We’ve reported on the American Lung Association’s grades for Texas air quality before. It’s a nice tool that takes lots of data gathered under the Clean Air Act and makes it accessible.
The American Lung Association released the latest report card this week and, once again, Denton County got an F. In fact, 15 Texas counties got failing grades this year.
Four Texas metropolitan areas were labeled among the nation’s 25 most polluted cities. Only California had more.
Despite some improvements in local air quality about 10 years ago, progress has stalled. Many residents are concerned that the Barnett Shale boom — now aging, with many older well sites being equipped with compressors — is contributing to the problem.
Rural counties that have oil and gas pollution, with few other sources, have received failing grades this year, too, including Sublette County, Wyo.