That is, the MultiPollutant and Long-Term Strategies Subcommittee of the Regional Air Quality Planning Committee of the Houston-Galveston Area Council. A mouthful, to say the least.

A bit of background: The H-GAC, governed by a board of 33 elected local officials, is the regional government for the 13-county metropolitan region. The RAQPC was established by the H-GAC Board in 1991 to advise its members on air quality issues. It is composed of 26 appointed members who represent three major stakeholder groups: (1) industry and business, (2) local government; and (3) citizen, public health, and environmental groups.

In late 1999, the RAQPC formed a number of subcommittees. The focus of all but one of these subcommittees has been on the specific control measures needed to attain the one-hour ozone standard established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 2007. The MPLTSS is “the other subcommittee,” charged with addressing the “other stuff.”

But why do we need to look at other pollutants and long-term issues? Although Houston currently meets the EPA standards for the other five air pollutants for which the EPA has established standards (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and lead), numerous studies have shown that adverse health effects, including approximately 500 deaths annually in the Houston region, are associated with these pollutants at the levels currently measured in our area. Although there are no federal standards for air toxics (various chemicals and particles such as benzene, vinyl chloride, and cadmium that are known to cause cancer and other serious diseases), levels of these substances are higher in the Houston region than in most urban areas as well.

Furthermore, even if we attain the one-hour ozone standard on schedule, we will need additional pollution reduction strategies to stay in attainment. And we will need to reduce pollution even more to meet the EPA’s proposed eight-hour ozone and fine particulate standards, both of which we currently violate.

For all of these reasons, as well as for addressing long-term quality-of-life issues that will increasingly play an important role in our ability to have clean air and water and to attract new businesses and workers to the Houston area, the MPLTSS exists.

But what is its role? As many of you know, the region has no comprehensive program or agency to guide clean air efforts. Compare, for example, our situation with that of San Francisco which has had, since 1955, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to deal with all aspects of regional air quality. This year the BAAQMD, with 310 employees, has a budget of $34 million.

Without a comprehensive vision and a body directing area efforts, of which there are many (think, for example, of the tree-planting program of Trees for Houston, smart growth efforts led by the Gulf Coast Institute, the City of Houston’s diesel inspection and maintenance demonstration, the University of Texas Health Science Center’s sustainability project, and new low-emission technology), much valuable expertise is not being shared and, not infrequently, efforts being done on one side of “town” are being undermined by what’s being done on the other.

The MPLTSS is trying to raise awareness of the critical importance of multipollutant and long-term regional strategies, such as green building and development codes, source reduction incentives, and heat island mitigation, to improve the quality of our air and water while at the same time lobbying for greater regional coordination so that not only do we have a holistic vision of a clean and healthy region, but that all of our decisions, at every level, move us toward that vision.

Since the MPLTSS’s inaugural meeting on April 6, 2000, the subcommittee has developed an on-going survey of area businesses, institutions, and organizations to help determine current pollution-reduction initiatives, and encourage these groups to think about what future efforts they might make.

MPLTSS produces a monthly report, disseminated by e-mail and at the monthly RAQPC meeting, that lists significant pollution-reduction initiatives, research and upcoming events in the area. This report is intended to recognize local efforts and to help share organizational and technological expertise.

The subcommittee has sponsored presentations by various experts on a wide range of topics including the state’s pollution prevention programs, a proposal to install ionization towers to reduce pollution, the City of Houston’s program to reduce its own emissions, and the effect of development policies on air pollution.

We have a core of extremely dedicated and knowledgeable members, but the scope is immense and our time and resources limited. We welcome any thoughts you might have.

Our meetings are open, generally held on the first Thursday of each month. To be added to our email list, to add area pollution reduction initiatives, events, or research to the monthly report, or for more information in general, please contact Winifred J. Hamilton (713-798-3875, hamilton@bcm.tmc.edu) or Mary Jane Naquin (713-993-9317, m.j.naquin@systems.org).