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Coalition Notes
W.A. PARRISH
COAL PLANT TOUR, KATY FREEWAY POLLUTION STUDY AND EPA PROPOSES CLEAN
UP OF MDI SUPERFUND SITE Mothers for Clean Air toured the W.A. Parish Coal Plant in Fort Bend County on Thursday, February 19. The Parish Power Plant is the only coal-fired power plant in the Houston-Galveston area. The tour included video presentations, a chance to see the pollution control devices being installed, and questions answered. Jane Laping, mothers for clean air executive director said, "This plant is huge! Three one-mile long trains bring in coal from Wyoming every day. Yet Reliant is doing its part to reduce emissions." KATY FREEWAY POLUTION STUDY The Spring Branch/Memorial Chapter of Mothers for Clean Air commissioned a study to understand the environmental impact of emissions from automobiles on the Katy Freeway to local communities. Matt Fraser, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, conducted an analysis of fine particulate levels caused by traffic along the Katy Freeway, between IH-610 and Beltway 8. Fraser compared current usage of 280,000 vehicles per day with expected future use of 397,600 vehicles per day when the construction project is completed. The results indicate that particulate pollution from the freeway would increase 42%. Particulate levels were highest near the intersection of the Katy Freeway and the 610 West Loop. Lowering the freeway below grade will reduce particulate levels by 10%. Scientific
studies show that inhaling fine particles from freeway emissions can
cause a range of health problems including cancer and brain damage.
Living or
going to school close to freeways is associated with health problems in children
and the elderly including respiratory illness, asthma hospitalizations, and
circulatory and cardiovascular disease. FREE BIRD WALKS Beginning this spring, free
bird walks are being offered in various nature parks throughout the city.
Some of these walks are a result of a partnership
of Houston
Audubon with the Ornithology Group of the Outdoor Nature Club, Houston Parks
and Recreation, and Friends of Hermann Park. Please check the list frequently,
as we will be adding walks throughout the season. If you are interested in starting
a bird walk in your local park, please contact Mary Ann Weber, Education Coordinator
at (713) 932-1639. EPA PROPOSES CLEAN UP OF MDI SUPERFUND SITE The Fifth Ward Chapter of Mothers for Clean Air has been
closely watching the clean up of the Many Diversified Interests (MDI)
Superfund site through an
EPA Technical Assistance Grant. The MDI site is a 36-acre abandoned steel castings
and catalyst recycling operation contaminated with lead and other heavy metals
directly across the street from Bruce Elementary School. MAY MEETING: HOUSTON’S POOR AIR QUALITY As Executive Director of the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention (GHASP) and a long-time environmental activist, John Wilson has had a wealth of experience with air quality issues in Houston. The recently published report “Where Does Houston’s Smog Come From?” gives a valuable update on many of our region’s problems. Using health references and air pollution monitoring data from state and federal monitoring agencies, GHASP examined cancer risk, chronic health hazards, and the acute effects of air pollution exposure. The report recommends additional air pollution controls to reduce industrial organic chemical pollution and nitrogen oxide emissions, increased scrutiny of hazardous air pollutants when issuing or renewing air pollution permits, and enforcement of current permitting. For more information, log on to the
GHASP web site at <www.ghasp.org> where
you can access extensive information about Houston’s air quality. UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TONY MARRON PARK, In 2001, The Park People began planning the development
of Tony Marron Park, 19 acres of empty land along Buffalo Bayou in Houston’s
East End. Working in partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation
Department and the Houston
Parks Board, The Park People continue to raise up to $2 million to complete
this project. The Park People has broken ground for the development phase
for plans
to add much-needed soccer fields, trails, children’s play areas,
a pavilion, and many trees.
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