Threats by the Environmental Protection Agency to hit the Arlington-D/FW area with sanctions if the state doesn't come up with a comprehensive clean-air plan are mostly posturing and no reason to panic.
The state missed a deadline and federal officials ratcheted up the tough talk. But there is a plan being formulated, so it's not as if the region is ignoring the problem or the EPA.
Although there isn't reason to panic, there is reason to take the area's pollution control efforts seriously.
Even posturing is being monitored by potential business prospects. And sanctions, if any, are more likely to be aimed at business or stronger emission control measures.
That's an important consideration for Arlington, which is involved in competitive recruiting efforts for the downtown, The Ballpark in Arlington and Interstate 20 industrial park areas. Surrounding communities have similar priorities.
As the topic is given greater attention, government officials, residents and businesses should consider the following:
* Avoid posturing.
The EPA needs to stop the kind of posturing that took place this past week.
Federal officials were quite aware the state was going to miss a deadline, and EPA officials also have accepted the state's promise that a new plan will be submitted by early next year.
The absurd logic of withholding federal transportation funding - increasingly worse traffic conditions that generate more pollution - is foolish. But it is also potentially troublesome, because it can distract from properly educating the public about the problem.
* Maintain strong Arlington involvement in the process.
Arlington needs to ensure its interests are being fairly and properly considered.
Just how much Arlington contributes to the problem, and consequently, how much it can contribute to the solutions isn't known. Despite including particular cities in the threatened area, the EPA uses junk science that can't identify how much each city contributes to the problem. That makes accountability a problem.
Arlington needs to play a part, but we should be vigilant over the resources being spent on the problem.
* Prove that control strategies have an impact on pollution levels.
Much money will be spent, and it's important that spending produces effective results.
That is not easy considering the speculative science that is behind pollution control efforts. But some data showing the effectiveness of proposed strategies must be demanded by taxpayers and businesses to ensure the pollution control effort doesn't become an easy excuse for unrestrained government spending.
* Don't confuse public transit with pollution control.
Arlington is likely to be further pressured to join the Trinity Railway Express - the Railtran train from Fort Worth to Dallas. Part of the sales pitch probably will be an appeal based on our contribution to reducing pollution in the area.
There's no evidence this would be the case if Arlington joined, and if that's part of the claim, such evidence should be demanded. