RECORD-SETTING OZONE LEVELS KEEP HOUSTON IN THE RED
by Sarah Morgan

On the heels of one of the worst ozone days in Houston this year, the Shell Center for Sustainability hosted a conference that looked at the present and future of Houston's air quality issues and what is being done to bring Houston into attainment of federal ozone standards.

Air pollution was at a record high last week when 41 of Houston's 44 air quality monitors recorded violations of the daily ozone standard on Sept 30, leading to level red air pollution warnings for much of the area, according to data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Twelve of the monitors also recorded violations of the hourly ozone standard.

"Air pollution is UNHEALTHY in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Area," read the series of emails Harris County ozone alerts sent out that afternoon. "Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Everyone else, especially children, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors."

By 6 pm, four red-level warnings had gone out through the ozone alert system, a program initiated in 2000 to issue warnings to the public when ground-level ozone exceeds levels set by the US Environmental Protection Agency's air quality index scale. However, the peak average for the day set the level at purple for "very unhealthy."

The Shell event attracted a myriad of speakers, from industry professionals to environmental activists. Most speakers agreed that weather conditions and this area's unusual mix of industries make Houston's air quality problem unique.

So far this year, Houston has been in violation of the daily ozone standard 52 times, or just over once a week. This record puts Houston at the top of the list for most severe ozone smog problem in the nation, a title the city has held for three of the past six years, according to John Wilson, executive director of the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention. At this rate, Wilson said the city is heading for another year as the smoggiest city in the US.

Houston also holds the record this year for violations of the one-hour ozone standard, with 36 days so far. Earlier this year, Houston recorded the single highest hourly ozone reading in the nation, at 192 parts per billion of ozone, according to TCEQ records.

Statistics show the problem is only getting worse. Last year, according to Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, Houston racked up 44 daily violations of the ozone standard and 35 hourly violations.

"The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is evaluating its latest plan to clean Houston's air by 2007, a plan that the commission claims will achieve about the same amount of air pollution reduction as the plan it adopted in 2000. We need a stronger plan, not longer planning," Wilson said. But whatever the plan, if the rules are not enforced, the region will have no real air quality solutions.

"For those who claim that planning and enforcement are two separate motions, you're just wrong," said Wilson. Poor enforcement fosters a "when we get around to it attitude," he said.

Wilson pointed out problems with the current enforcement system, saying that there are too few enforcement staffers working on air quality issues, and that "we have lousy data." He talked, too, about grandfather loopholes and permitting language for some industrial plants that makes it more difficult for enforcers to impose penalties.

Houston mayor Bill White also spoke at the Shell event, focusing on enforcement policies and calling for changes.

"Systems rely too heavily on self reporting," White said, and "enforcement resources are not allocated based on priority." White also mentioned the need for a regional enforcement authority and more incentives for compliance.

"There is a wide variation of compliance," he said. "If you don't have enforcement, and you have people that are responsible companies, then you put responsible companies who obey the law at a disadvantage."

Though ozone can form from precursors having many different sources, such as auto emissions, power plants, gasoline stations, and oil refineries, TCEQ's plume analysis of last week's high ozone episode suggested that the major cause of the red warning on that day was industrial emissions from the Houston Ship Channel area.

COUNTY TO COLLECT HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND ELECTRONICS
by Sarah Morgan

Harris County will be hosting two free household hazardous waste collections on Oct 9 and Oct 23. These events will give citizens a chance to clean out their garages while helping the environment. By bringing unwanted hazardous products and electronics in for collection, citizens ensure the items will be properly disposed. In addition, participants will receive information on less toxic alternatives to common household hazardous products and can also shop for free items at the reusable products booth. For more information, contact Gail Moncla at (713) 290-3086.

LARGEST ST. HELENS ERUPTION SEEN FROM SPACE
by Sarah Morgan

After almost six years of silence, Mount St. Helens is slowly waking up with a series of small eruptions of ash and steam that could last for weeks or even months, scientists said in a government news briefing this week, as reported in the Washington Post.

