal pollution standards. The EPA found that more than 100 million people living in 46 metro areas are breathing sooty air.

Parts of Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh, were declared too sooty. Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland Counties, all within 30 miles of Pittsburgh, are polluted. Parts of Greene, Lawrence and Indiana Counties are also polluted. Cambria County is not in compliance, the EPA said. Elected officials in these areas have to come up with a plan by 2012 to clean the air and then implement it by 2014.

- AP