Air pollution

May 8, 2008 -- SAN DIEGO -- California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that the San Diego Airport is taking “a key leadership role” in the fight against global warming by agreeing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its major airport expansion.

San Diego Airport: Photo by teachandlearn (CC)    » read more »

05/08/2008 -- Today California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement after meeting with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers' Board of Directors:

"I want to thank the automakers for meeting with me today. I believe there is an opportunity for us to be strong allies.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: Photo courtesy California Governor's office

"In fact, California may be doing more to save the U.S. auto industry than anyone else because we are pushing them to change. The automakers need to have a long-range vision and develop the technology that will make them competitive in the world arena.    » read more »

May 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take additional measures to limit Americans’ exposure to lead air pollution.

In a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, Senator Clinton urged the agency to limit lead levels in the air to no more than 0.20 micrograms per cubic meter as part of the new rule to improve the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead—the level recommended by both the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the EPA scientific staff.

Senator Hillary Clinton: Photo by Keith Kissel (CC)    » read more »

April 21 -- The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued a High Pollution Advisory for ozone for the Phoenix metropolitan area. Forecasted weather conditions on Tuesday, April 22 are expected to generate levels of ozone that may exceed the federal health standard.

Smog over Phoenix, Arizona: Photo by Bel Vezer (CC)

ADEQ recommends that children and adults with respiratory problems avoid outdoor activities on Thursday and suggests that the general public limit outdoor activity throughout the day.    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- Oversight Committee Chairman Waxman issued a subpoena to compel the White House Office of Management and Budget to provide documents relating to EPA’s recent decision to establish ozone air quality standards that disregarded the recommendations of EPA staff and EPA’s independent scientific review committee.

Chairman Waxman made the following statement,

“Deadline after deadline has slipped and the White House has not provided the documents the Committee needs to understand what happened with this EPA rulemaking. We need these documents so that we can evaluate the President’s decision to overrule EPA and its panel of independent experts.”

Source: Oversight Committee

WASHINGTON (April 10, 2008) — Attention allergy sufferers: Climate change is bad for your health. Recent scientific studies have found that rising temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are lengthening the allergy season and changing how plants produce allergens.

Sneeze: Photo by Matt Musselman (CC)

Meanwhile, other studies have determined that rising temperatures combined with vehicle pollution can trigger more ground-level ozone — a pollutant that causes respiratory problems — especially in urban areas that already suffer from poor air quality.    » read more »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Calling the presence of ozone in the western Wyoming air a “significant concern,” today Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal responded to a citizen petition requesting that a health assessment be performed in Sublette County.

The letter from Freudenthal to Pamela Curry of Pinedale, who forwarded the petition, follows.

April 10, 2008

Pamela Curry
P.O. Box 1002
Pinedale, WY 82941

Dear Ms. Curry:

Thank you for your letter requesting that a Human Health Impact Assessment be conducted in Sublette County due to air quality and other concerns. From the data that has been collected, there is little doubt that ozone is a significant concern.    » read more »

Dallas, Texas, April 9, 2008 -- Cleaner skies are coming to North Texas thanks to the robust participation of local businesses in the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP).

TERP has awarded over $9 million in rebates to upgrade or replace 113 of the dirtiest heavy-duty diesel engines and diesel-powered equipment in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The participation of a wide array of individuals and businesses from the agricultural, construction, hauling, trucking and related sectors will make it possible for North Texans to breathe cleaner air by preventing 931 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.    » read more »

Funds Will Go Toward Clean Air, Green Energy, and Other Projects Throughout New York

NEW YORK, NY (April 8, 2008) – New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he has secured $9.5 million for the State of New York as a result of a federal Clean Air Act settlement. The funds, which will be used to fight air pollution throughout the state, come from a settlement that Attorney General Cuomo and others reached with American Electric Power (AEP), the nation’s largest power company. The total funds represent the largest payment for environmental projects ever received from a New York State settlement under the Clean Air Act.    » read more »

Funds to be Used for Clean Air and Green Energy Projects

BALTIMORE, MD (April 8, 2008) – Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Maryland and seven other states will divide $24 million to be used for energy efficiency and air pollution reduction projects as a result of a federal Clean Air Act settlement with American Electric Power (AEP), the nation’s largest power company.

AEP power line repair: Photo by Arek Taylor (CC)    » read more »

April 8 -- The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has extended an Air Pollution Health Watch for the greater Phoenix metropolitan area through Wednesday, April 9.

Particulate levels are forecasted to approach unhealthful levels. People who are sensitive to the effects of air pollution, including people with respiratory illness, the elderly and young children are advised to limit outdoor exertion while the Health Watch is in effect.

Air pollution over Page, Arizona: Photo by Sarah (CC)

How can you help?

* Drive less, particularly on pollution advisory days. Reduce the number of trips you take in your car.    » read more »

Nearly 20 years of data indicates air district broke federal law

LOS ANGELES (April 1, 2008) – Demanding an end to years of unregulated and illegitimate pollution credits provided by South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to polluting companies throughout the South Coast Air Basin, a coalition of environmental and environmental justice groups delivered a 60-day notice of intent to sue letter to the AQMD today.

Los Angeles smog: Photo by Ben Amstutz (CC)    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- WASHINGTON -- This month, NASA begins the most extensive field campaign ever to investigate the chemistry of the Arctic's lower atmosphere. The mission is poised to help scientists identify how air pollution contributes to climate changes in the Arctic.

Preparations for the NASA ARCTAS field campaign: Chris Cantrell and Becky Anderson of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo., assess an instrument’s operation on NASA's DC-8 aircraft during preparations for the ARCTAS field campaign. Photo: NASA    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- "We've taken another step towards implementing a congestion pricing plan that is equitable and won't be a burden on lower income New Yorkers and that will result in an immediate $354 million in federal funds for mass transit improvements.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg holds a press availability before riding No. 4 train to Yankee Stadium. March 31, 2008: (Photo: Spencer T Tucker)

The amendments that the Senate introduced last night to their bill will address many of the remaining concerns that we've been hearing from the City Council and members of the State Legislature. This legislation already made certain that all revenues from congestion pricing will go to the MTA Capital plan.    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- "Last night, I amended my Governor’s Program Bill regarding the New York City Congestion Pricing Program, recommended by the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission. The amendments to the bill address fiscal contributions by the Port Authority to the MTA capital plan and add an important tax credit provision for low-income drivers.    » read more »