The largest eruption so far occurred on Tuesday, Oct 5, sending up plumes of ash large enough to be seen from space. Jacob B. Lowenstern, US Geological Survey vulcanologist, said that there probably will be a significantly larger eruption in the near future, though he said it is unlikely it will rival the magnitude of the 1980 eruption, which killed 57 people.

Spectators are keeping watch at nearby look-out areas. For those who cannot make it to Washington, several web sites have volcano cams set up to catch any activity.

Visit http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/ for updates.

For NASA satellite images of Tuesday's eruption, visit:
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?2004278-1004/MtStHelens.A200427 8.1925.250m.jpg

ONE-ACT ENVIRONMENTAL MUSICAL TACKLES TOUGH CHOICES

The Citizens' League for Environmental Action Now and the Sealy Center for Environmental Health & Medicine / National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center at UTMB Galveston will present a one-act environmental musical, "Rain on the Roof." The play will center on a family forced to weigh the benefits of caring for the environment versus the benefits of caring for the industry that supports a community. The play will be at various locations around the Houston-Galveston area, with the first performance on Oct 15 at 3015 Richmond at 7 pm. For more information or for additional information, contact John Sullivan at NIEHS / UTMB, (409) 747-1246.

TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE POSTPONED

Texas Public Interest Research Group has postponed the second annual Texas Environmental Leadership Conference (originally scheduled for Oct 16) to Feb 5, 2005. For more information or to RSVP, e-mail Luke Metzger at luke@texpirg.org.

SECOND ANNUAL TEXAS BIONEERS CONFERENCE

The Bioneers Conference, an annual gathering of visionaries with practical solutions for restoring the Earth, is a three-day event for both professional and general audiences. The event is designed to equip participants with models, resources, and networks to encourage everyone to become a primary force in the transformation toward a restorative future - working with nature to heal nature. This year's speakers via satellite include Amy Goodman, Jay Harman, John Mohawk, Candace Pert, Lateefah Simon, Terry Tempest Williams, and many more, including more than 20 local speakers. The conference will begin on Oct 15 at the University of St. Thomas and is dedicated to Cora Spear. For more information, visit http://www.bioneers.org.

ECO-ART AND ECO-TOUR KAYAK ADVENTURES THIS WEEKEND

Artist Boat will take experts and beginners to explore Galveston Bay by kayak this weekend. On Friday, Oct 8, from 2 to 6 pm, paddlers can watch the sunset on Galveston Bay and view last stands of natural sea grass beds during the Christmas Bay Sunset Paddle. Art supplies are provided. On Saturday, Oct 9, from 1 to 5 pm, kayakers and birders can learn about local birds from ornithologists during the Art of Birding on the Dickinson Bayou Eco-Tour Kayak Adventure. The Saturday trip costs $20 for those who bring their own equipment and $40 for those who rent from Artist Boat. Trip fees help support youth environmental and arts education in the greater Galveston Bay area. For more information or to sign up, please call (281) 236-8806 or visit http://www.artistboat.org.

BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP SEEKS HORTICULTURIST / URBAN FORESTER

The Buffalo Bayou Partnership is seeking to fill a full-time professional position funded through the Texas Forest Service Urban Forestry Partnership Grant Program. Responsibilities include advancing the BBP’s vegetation management plan, which involves specific restoration objectives in the Buffalo Bayou Park. The person hired for the position will work with volunteers and contractors to accomplish many of these goals and will also be responsible for monitoring tree health by performing Forest Health assessments. Other responsibilities include reporting to the Texas Forest Service’s urban forestry representative, seeking funding for a stream-bank protection demonstration project, and working closely with the BBP’s director of public relations to involve the media in newsworthy projects. Some Saturdays will be necessary, to lead volunteer groups. Requirements include a bachelor’s degree in a related field, good computer skills, local flora knowledge, and leadership and presentation skills. To apply for this position please send your resume to Scott Barnes at sbarnes@buffalobayou.org or fax your resume to (713) 223-3500.

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