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July 1st marked an important day for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as state and regional partners gathered for a press conference to announce its decision on the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Dallas-Fort Worth nonattainment area. SIP is an enforceable plan developed at the state level that explains how any areas currently not in attainment with federal air quality standards will achieve these standards in the future. Texas’ clean air plan was developed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and approved by the EPA.
This announcement is significant because it makes Texas the first state in the nation to propose its SIP for EPA approval, however, the EPA must still consider all comments on whether the proposed decision is finalized. The State of Texas was also recognized as being among the first to submit a plan, as well as the first to have had its proposed approval.
The EPA also announced that through the success of earlier plans, the area achieved the previous one-hour ozone standard ahead of the time predicted by the scientific modeling.
These announcements are the result of regional teamwork between the Dallas Regional Chamber, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, NCTCOG, cities, counties and other interested parties. The Dallas Regional Chamber has historically been a strong advocate for programs and funding to address our region’s air quality challenges and will continue to be an active supporter for air quality in this region.
If strong efforts continue to be made, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in this area will continue to be reduced, allowing the area to meet federal clean air standards by the 2010 deadline. In fact, the EPA believes that 2009 will be the first year that the standard is met.
The SIP will also contribute to the new 8-hour ozone standard (0.075 parts per million) that was released on March 12, 2008 by the EPA. However, more reductions, primarily from mobile sources, will be necessary to reach this new standard. Although the new March 12 standards are not yet in effect, North Texas must continue to seek new opportunities to reduce emissions in order to meet the tighter standards.
Robert A. Chereck, Chairman of the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors, and Dallas regional president of Wells Fargo, participated in the event on behalf of the Chamber. “The Dallas Regional Chamber has been a strong advocate and has supported the TCEQ & EPA’s clean air initiatives,” according to Chereck. “This announcement today is a culmination of much regional teamwork and we are pleased with the outcome. However, this is just the beginning of much work that must continue to ensure our future in north Texas.”
Also participating in the press conference was EPA Regional Administrator Richard Greene, TCEQ Chairman Buddy Garcia, NCTCOG Executive Director Mike Eastland, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, Ellis County Judge Chad Adams, Dallas County Judge Jim Foster, Collin County Judge Keith Self, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and Fort Worth councilmember Jungus Jordan.
Currently, nine counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area do not meet the federal air quality standard. Counties currently in nonattainment include Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant. Under the March 12 standards, it is likely that Hood and Hunt counties could be joining the other nine DFW counties that fail to meet current standards.
For more information contact Meredith Armstrong at marmstrong@dallaschamber.org.
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Richard Knight, Jr. 
R. Gerald Turner