WAUKESHA COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION LEAGUE
POSITION STATEMENT
Clean Air
Southeastern Wisconsin has a serious air pollution problem. Air pollution causes human health problems, harm to the environment, damage to agricultural products and even harm to buildings and manufactured goods. High concentrations of ozone causes significant irritation to the elderly, children and people with breathing problems. The effects of long term exposure to low concentrations of toxic pollutants are currently uncertain but are suspected to cause long term health problems. Due to the mobile nature of air pollution, the pollutants generated by residents of one area can cause problems for people long distances away.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) has reported that motor vehicles contribute 43% of the pollutants that form ground level ozone in Southeastern Wisconsin. Area sources such as small engines, lawn mowers, boat motors and other consumer products contribute approximately 42%. Large industrial sources, which have implemented many reduction methods, contribute 15%. The DOT has reported that 50% of the pollution generated by motor vehicles is produced by approximately 10% of the motor vehicles. Small engines and boat motors currently do not have any emission controls, and as a result are much "dirtier" than automobiles.
The Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, has compelled the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set limits on the amount of emissions that can be generated in metropolitan areas. Eleven counties in Southeastern Wisconsin and along Lake Michigan have been designated as nonattainment areas. To provide for future economic growth in the region, significant reductions in motor vehicle and area sources must be implemented.
The Waukesha County Environmental Action League (WEAL) supports the following programs and policies to help clean the air:
Motor Vehicles Sources:
Area Sources:
Industrial Sources:
We all contribute to the state's air pollution problems in a variety of ways. Through a variety of small individual efforts, citizens of Wisconsin can go a long way to cleaning up the air pollution problem.
Sources:
"Wisconsin Vehicle Inspection Program", Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "The Clean Air Act in Wisconsin", Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Pub No. AM07392. Contact: Bureau of Air Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, P0 Box 7921AM/10, Madison, WI 53707-7921 (608) 266 7718.
written 12/92 MYB
revised 12/95 MYB
WEAL | PO Box 1532 | Brookfield, WI 53008
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