Houston Clean Air Plan Falls Short

An inadequate plan to clean and protect the air around Houston was approved by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) today. This plan will mean continuing health problems for the children of Houston, according to Environmental Defense.

“While the plan approved today will improve air quality, it is not enough to protect public health,” said Dr. Ramon Alvarez, an Environmental Defense scientist. “It weakens previous positions endorsed by the TNRCC and includes ideas that are simply unworkable. This plan withdraws building codes for new buildings, which reduce pollution while lowering utility bills. In addition, the Commission withdrew its rule to require the sale of the same low sulfur gasoline that will be used to cut smog in California.”

At the same time, the plan includes onerous measures, which the environmental community opposes, such as a ban on the operation of construction machinery during early morning hours in the summer, a move that will create a hardship for workers.

The TNRCC admits the plan falls short of needed pollution cuts by 50 tons per day. But even the TNRCC’s calculation of the shortfall contains faulty assumptions. For example, the TNRCC claims that the relative emissions from high polluting SUVs in the Houston area are less than half of the amount in Dallas and almost 40% less than the national average.

“If not improved, the plan will adversely affect the health of all Houstonians, especially the young, the elderly, and those who spend time outside. High levels of smog can permanently and significantly reduce lung capacity and function in even healthy people. Moreover, for the 10% of children in the region with asthma, an inadequate air plan will perpetuate suffering from air pollution-induced coughing and wheezing attacks that sometimes require emergency room visits. It’s now time for the Texas legislature to supplement the Houston plan with real health-based and cost-effective strategies to protect our children. The US Environmental Protection Agency should reject this Houston plan unless it is significantly strengthened,” said Alvarez.