Mark Snyder's recent posting included a link to useful information on air quality in the Twin Cities. Another good MPCA article to consult is this one: "Air Quality in Minnesota: Into the Future" (dated March 2003).
Below are a few excerpts. The first mentions air advisories/alerts: "In the summer of 2001, the Twin Cities was confronted with an urban problem that is a part of daily life in cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago and Atlanta. That summer, for the first time since the 1970s, ozone (smog) levels rose high enough in the Twin Cities that the MPCA was forced to issue air pollution health alerts. Health alerts were issued on three occasions in 2002, as ozone and fine particles rose to levels unhealthy for those with asthma and other respiratory conditions, as well as heart disease." (Note that we've had several pollution advisories issued already this year. I believe these advisories were for fine particles; ozone becomes a problem in warmer months.) The article also references the MPCA's 2001 Air Quality Legislative Report, which concentrates on a 10-point Action Plan for improving the air quality in the Twin Cities. Item 7 is listed as "increas[ing] the availability and use of transit in the metro area." (There's a legislative agenda for you...settling the bus strike might improve our air quality...) In addition, the article suggests that we follow the lead of cities like Tulsa, OK in "providing alternatives to the public on air pollution alert or ozone alert days. On days when ozone levels exceed the federal standard, the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, provides free transit service as part of its 'ozone alert' commitments. This subsidy has increased ridership on ozone action days by 30 percent, meaning that large numbers of citizens have chosen to keep their vehicles' pollution out of the air that day." You can read the entire article at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/reports/lr-aq-1sy03- report.pdf REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
