North Texas planning officials are requesting the public’s feedback on a regional air quality improvement plan as they prepare to present the latest Dallas-Fort Worth air pollution data at two meetings scheduled in June.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments will meet June 5 where planning officials will discuss projects addressing regional transportation and air quality.
One of those presentations will include an update on the council of governments’ Dallas-Fort Worth Air Quality Improvement Plan. Since 2023, the council of governments has been drafting the document, made up of short-term plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in North Texas.
The council of governments was awarded a $1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program in 2022 to develop the plan. In spring 2024, the Dallas-Fort Worth agency submitted the plan to the EPA, requesting a $199 million federal grant from the $4.6 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Out of the 218 applicants, the city of Austin was the only entity in Texas to receive a portion of the funding.
The $199 million would have funded 19 of the 44 proposals outlined in the North Texas air quality improvement plan, which included sectors in transportation, energy, waste management, green spaces and water, according to the Report’s previous coverage.
The Dallas-Fort Worth region is under the federal limits for some major air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. However, the region has failed to keep ozone at or below the national standard of 70 parts per billion in recent years.
Ozone is a gas formed in the atmosphere and can be harmful to those with respiratory problems. The gas is generated from several sources, but vehicle emissions, construction equipment, locomotives and aircraft make up about 60% of ozone emissions, according to the council of governments.
The region has until 2027 to bring ozone levels to 75 parts per billion or under. If the region is in violation of air quality standards, polluters or major sources of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides could face annual fines of $45 million through the Clean Air Act.
In a June 10 meeting, the council of governments will convene to inform the public and industry groups on whether the Dallas-Fort Worth area is in compliance with national air quality laws.
During the meeting, air quality planners will also discuss proposed revisions in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s ordinance on issuing air quality fines.
The meetings come as the public and North Texas officials cite concerns about how rapid population growth affects air quality and other environmental issues.
The public can sign up and submit public comments on the air quality improvement plan until July 4 here. More information on the June 10 meeting can be found here.
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at [email protected].
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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