Public Hearing Is Last Chance To Voice Opinions On DFW Clean Air Plan
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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - A public hearing being held tonight in Arlington is the last chance for people to voice their opinions on the state's clean air plan for the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is hosting the meeting, to discuss the states plan to address dangerous ozone pollution in DFW.
While the state has been tasked with creating a solution to the growing smog problem, the agencies plan doesn't include any new controls for residents or businesses contributing to the smog problem.
Activist Jim Schermbeck, the director of the environmental group Downwinders at Risk, says that while the hearing is a formality, people can still try to get federal agencies involved.
"Even though the state isn't interested from hearing from folks, the EPA is," he said. "And for the first time ever there's a really good chance that the EPA could take over the responsibility for righting the clean air plan for Dallas/Fort Worth, and you actually have something happening in terms of improving the air quality."
Scherbeck says the states plan falls far short of federal targets for air standards in North Texas.
In addition to residents voicing their support and concerns, Schermbeck says he'll be speaking in an effort to get the EPA to intervene and take over the process. "What I see is more content for the environment, for environmental bills, for the EPA, than I've ever seen from any state government before. And we've gone through some pretty hostile state governments in terms of the environment."
Federal and state agencies have battled for decades over air quality standards in North Texas. Schermbeck said, "That's what's at stake tonight. It's not the reaction from the state that we're looking for. It's giving the EPA the political support they need to yank the rug out from under the state, after doing such a poor job for 20 years."
The clean air public hearing will take place tonight at the North Central Texas Council of Governments, located at 616 Six Flags Drive, in Arlington. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
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