PICKENS — Local officials are worried about the effect that new air quality regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency could have on the county’s growth, and will discuss those concerns at an upcoming meeting of the Pickens County Taxpayers Association.

The meeting will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 24 at the Farm Bureau Building located on Highway 178, 2.5 miles south of Pickens.

Legislative delegation members Sen. Larry Martin, Rep. Rex Rice, Rep. Davey Hiott, Rep. B.R. Skelton will discuss the regulation’s possible impact on the county’s economy and future projects.

Rep. Jeff Duncan and Eric Bikas, candidates for the U.S. House and State House resepectively, will also discuss concerns over the regulations.

Officials with the Pickens County Taxpayers Association are concerned that the regulations, which will propose to hold U.S. 123 to the same standards as interstate highways, will lead to higher construction costs for both residential and industrial construction, higher costs for new roads and bridges, high vehicle and gasoline costs, and will discourage both new industry and new residents from relocating to Pickens County.

“It will effectively block growth,” said PCTA President Dennis Reinert.

In a letter to Reinert, Picken County Administrator Chap Hurst said that the EPA’s reduction of ozone standards from .075 to .060 “will definitely impact the citizens of Pickens County in numerous ways.”

“Ultimately every citizen will see increases in items which they purchase for everyday use,” Hurst wrote. “Pickens County has prided itself on being a mountain community and thus having fresh, clean air. We will now be labeled as a non-attainment county with the implication that our air is polluted and dirty thus unhealthy.

“This could have devastating impacts on Pickens County being viewed as a great place to retire,” I believe that it is time to pursue answers from our representatives as to how they stand on this particular issue.”