Members of the DFW Clean Air Network celebrate after the Dallas City Council approved a measure that urges action to improve air quality. Front row: Marilyn Hamaker, Chris Guldi, Cherelle Blazer and daughter and Tammy Bounds​. Back row: Corey Troiani, Richard Guidi and Lon Burnam. 

June 21, 2016

Last Wednesday, Dallas City Council went on record in favor of clean air. A no-brainer, right? But with air quality in DFW the worst in any Texas metro area, and asthma cases double the national average, clearly public action has gone wanting so far. Showing unity rare in a council often divided over transportation, environment versus business, a freeway in the Trinity River greenbelt, development in general and priorities of “haves” and “have nots,” members busted a move for good air.

The Dallas City Council unanimously approved the measure sponsored by council member Sandy Greyson and authored by the activist coalition DFW Clean Air Network, whose charter members include Dallas Sierra Club, the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaignLiveable ArlingtonMansfield Gas Well AwarenessPublic Citizen Texas and Texas Campaign for the Environment. The declaration urges the state, city and the Environmental Protection Agency to take action on Dallas’ eye-watering, lung-choking atmosphere. 

This meant calling out the 25-year failure of sleeping watchdog Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to meet ozone air quality standards set by the U.S. Clean Air Act beginning in 1991. The resolution notes that EPA rejected TCEQ’s latest plan for its lack of pollution-control measures to cut ground-level ozone, as well as “unrealistic” projections of ozone reductions. TCEQ has only until July 20 to fix it. 

The resolution cites studies showing a direct correlation between respiratory disease and high ozone levels. Then it goes on to name problem pollution sources absent from the state’s plan: cement kilns and coal-powered power plants outside DFW, as well as gas compressor stations in the local Barnett Shale shale gas fields.  Independent studies by University of North Texas and others say available controls on these sources could readily reduce ozone levels to the current standard of 75 ppb.  

This is all background given in the introductory “Whereas”es of the document. See complete text of resolution for what Dallas City Council is calling on parties to do. 

Eight speakers addressed the Council, and numerous council members and Mayor Rawlings commented. Speakers included past Texas Rep. Lon Burnam and leaders of Dallas Sierra Club, Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, Texas Campaign for the Environment and Downwinders at Risk.  

Council members added their own points to the case for the resolution. Carolyn Arnold (District 4) and Philip Kingston of District 14 pointed out that air-quality is a poverty issue, as well as a public health issue. 

“Poor communities are confined to live in those neighborhoods” where air quality is worse, said Arnold.  

Lee Kleinman (District 14) commented: “As a conservative and a conservationist, my view of business and energy is… If they use clean air and water and make it dirty, they should pay for it…Clean air is a natural resource owned by the public.”

Jennifer Gates (District 13) refuted a frequent utility industry argument against pollution controls on electricity generating plants, granting that “action under the resolution is going to change energy cost to residents...” but noting “These can be offset by lower medical costs.”     

“We’re not trying to shut business down,” pointed out Rickey Callahan of District 5. “This shouldn’t be construed as an anti-business measure…It’s pro-business. At some point, EPA will put its foot down hard on this quality-of-life issue.”

On a personal note, Callahan lamented that air pollution is interfering with his social life.  “A lady I date had to cancel our last two dates because she had an asthma attack.”  “Aww,” council members responded.

Mayor Rawlings concluded, “We’re articulating to the state to not play ‘chicken’ with the federal government… EPA can fine businesses if EPA doesn’t see the state take action.”

This “yes” vote marks the second success of the DFW CAN’s clean air campaign. Last month, Dallas County Commissioners Court passed a similar resolution.  

DFW CAN formed as a group of groups around the goal of demonstrating to EPA that Texans want the agency to break the downward spiral of TCEQ inaction and develop a “Federal Implementation Plan” for air quality. This is EPA’s recourse when a State Implementation Plan falls short.

“The EPA needs political support if it’s going to yank DFW’s air plan away from the state of Texas,” Jim Schermbeck of Downwinders commented recently.  “... The Agency needs to be able to point to Texas residents and local DFW elected officials who want them to intervene,” in the likely event that Governor Abbott decries EPA action as federal overreach, his frequent response to other federal efforts.

After the Council vote, supporters gathered outside council chambers and compared notes on possible next steps.  

“This decision today will carry weight with other municipalities, now the largest city in the region has stepped up,” said Schermbeck.  

DFW CAN participants are networking with city officials around North Texas, building support to bring similar resolutions in their city councils and county courts. There are 220 municipalities in the 10-county region. Based on conversations at City Hall, the Denton effort is gathering steam.

Should the effort result in effective air pollution controls, it would make a major improvement in quality of life in DFW.  

“A drop of five parts per billion in ozone would save 100 lives a year... and 1,400 lost work days," cited Marilyn Hamaker, speaking before Council. This is across the 34 northeastern counties.

A study led by Dr. Robert Haley, epidemiologist at UT-Southwestern Medical Center, based on TCEQ and EPA data and research studies found that each year DFW has 500 ozone-related emergency room visits and loses 120,000 school days, 1,400 workdays and 77 lives to health effects of poor air quality. The total loss amounts to $512 million a year in related expenses.  

What could the region do with those students back in class, employees on the job, fewer ER visits and a $500 million boost to the local economy?  

Not to mention, our love lives would have one less challenge to overcome.

MORE INFORMATION 

Clean Air Resolution text: 

Video of City Council proceedings. Scroll down to "Archived Proceedings," click and select June 15, 2016 and Item 12.


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