19 August 2008
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels who launched the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and is known as the “Green Mayor” had better look to his laurels as our city could be in jeopardy. Our beautiful clean, green city broke Federal Clean Air Act standards over the weekend. I guess that the high temperature, lack of wind and too many cars on the road caused ozone levels to go off the charts by health standards. I know that I avoided spending time out of doors. Possibly our smog standards are much lower than those in Beijing but it must be difficult for most of the athletes who perform outside.
It’s possible that Seattle can be fined by the Feds for “Nonattainment.” This won’t happen for some time, possibly not until 2010. That’s about how long it will take for Washington State to officially report the violation to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and then for the EPA to react. It’s past time that we enact stronger regulations for emissions. Mayor Nickels, do your job!
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