a publication of mothers for clean air

summer 2000 - vol. 3, issue 2

Environmental Rally in Austin

Several members of Mothers for Clean Air were part of the 250 people who attended an Environmental Rally on the Capitol steps in Austin on June 21. The Mothers for Clean Air yellow and blue banner was clearly visible among the numerous signs that were displayed at the hour-long event. The crowd was motivated with rousing speeches by several environmental leaders from across the state, and entertained with live music and an appearance by "George Dubbya Bush." A giant inflatable birthday cake complete with smoking smokestack candles marked the upcoming tenth birthday of the "Texas Natural Resource Contamination Commission." The rally was held to bring attention to the public hearing being held inside concerning the Legislature's review of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC).

TNRCC Sunset Review Public Hearing

The Texas Legislature reviews each state agency every twelve years and this year the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) was reviewed. The Sunset Review Commission had researched the operation of the TNRCC and public opinion about it, and prepared several recommendations to correct the problems it uncovered. On June 21, the Sunset Review Commission held a public hearing about their review. Mothers for Clean Air agreed with most of the Sunset Commission's recommendations and offered a few additional suggestions. Jane Laping, community organizer, presented the Mothers for Clean Air position at the hearing in Austin. Thanks to Tina Pearson for her help in preparing the comments.

Asthma and Air Pollution

Have you ever wondered why so many children you know use inhalers? To help answer that question, Dr. Edward Brooks, Director of the Children's Asthma Program and Sharon Petronella, Ph.D., an epidemiologist, both from the UT Medical Branch in Galveston will present an interactive program called "Is Houston's Air Affecting your Child's Breathing?" They will discuss the recent increase in asthma, causes of asthma, and what you can do in your home to help control your child's breathing problems. Whether or not you have a child with asthma, you will want to attend this free program to learn how local air quality affects the respiratory health of our children.

Is Houston's Air Affecting your Child's Breathing?

Tuesday, September 26, 7:00 PM

Houston Environmental Center

3015 Richmond at Eastside, between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway.

No Ozone: Keeping Ozone from Our Kids

With school back in session, many parents, teachers and principals are concerned about students becoming ill from exercising outdoors during high ozone. With the help of two volunteers, Natalie Emge and Laura Ambler, Mothers for Clean Air is taking its No Ozone program into the 58 Catholic schools in the Houston-Galveston diocese. The schools will learn about ozone pollution in the Houston area and how it affects children's health. The schools will also receive ozone notices via e-mail or fax and a "Guidance on Ozone Pollution and Physical Activities" prepared by representatives from the City, County, State, U.S. EPA, and Mothers for Clean Air.

MfCA Receives $27,000

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) awarded a $25,000 grant to Mothers for Clean Air in support of its Southeast Houston Cleaner Communities for Better Health project. This grant will allow Mothers for Clean Air to establish a fourth chapter in the Houston area. The project will train community members to monitor air quality and access other environmental information through the Internet. It will also open the dialogue among community, industry, and government for policy changes regarding the proximity of residential and public buildings to industry.

Mothers for Clean Air was one of only 16 groups from Canada, Mexico and the United States selected to receive funding through the CEC's North American Fund for Environmental Cooperation (NAFEC). NAFEC funds projects that tie into the CEC's priority areas: 1) advancing the conservation of biodiversity by linking it with trade in green goods and services, and 2) improving public access to information on pollutants and its use in decision making and the advancement of environmental justice.

Mothers for Clean Air also received a $2,000 gift from the Margaret Cullinan Wray Charitable Trust for general operating support for 2001. This is the third year the Wray Trust has contributed to MfCA's operating expenses and also the last. This year marks the end of the Trust's 15-year term, so the Trust will not be making gifts in the future.

EJ Workshop

The Fifth Ward Chapter of Mothers for Clean Air sponsored an Environmental Justice (EJ) Workshop for their community on June 24 at Tuffly Park in the Fifth Ward. The workshop consisted of a speakers panel, networking opportunities, and an awards presentation. Jane Laping, the MfCA community organizer, opened the workshop with an overview of the two environmental justice issues affecting the Fifth Ward: 1) five Superfund hazardous waste sites and 2) air pollution coming from the Houston Ship Channel, three heavily traveled freeways, and diesel trains.

