Based on the number of "high ozone days," when the ozone level
was unhealthy, the report gave out a slew of F's - failing
grades - to counties nationwide. In the Tri-State area,
Washington County, Md., and Franklin County, Pa., each got an F.
Berkeley County, W.Va., did not have three years' worth of data,
the minimum required for an official grade, but the average
ozone level for the last two years slightly exceeds the national
standard. The EPA formerly measured ground-level ozone with a
one-hour standard of 125 parts per billion. In 1997, the method
was switched to eight-hour readings - once an hour for eight
hours each day - and the cutoff switched to 85 parts per
billion. Many counties found they were able to meet the old
standard, but not the new standard. A series of court
challenges, in particular, delayed the EPA from enforcing the
standard. Without repercussions, Nolen said, the standards meant
little. Washington County's latest three-year average, ending in
2002, was 87 parts per billion. In the th