Monday, June 28, 2004
The Roanoke Valley can meet air quality rules
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Davis is mayor of Vinton and chairman of the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
A recent commentary in The Roanoke Times presented a pretty negative scenario on the ability of the Roanoke Valley to reduce ground level ozone over the next three years. The truth is, our region is very close to meeting the Environmental Protection Agency's eight-hour standard for ozone, and we have a realistic shot at improving our air quality through the regional Ozone Early Action Plan.
Please don't be dissuaded or discouraged by pessimistic accounts, such as those asserted in the recent "Valley air-cleanup plan is designed to fail" (May 5). The aforementioned article is correct in stating that "the devil is always in the details." However, we need to clarify some details in order to move the discussion forward.
The May 5 commentary stated "the draft Early Action Compact is unworkable in that it fails to provide a mechanism by which participating areas can come back into compliance. ..." The reality is that the Early Action Plan protocol is designed to bring participating areas back into compliance by 2007.
If the Roanoke Valley is not in compliance by 2007, as measured by on-the-ground scientific data, we automatically revert to the "Traditional" air quality nonattainment process. If the region is successful in reducing ozone levels (and with the help of Roanoke Valley citizens we will succeed), then by definition we will once again be in compliance with the eight-hour ozone standard.
The article goes on to state "the Early Action Compact program gives the illusion of progress while actually delaying the cleanup." Once again, it is in error.
The "Traditional Process" is a slower, more bureaucratically oriented process than the Early Action Plan process. We would have just finished our Traditional Process Plan at about the same time that the Early Action Plan is being judged by air quality readings (i.e., 2007). Simply stated: The Early Action Plan gives us a plan that we can implement right away and work toward improving air quality - a full three years earlier than the "Traditional" process would have allowed.
It is for this reason that we are optimistic about our prospects. We hope that all citizens join with us to make the Early Action Plan a success. You can start by following (and encouraging your friends, neighbors and associates to follow) these three simple steps:
1. Take mass transit, share a ride or carpool - you will improve air quality and save money by doing so.
2. Get fuel when it is cool - refuel before 8:30 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
3. Don't top off the tank.
Also, please visit the RIDE Solutions website at www.ridesolutions.org or call (540) 342-9393 for more information on how you can help improve air quality.
Remember, after the recent drought, our friends in the city of Roanoke have been successful in maintaining a reduction of 1 million gallons per day in average daily citywide water consumption, through education and volunteer efforts.
We can be equally successful in improving our air quality, but we need your help - government cannot do it alone. With the help of citizens throughout the Roanoke Valley, we can reduce ozone levels in our region.
