Who wants clean air?
November 16th, 2009 by Rhiannon Bowman in News
Did you know Charlotte-metro’s air is on the nasty-air list? It is.
The Q.C. is ranked No. 8 on the American Lung Association’s list of worst air, in terms of ozone. That’s right. We’re up there with Los Angeles and Houston, and, according to their report, our air quality is getting worse — not better.
Plans to clean up the Charlotte region’s air have stalled even as federal regulators are pushing state and local officials to deal with pollution.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has started the clock on penalties that could cripple the region’s road funding and block industrial development unless clean-air plans are submitted and approved by 2011.
State environmental regulators in both Carolinas and a regional transportation group are expected to detail those plans.
But the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been held up in negotiations with the EPA over terms for an extension — one year or two — dictating when the region has to meet current ozone standards. Those talks have tied up the release of a major section of North Carolina’s state implementation plan, says Laura Boothe, the state’s division of air quality attainment planning branch supervisor.
The EPA must approve both states’ plans, known in government circles as an SIP, by May 8, 2011, or transportation dollars could be cut off for the region — an area that includes Mecklenburg, Union, Gaston, Lincoln, Cabarrus, Rowan and York counties, as well as southern Iredell County.
Read the rest of this Charlotte Business Journal article here.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I assume as a city grows the air pollution would get a little worse. I also heard that since more and more cities are meeting theit air quality standards the EPA is or will just make it arbitrarily harder to pass so they can keep handing out fines to justify their existance.
I figured the background story would be interesting for this story.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Frank, that’s not background, that’s your usual opinionated bull shit. Charlotte’s not that big of a city, in case you don’t know. Our air quality shouldn’t be this bad. Think about how much worse it will be if it does continue to grow.
Also, your assumption that the EPA’s just looking to hand out fines displays your genuine lack of knowledge about how the EPA operates.
Get a clue, Frank. And, never forget this: your opinions aren’t facts, they’re opinions. Even if you get them from Rush Limbaugh, they’re just recycled opinions — not facts.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Lets look at what I said shall we?
“I assume as a city grows the air pollution would get a little worse.”
Does it look like I am stating fact or opinion in this instance. I seem to start off with “I ASSUME” GEEZ.
Is it a fact that more cities are meeting their air quality requirements. This is a fact not an opinion dude. Look it up!
“I also heard that since more and more cities are meeting their air quality standards the EPA is or will just make it arbitrarily harder to pass so they can keep handing out fines to justify their existence.”
In the next sentence I am clearly stating that this is something I have heard and is not necessarily my opinion even. I start off with “I ALSO HEARD”. This shows that I am repeating something I have seen. It does not imply it is my opinion and does not state it as even being a fact.
Learn to read. Maybe you should take a few night classes or something?
November 25th, 2009 at 4:40 am
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