What do you think of when you hear about the Louisville Metro (formerly Jefferson County) Air Pollution Control District (APCD)? The answer will depend on, among other things, how old you are and where you live. Many people, when they hear I'm with APCD, ask me whether the Vehicle Emissions Testing (VET) program is coming back. (Probably not.) If you live in or near Rubbertown, you will mention the odors from chemical plants. Others will sheepishly tell me they have an outdoor fireplace, and "is that legal?"; still others mention our Lawn Care for Cleaner Air program. It is like the parable of the blind men feeling an elephant (one thinks it's a snake, one a wall, one a tree, and so on.) My quickest description of what we do is, "We implement the Clean Air Act in Louisville." This is true, but incomplete.
Some background: The federal Clean Air Act (the Act) directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a list of "criteria" pollutants, and to set health-based ambient air quality standards for each one. EPA has identified six pollutants that are widespread; come from "numerous and diverse" sources, both stationary (like a manufacturing plant) and mobile (vehicles of various types); and are known to have harmful effects on human health and the environment. The criteria pollutants are lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and ozone. EPA sets national ambient air quality standards, or NAAQS, for the criteria pollutants based on the latest scientific data. Then it is up to state and local governments, like ours, to figure out what measures we as a community must take to bring Louisville into compliance with the standards.
How do we do that? We begin by gathering data. APCD runs a sophisticated air monitoring network to measure criteria pollutant levels. We then analyze the data to determine the sources of pollution. The next step is to develop and implement pollution control measures. Some examples: We write permits for facilities that emit air pollutants. We require gas stations to have vapor recovery systems on their pumps. We inspect demolition projects to make sure asbestos isn't released. We respond to citizen complaints of open burning, odors, and fugitive dust. We craft regulations to implement the Clean Air Act and control air toxics. We answer to an appointed seven-person Board, which has the authority to pass the regulations we write. We send notices of violation to people and companies that don't comply with the law. This list is far from exhaustive, but you get the idea: we stay busy.
The good news is that we have had a great deal of success. Louisville's air is healthier now than it has been in any of our lifetimes. However, there is much left to do. As more scientific studies are done, we discover that air pollution has harmful health effects at lower and lower levels. In response, EPA has lowered or is planning to lower the national ambient air quality standards. Most of the criteria pollutants result, directly or indirectly, from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline and coal. We cannot point fingers at others: if you drive, or use electricity, you are part of the problem - but you have the opportunity to be part of the solution.
In reality, the solution is as simple as turning off the lights and television when you leave a room; adjusting your thermostat by a couple of degrees; and not idling your car unnecessarily. When these behaviors become part of every child’s education, Louisville’s air quality concerns will be a thing of the past.
Lauren Anderson is the Executive Director of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District