Alan Etheredge from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), Judy Henry from the Texas Department of Health, Jerry Bluitt from the Mothers for Clean Air chapter in Barrett Station, and David Crossley of the Gulf Coast Institute were the speakers on the panel. Mr. Etheredge described the history of the MDI/Tesco Superfund site near Bruce Elementary and its clean- up. He expects it will take until 2004 to get the area clean enough for some type of development. Mr. Bluitt described Barrett Station's involvement in the clean-up of two Superfund hazardous waste sites near Crosby. His community received a grant from the EPA to hire a consultant who could understand what was being done and present it in layman's terms to the residents.

Mr. Crossley also spoke about ways a community can become involved in decisions affecting environmental justice. He emphasized the importance of making your voice heard, through letters and public hearings, for example. Ms. Henry explained how being affected by a contaminant, whether it be from a superfund site or air pollution, depends on exposure. She also mentioned that pregnant women, children, the elderly and persons with pre-existing health conditions may be more sensitive to chemical exposures. All the speakers mentioned the value of using the Internet to find current information about issues affecting the Fifth Ward.

City Council member Carol Mims Galloway also spoke at the workshop and presented ribbons to Arica Malveaux and Travis Closure, two of the fifth-graders who participated in the Mothers for Clean Air Children's Photography Workshop in May. Posters the students prepared with the photos they took of pollution sources in the Fifth Ward were on display.

Mothers for Clean Air is developing a chapter in the Fifth Ward through an EPA environmental justice grant.

Air Quality Basics

State Implementation Plan Update

Because the eight-county Houston-Galveston area has a severe ozone pollution problem, the government requires that the state prepare an air quality plan showing what steps this area must take to reduce ozone to acceptable levels by 2007. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) is the agency responsible for submitting this plan, called the State Implementation Plan (SIP), to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A previous plan submitted in November 1999 fell short of the goal to sufficiently reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions (an ozone precursor). Now the TNRCC must submit a SIP to the EPA with specific measures to achieve all the emissions reductions necessary by December 31, 2000.

The TNRCC has proposed several measures for the Houston-Galveston area that would accomplish the goal of sufficiently reducing NOx emissions. These measures will affect industry the most with a 90% reduction in NOx emissions. But small businesses and individuals will also be affected. Some of the measures affecting gasoline powered vehicles include reducing the speed limit to 55 mph, increasing inspection/maintenance of vehicles, and introducing low sulfur gasoline. Diesel vehicles will be affected by restrictions on the use of heavy-duty diesel construction equipment from 6:00 a.m. - noon. Cleaner diesel fuels and engines will also be required. Diesel-powered vehicles over 14,000 pounds will be limited to five consecutive minutes of idling time. Other measures affecting business and residences include a 90% reduction in NOx emissions from airport ground support equipment. New air conditioners will be required to have a catalyst that reduces ozone from outside air, and use of lawn service gasoline equipment will be restricted from 6:00 a.m. - noon. (See http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/oprd/hgasip.html for the detailed list of control measures.)

The complete list of control measures has been entered into a computer model that indicates these measures will reduce NOx emissions sufficiently for the Houston-Galveston area to achieve the national ozone standard by 2007. Any control measure that is eliminated from this plan must be replaced with a measure resulting in the same or greater emission reductions.

The TNRCC is asking for your comments on this latest list of control measures. There will be eight public hearings at various locations in the Houston-Galveston area (see large box for times and locations). Alternatively, you can send written comments in a variety of ways (see small box for details). Whichever way you choose, make sure the TNRCC hears from you as a citizen and not only from business and industry representatives.

Taken for a Ride

Before there were freeways, traffic jams, and pollution, America had cheap, fast, flexible rapid transit. For the first part of this century, smooth, clean, and comfortable streetcars ruled America's cities. TAKEN FOR A RIDE is a provocative and disturbing film that blends investigative journalism, urban history, and social commentary to create a compelling account of a nightmare that didn't have to happen. Mothers for Clean Air will join with the Sierra Club to present this film on Friday, October 27 at the Houston Environmental Center, 3015 Richmond. Come at 6:30 PM for snacks and conversation. The film will start at 7:00 PM. This event is free and open to the public.

Summer Volunteers

A non-profit organization cannot exist without its volunteers, and Mothers for Clean Air is grateful for all those who stepped up to help this summer. Special thanks go to Dawn Mallow, Paula Stotts, Tina Pearson, Natalie Emge, and Laura Ambler for their time and support.

Houston Ship Channel Tour

on the M.V. Sam Houston

Sunday, November 5

1:30 - 4:00 p.m.