Southwest Florida is divided into the western highlands and the coastal 

 lowlands of the coastal plains. Typically, the area is comprised of low, 

 nearly level plains and gently undulating to rolling hills with intermittent 

 ponds, swamps, marshes, lakes, and streams. Elevations range from sea level 

 to about 300 ft (91.4 m) above sea level in the highlands. 



Most soils are moderately drained and not often subject to flooding. 

 Detailed soil maps have been completed for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, 

 and Sarasota Counties. More detailed soil descriptions and maps are available 

 from the Soil Conservation Service Soil Surveys. The major soil types are 

 flatwood lowlands, southern limestone, and swamp marsh bottomlands. 



AIR QUALITY 



A summary of Federal and State standards for the major pollutants regu- 

 lated within Florida are given in Table 1. 



AMBIENT AIR QUALITY 



Except for the Tampa Bay area. Southwest Florida generally has good air 

 quality. The major nonattainment counties in Florida are Hillsborough and 

 Pinellas Counties, each of which has two nonattainment areas within their 

 boundaries. Pinellas County is a nonattainment area for ozone throughout the 

 entire county and a nonattainment area for sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the north- 

 ernmost portions. More specific problems are identified in the Tarpon Springs 

 area. Hillsborough County is a nonattainment area for ozone throughout the 

 entire county, and a particulate nonattainment area in downtown Tampa. The 

 following is a brief discussion of major pollutants and their respective 

 ambient concentrations across Southwest Florida. 



CURRENT STATUS OF AIR POLLUTION 



Major pollutants measured and reported here are TSP, sulfur dioxide, and 

 nitrogen oxides. 



Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSP) 



TSP has been a long-term problem in the greater Tampa Bay area. A 

 description of the status of TSP in Southwest Florida is given in the follow- 

 ing subsections. The State standard for TSP is 60 ug/m^ and the Federal 

 standard is 75 ug/m^. 



Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties . The State and Federal standards for 

 TSP were exceeded Tn the downtown Tampa area. Concentrations in Tarpon 

 Springs also approached the Federal primary standard in 1979-80. 



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