Karen Huber County Commissioner: Precinct Three Report

Commentary

Austin American Statesman
Friday, August 14, 2009

The Risks of Letting Austin's Air Quality Decline
Karen Huber, Travis County Commissioners Court

It is the fourth quarter, the clock is ticking, and we have one last chance to score before the game is over.

The name of the game is nonattainment, and it is all about air quality in the greater Austin region. Nonattainment status is reached when regional air pollution levels persistently exceed the national ambient air quality standards designated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The high level of ground-level ozone, an air pollutant with harmful effects on the respiratory system, is Travis County's main problem. Currently, we are slightly under the number of high ozone days that would push us over into nonattainment, but historically, the worst pollution days occur in August and early September.
So what are the stakes in this game and what does nonattainment mean for Central Texas? The implications are huge and will cost taxpayers a lot of money.
First, going into nonattainment would subject us to a slew of new rules and regulations that could hang over our heads for up to 20 years after we return to air quality compliance. These regulations would create a lag effect on everything, from higher energy bills for households to creation of new businesses, as well as more expensive transportation projects (that you finance).

Nonattainment would require us to cede local control of transportation projects to state and federal oversight regulations. Conforming to their regulations would create longer construction times and higher construction costs.

Additionally, economic development in our region could be slowed greatly, and our businesses could be subject to much harsher oversight than they currently enjoy. For example, businesses that are relocating or expanding might be required to offset their emissions before moving forward with their plans, and companies such as automotive shops that use paints or solvents could be subject to new regulations that would hinder their operations.

Additionally, nonattainment regulations would subject power plants to higher emissions standards, resulting in higher electricity bills. Gasoline might have to be reformulated before it can be used to fuel our vehicles, and your car would be required to pass stringent emissions testing.

So how can we make sure we win this game and avoid nonattainment? I am providing a few relatively simple tips for reducing your own impact on air quality. Please show this list to other household members, your friends, your neighbors and anyone else who is interested in helping us improve our air quality and avoid regulations that are burdensome to our economy:

Avoid rush hour traffic and try driving during non-peak traffic times. .
Bike or walk to a nearby eatery or save a few bucks and take your lunch to work.
Use public transportation, walk, bike or car pool.
Refuel your vehicle after 6 p.m.
Keep your engine from idling more than 30 seconds.
Condense your number of daily car trips by coordinating your activities.
Turn off the lights in your house or office when you leave.
Check your home air conditioning filters and replace if dirty.
Wait until after 6 p.m. to do yard work with gas-powered equipment.
Conduct teleconferences or Web meetings instead of calling everyone to a single location.
Schedule large meetings after 10 a.m. to avoid added volume to already-congested roads.

More information can by found at these Web sites:

Travis County Air Quality Project: www.co.travis.tx.us/airquality/improving_air_quality.asp
Car Sharing: http://carshareaustin.org/
Capital Metro Interactive Trip Planner: www.capmetro.org/gismaps/maps.html

Link to Austin American Statesman article.