In DFW, Little Traction on Improving Air Quality
*Correction appended
When the Dallas County Medical Society asked Texas environmental regulators in October to increase pollution controls on coal-fired power plants, they knew it would be a tough sell.
But the association of more than 6,500 physicians said it was fed up with seeing patients suffering from the region’s air quality problems, which are among the worst in the nation. And members said real improvement was possible by targeting two of the nation’s oldest coal-fired plants, which are among the state’s biggest sources of nitrogen oxide emissions — air pollutants that reacts with other toxic chemicals ...
Comments (9)
Budman 007
Unfortunately the gist of this article, target big point sources of VOC's/ dangerous air pollution and the result will be cleaner DFW air and attainment of ambient air quality in TX worthy of EPA blessing, is not realistic. Eliminate all the coal plants and cement kilns and DFW area will still be out of compliance. Marginal improvements will not sustain the area into EPA ozone compliance, many factors involved and rules that already address at state and fed level.
Vehicle traffic (old cars especially), weather, and lifestyles of the average Texan impact the ozone too but can't be regulated out of business so the target becomes industry (DFW is not even as industrial as Houston, big difference). Collectively the best scenario is to adapt to circumstances, which regulators and business appear to be attempting, in as realistic legal way as possible.
EPA keeps lowering the threshold for approval (arguably their job to do that), but soon the whole nation will be out of compliance. How to pay equally for that outcome, all the ancillary results from increasing cost of living without better results? Ozone will continue to increase as people move here. If strategy is go after pollution sources already regulated, that will not achieve better attainment as much as complicate the regulation of that activity.
The juice does not appear to be worth the squeeze. This is an industrial state with industrial jobs keeping it going. Balance in with that included or live where these emissions do not generally wander.
ChicoMendez
You're wrong. There are controls on the marketplace right now that can reduce cement plant and coal plant NOx emissions by 90% or more. This is well-documented and the control on kilns are being used on at least 8-10 kilns in Europe, while the EGU controls are being use all over the world, including the US. Likewise, technology exists to eliminate a huge amount of NOX and VOCs from the gas industry (electrification of compressors, for example). As is stated in the article, it's a political problem in Austin, not a technological or financial one in DFW. Moreover, these kilns and gas sources directly affect the most historically stubborn monitors in DFW - in Tarrant and Denton Counties - the ones driving every anti-smog plan model since the year 2000. Cars have been cleaned up to 90% plus and we still have a problem in DFW at these monitors. What's needed are targeted reductions from the point sources that have the greatest influence on these monitors. Modeling shows that reducing - not eliminating - kiln pollution by way of modern controls alone can drop ozone levels at these monitors more than any other single control measure on the table. It's obvious from your TCEQ-like arguments you've never seen the evidence showing this - which by the way was produced by the state itself and is now being ignored. Read up and get current.
Budman 007
I an not wrong, eliminate all those "point sources" affecting DFW and they will still be out of compliance with ambient air quality standard due to mobile sources and other contributing factors.
Budman 007
All production is already regulated in this state, you may want more targeted reduction requirements but that is different from an area attaining ambient air quality status with so many contributing factors.
E. Quote
On a different, but related, note:
Clive Hamilton states that the pursuit of growth (economic) has become a fetish, in that it is seen as a universal magic cure for all of society's ills. He has the gall to suggest the purpose of the creation of wealth is happiness, and contends that people in general are no happier now than 50 years ago, despite the huge increase in personal wealth. Is Texas about happiness or money (or are they the same thing)?
see: Growth Fetish ISBN 1-74114-078-1
ChicoMendez
The State's own computer modeling of those point sources says you are wrong, along with independent university studies, but don't let the facts confuse you......
Budman 007
I agree with your statement & facts Chico, remove those point sources of pollution and yes, those monitors will show improvement at those points.
Overall DFW will still be in non-attainment of ambient air quality due to other sources and weather contributions.
Robert Luedecke
The important thing is that doctors in the Dallas County Medical Society have seen an increase in respiratory illnesses due to air quality. If we do nothing, this will not improve. If politicians want to argue about acceptable ozone levels and want to sue the EPA to prevent new controls, we get more people with respiratory problems. To say that increased industrial controls will still not result in the most wonderful results, so we should not do any regulation at all, is just crazy. Politicians only respond to what we do in the voting booth. Dallas County Medical Society is one of the most conservative groups I know, so if they say politics is getting in the way of our health, we should listen.
Kim Feil
Earlier today I went to my husband's oncology appointment...we need more xrays to see if the hole in his lung is from the radiation cancer treatment last summer or something else. He said our DFW pollution is not an ideal place to breathe but happens to be where the paychecks come from. I mentioned that last Saturday was an Orange Ozone day and he said to stay inside on ozone days and to also bring in those big pets like German Shepards or their lives are cut short.