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DeSoto air quality improving
By ROBERT LEE LONG
Community Editor
DESOTO COUNTY - DeSoto Countians can breathe a little easier now. Thanks to environmental factors and decisions by county officials, the county's air quality has improved for 2008.
Maya Rao with the Mississippi Environmental Protection Agency said DeSoto County faired much better under federal air quality standards than last year.
DeSoto County recorded an ozone average of 74 parts per billion in 2008, down from an average of 84 ppb in 2007. DeSoto County's ozone average in 2006 was 87 ppb. Ozone levels above 125 ppb are considered unhealthy. More stingent EPA regulations lowering the ozone standard from 80ppb to 75 ppb will go into effect in 2010.
DeSoto County is in its third year of air quality attainment after being separated from inclusion with Shelby County, Crittenden County, Ark. and other Mid-South counties.
Rao said the weather and less fossil fuel exhausts in the atmosphere are primarily the reason behind the drop.
"The weather has cooperated, and gas prices are higher so people are traveling less," Rao told DeSoto County Supervisors Monday.
DeSoto County Planning Director Jim McDougal said the relatively mild summer did help with air quality, since hot stagnant air with no wind tends to drive ozone readings upward.
"In July, we had two or three weeks of hot weather, and I was afraid we would blow the (ozone) meter sky high," McDougal said. "But we had some good winds that blew it away so weather does have a lot to do with it."
McDougal said the county has enacted burning bans on commercial and industrial waste during ozone action days when temperatures and weather conditions foster worsening ozone conditions.
DeSoto County officials also have attempted to educate the public about steps they can take to reduce ozone problems, which often lead to breathing difficulties in children and older adults.
Carpooling, mowing yards earlier in the day and other steps can be taken to help improve air quality, according to McDougal.
McDougal said local industries and construction companies are being encouraged to recycle and use wood chippers instead of burning materials.
"The chippers will be part of our ozone action plan in 2009 to process construction waste to keep it from being burned," McDougal said. "As it happens, there are some synergies between our solid waste folks and ozone action groups. Anything that we can do to keep things from being burned will be explored."
DeSoto County Economic Development Council President and CEO Jim Flanagan said improved air quality is good for industry and for residents.
"The good thing is for the past couple of years DeSoto County officials have been vigilant in making air quality a priority and mitigating problems with air quality when it occurs," Flanagan said. "That's what those burning bans are achieving."
Robert Lee Long: rlong@desototimes.com or at 662-429-6397, Ext. 252
Maya Rao with the Mississippi Environmental Protection Agency said DeSoto County faired much better under federal air quality standards than last year.
DeSoto County recorded an ozone average of 74 parts per billion in 2008, down from an average of 84 ppb in 2007. DeSoto County's ozone average in 2006 was 87 ppb. Ozone levels above 125 ppb are considered unhealthy. More stingent EPA regulations lowering the ozone standard from 80ppb to 75 ppb will go into effect in 2010.
DeSoto County is in its third year of air quality attainment after being separated from inclusion with Shelby County, Crittenden County, Ark. and other Mid-South counties.
Rao said the weather and less fossil fuel exhausts in the atmosphere are primarily the reason behind the drop.
"The weather has cooperated, and gas prices are higher so people are traveling less," Rao told DeSoto County Supervisors Monday.
DeSoto County Planning Director Jim McDougal said the relatively mild summer did help with air quality, since hot stagnant air with no wind tends to drive ozone readings upward.
"In July, we had two or three weeks of hot weather, and I was afraid we would blow the (ozone) meter sky high," McDougal said. "But we had some good winds that blew it away so weather does have a lot to do with it."
McDougal said the county has enacted burning bans on commercial and industrial waste during ozone action days when temperatures and weather conditions foster worsening ozone conditions.
DeSoto County officials also have attempted to educate the public about steps they can take to reduce ozone problems, which often lead to breathing difficulties in children and older adults.
Carpooling, mowing yards earlier in the day and other steps can be taken to help improve air quality, according to McDougal.
McDougal said local industries and construction companies are being encouraged to recycle and use wood chippers instead of burning materials.
"The chippers will be part of our ozone action plan in 2009 to process construction waste to keep it from being burned," McDougal said. "As it happens, there are some synergies between our solid waste folks and ozone action groups. Anything that we can do to keep things from being burned will be explored."
DeSoto County Economic Development Council President and CEO Jim Flanagan said improved air quality is good for industry and for residents.
"The good thing is for the past couple of years DeSoto County officials have been vigilant in making air quality a priority and mitigating problems with air quality when it occurs," Flanagan said. "That's what those burning bans are achieving."
Robert Lee Long: rlong@desototimes.com or at 662-429-6397, Ext. 252
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Dude wrote on Nov 17, 2008 5:23 PM: