SOE2010.AirQuality


 * The question is ... do we include air quality on our report?**

I personally think we can't do a complete State of the Environment Report without considering air quality. It may be woven into the other sections as it relates to TLC goals, but I don't think you can have a "healthy place for people to live and work" if the air quality is suffering. How far we take it may depend on the information that's out there. A friend of mine works at the EPA and deals with some of their air quality analysis. I can see what information they have available? She may be able to come sit in for a class when we discuss this portion if we're interested. (Steve Allen)

E-mail from my friend at the EPA Most of the data would be collected at the state level. This looks like NC's page []

Then the EPA trends page might help you. This page has data and stats by county and city although it's likely the same as what the state has. []

If you want some ammo for why to include air quality you could use the ozone standard EPA just re-proposed. It's the first thing listed on this page: [] NC is likely to have more areas out of compliance for air in the future so it would make sense to at least consider that now. I worked on all the communication materials for this so I could explain it more fully to you if you want. (Steve Allen)

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I found a few more links to some air quality sites. (Steve Allen) One is a scorecard that calculates pollution levels.

[] [] []
 * Air quality links **
 * Environment North Carolina**
 * Air quality scorecard – Scorecard the pollution information site**

<<From Amanda Campbell 20 Jan 2010: I was thinking, and to me this seems more like a project commissioned by TLC, since the leader works there, and that's where the idea originated. We could just call it "State of the Environment: 2009" and have "report written for: Triangle Land Conservancy" on the first page. Once they update it, they could call it TLC's State of the Environment. Anyway, that frames and scopes the project more easily, and then one doesn't have to include a section on air, or toxic waste, or energy, or other environmental issues one might consider in a wider environmental report. >>

<<**From Amanda //Willis//** **20 Jan: I am in favor of an air quality section. I've surveyed reports by other land conservancy organizations, and they have used a range of "indicators" (including the Heinz report) including specific elements and toxins which appear in the air, water and sequestered in forests. Even though TLC's mission does not specifically address air, I think a report on the Triangle which does not include a statement about air quality will be incomplete. I don't think the title of the document would need to change to incorporate air quality. There are a number of ways the matter could be addressed. The report could address separate elements like oxygen (which is a major concern at Lake Jordan (i.e. low oxygen levels are a potential threat to fish and water quality)) and carbon (which could be addressed in the habitat section, among others). Or it could simply include air quality as a separate section in addition to the four enumerated by TLC. This would have to have their approval methinks. The document should be able to stand alone with or without TLC's name emblazoned upon it. I doubt this will be a deal-breaker for TLC.>>

TLC's Project Perspectus as submitted to Z. Smith Reynolds, lists air quality as one of its goals:** 


 * Purpose**

Triangle Land Conservancy would like to close this gap by assessing protected lands against the conservation goals for which they were protected. These are the goals that, if achieved, will help keep the Triangle a healthy and vibrant place to live and work:  **Given this, I don't understand why its inclusion in our report is an issue. Aimee 1/21>>**
 * clean water for drinking and leisure
 * **clean air <-**
 * habitat to support diverse wildlife
 * productive farms and forests
 * scenic landscapes
 * space for outdoor recreation

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I'm ambivelant......but it seems all arguments posted are in favor of including air quality one way or the other..... kbigsby 1/21

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<<Right now I am interested in having the report revolve around the four stated goals of TLC and not including air quality. -Ginevra 1/21 <<i see both sides of the air quality debate. if we leave out air quality, it won't be the only thing not specifically addressed in the report.thus, we don't have to go out of our way to defend not giving it its own section. if we include it, we have two choices: either give it a section or include it as an added benefit within the other sections (somehow). one thing to keep in mind is that putting energy into another portion of the report will take some time and energy away from other facets of what we're doing. that may not pose a problem, but if TLC is our client, we'd better do everything else as thoroughly as possible to justify adding more work. jessica 1/21>>