Sure, I suppose the black film which builds up on my windows is just from cooking …
SEMCOG disputes EPA soot designation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it plans to declare the seven-county southeast Michigan region, which includes Livingston and Washtenaw counties, as failing to attain new, stricter standards for airborne particulate matter, or soot.
But Southeast Michigan Council of Government officials say they strongly disagree with the proposal.
Chuck Hersey, SEMCOG’s manager of environmental programs, called the move misleading and inappropriate, given that only the air quality monitors in Wayne and Monroe counties have been out of compliance.
The move is different from one earlier this year that designated the region and many others across the country as failing to meet ozone standards. But Hersey added that many solutions to the ozone problem might help reduce soot as well, since they have common sources like vehicles and factories.
The region will have three years to come up with a plan and several more years to lower soot levels, or it could face federal sanctions.
—Ellen Jun. 30 '04 - 03:19PM #