The clean air act (1990) recognizes 188 air toxins that can result in cancer and other detrimental health and environmental effects. These toxins emanate from indoor and exterior pollution agents, for example, vehicles, buildings, industrial production, transportation, and indoor household activities. Toxins are concentrated in various proportions and can be tough and expensive to monitor and analyse. In Houston, Texas, federal and state regulatory authorities challenged the Clean Air Act regulators to take action against pollution and order responsible organizations to take action.
Air Pollution Resolved In Local Level
The Mayor of Houston, Bill White commissioned scientific studies of the pollution and its related risks in comparison with other states. He helped purchase and deploy new high-tech equipment to monitor Houston’s air and enforce clean air regulations. While cooperating with pollution regulatory authorities, the state helped implement joint monitoring programs. He also signed a green building solution for new constructions, renovations, and operations of high-performance green buildings and facilities. The local authorities were also involved in cleaning up transportation by encouraging people to use hybrid vehicles and renew their carbon filters frequently.
The state authorities in Texas funded a scientific study of the pollution problem that revealed volatile chemicals were the biggest pollution agents (Harris). Ethylene, which is more explosive than hydrogen gas, was the biggest culprit and when the sun is hot and the wind blowing in the appropriate direction, results in smog formation. In 2005, Regulators and companies bought cameras that could picture infrared light and attached them to a helicopter that flew over the pollution channels. Using these cameras, they ‘saw’ invisible ethylene gas in the form of grey clouds and identified barges that were leaking chemicals contributing to the smog (Harris). Through Mayor White, the state realized new programs to help old city neighbourhoods make their homes more energy sufficient through weathering.
National Level
Authorities together with the office of the Mayor conducted public meetings with the National Environmental and Health Committees and got polluting companies to sign an agreement that forced them to reduce benzene pollution. They also threatened to sue the companies and spoke against a bill that prohibited cities from regulating air pollution outside their corporate jurisdiction. The mayor then introduced compliance and implementation plans that were implemented in his tenure. They included: instigating a joint plan to diminish benzene production, in association with the local industry; utilizing the urban decree to make city polluting agents to enlist themselves with the municipal authority and incur a particular fee due to pollution; working with the pollution commission to investigate Houston’s toxin related issues and update the EPA’s emission considerations; challenging emission renewals; and proposing an ordinance that allowed the state to sue polluters. The mayor also engaged with various initiatives such as the Clinton Climate Initiative to enhance environmental stewardship and conservation.
Work cited
Harris, Richard. "Breathing Easier: How Houston Is Working To Clean Up Its Air." NPR. NPR, 30 May 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. <http://www.npr.org/2013/05/30/185993899/breathing-easier-how-houston-is-working-to-clean-up-its-air>.
