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Today's Air Quality...
Air Quality
Air quality is probably the most difficult environmental issue we face today in North Central Texas. The City of Dallas, along with many others cities across the United States and around the world, recognize the impact that smog and ozone formation have on our health and economic well-being.
The gas called ozone can be good or bad—depending on where you find it. The good variety occurs naturally at the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere, where it protects us from ultraviolet rays and moderates our climate. The bad ozone accumulates within a few hundred feet of the ground when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight. Ozone pollution is most threatening during the summer months, when weather conditions necessary to form ground-level ozone—incessant sun and hot temperatures—normally occur. Unfortunately, with its hot summers and concentrations of traffic and industry, Dallas is an ideal incubator for the creation of ground-level ozone.
Bad ozone is a serious health hazard, especially to active children (who spend so much of the summer playing outdoors) and those with lung diseases such as asthma. Active adults of all ages who work or exercise vigorously outdoors have a higher risk than those who are less active. In general, as concentrations of ground-level ozone increase, more and more people experience unhealthy affects: respiratory inflammation, reduced lung function, compromised immune systems, damage to lung cells, aggravated emphysema and bronchitis, even permanent lung damage. When ozone levels are high, everyone should be concerned about exposure.
Quite naturally, then, the City’s efforts to improve air quality focus on these dangerous low-level accumulations of ozone as well as climate change. The Dallas/Ft. Worth region has experienced a steady decline in ozone levels measured across the area. Emission reductions have been achieved from stationary sources (stack) emissions, cleaner cars and construction equipment, and cleaner fuels. A part of the emission reductions efforts have been from the City of Dallas. The City has been a leader in emission reductions since the early 1990’s.
DFW Air FACTS
- 70 percent of the D-FW region’s air pollution comes from mobile sources like cars, trucks, airplanes, construction equipment and lawn equipment.
- Of the seven pollutants identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as posing significant health threats, all have been reduced to levels below the national safety standards in the Dallas/Ft. Worth region—except for ozone.
Initiatives to Improve Air Quality by the
City of Dallas
Green Fleet/Vehicles
- No. 1 in Texas—Dallas has THE largest alternatively-fueled fleet in Texas with 41 percent (nearly 2,000 vehicles) of its total fleet running on alternative or cleaner fuels, including compressed natural gas, biodiesel or are hybrid.
- Driving Green For Decades—The City of Dallas purchased its first alternative fueled vehicle over 15 years ago, in 1992. Ten years later, Dallas was the first city in Texas to use biodiesel.
- Top 5 in U.S.—SustainLane—an online media company empowering people, businesses, and government to go green—listed the City of Dallas #5 out of the 50 largest cities in the nation on its “Alternative Fueled City Fleets” list.
Ordinances
- Idling in Dallas—In 2007, the Dallas City Council passed an Anti-Idling Ordinance which prohibits motor vehicles that weigh over 14,000 pounds from idling over five minutes in the city of Dallas. The law will be enforced during Ozone Season, April 1st –October 31st of each year beginning in 2008. The purpose of the idling ordinance is to help improve air quality in Dallas.
- Cement Kilns—The Dallas City Council adopted a Cement Purchasing Strategy/Policy in May 2007 in an attempt to encourage cement kiln operators to reduce their contribution on the Dallas-Fort Worth ozone problem. The policy includes a base bid for dry kiln cement only, an alternative bid from cement from any source, and a preference from dry kilns with a NOx emission level less than 1.7 tons of NOx per clinker produced.
Commute Solutions
- Public Transportation—Because every car or truck we drive increases ozone levels, the City provides DART passes to employees at minimal cost, an incentive that inspires many to leave their personal vehicles home.
- Bike Paths/Trails—With the help of local bicycle groups, Dallas created 1,000 lane miles that comprise a street bicycle commuter system. The City of Dallas Master Plan calls for 230 multi-use hike and bike trails that will connect with DART light rail stations, green belts, schools, business centers and parks.
Sustainability
- Sustainable Skylines Initiative—Dallas has been selected as the only city in the nation to partner with the EPA on a program focusing on sustainability issues, particularly air quality. The Sustainable Skylines Initiative involves completing several three-year projects to reduce air emissions. If the Dallas pilot is successful, the initiative could be used as a national model for other cities.
Outreach
- Air Quality Outreach – The City of Dallas is the only city in the region that has a dedicated staff member to provide assistance to citizens, private companies and city contractors on obtaining State-funding for the repair and replacement of high-emitting vehicles or equipment. State programs include the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP) and the Low Income Vehicle Repair and Assistance Program (LIRAP). For more information on these programs please contact Kim Affat in the City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality at 214-670-6971.
Planning for the Future
- Ozone Monitors—Dallas was the first government in this region to install ozone monitors and did so even before the Clean Air Act’s mandate.
- Emissions Inventory – In 2005, the City completed an emissions inventory to better understand the source and location of its emissions. A Clean Air Plan was developed to direct and guide our emission reduction efforts.
- City of Dallas Ozone Action Plan - The City of Dallas implements a City Wide Ozone Action Plan each year from May 1st through October 31st. The City of Dallas is a proud member of the EPA’s Best Workplaces for Commuters. By offering flex schedules when applicable and providing DART passes to employees at a reduced price, the City has reduced vehicle miles traveled in the DFW region. This has helped to improve traffic congestion and reduce emissions associated with the formation of ozone.
For more information on Dallas air quality, visit the City of Dallas Air Pollution Control web site.
