Houston has received the dubious honor of becoming the second U.S. city to have a "severe" smog problem, as classified by the U.S. EPA. Los Angeles is its partner in grime. The downgrade from a "moderate" to "severe" smog problem gives Texas' largest city nine extra years to meet federal air-quality standards. Both Houston and L.A. have, however, taken recent steps to combat their unhealthy air quality. Houston Mayor Bill White has unveiled a plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 11 percent and smog 16 percent by 2010, through use of the usual suspects: renewable energy, hybrid cars, LED traffic lights, energy-efficient buildings, rooftop solar panels, and expanded transit. Los Angeles, for its part, on Wednesday launched a pollution-control program at its bustling port, banning the entry of diesel trucks built before 1989.
Smog in Your Throat?
Houston joins Los Angeles in having ‘severe’ smog problem 3
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Posted 10:31 AM on 3 Oct 2008
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human power Posted 3:05 pm
03 Oct 2008
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Delay And Deny Posted 5:37 am
04 Oct 2008
http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=brain-seeks-p ...
When we feel like we don't have command of our own fate, our brains often invent patterns that offer a sense of self-control. Some folks knock on wood or step over cracks in the sidewalk. Scientists call this illusory pattern perception. Work published in the October 3rd issue of the journal Science offers a look inside our heads as they try to make us feel less helpless.
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Tasermons Partner Posted 6:37 am
04 Oct 2008
Then the manufacturer's association called the governor, who also picks the heads for the TCEQ (our lame-duck environmental agency who hasn't fined anyone for air-pollution violations in years).
He got 'em to petition the EPA for a waiver so they wouldn't actually haveta do anything, like say, their jobs, and so the petrochems could have more time to comply (or not comply, rather).
He also tried to block White and the city when they tried to make a law declaring air pollution of certain types in certain amounts as a nuisance to public health under city codes and punishment of up to $20,000 a day per violation.
The petrochems weren't happy 'bout that.
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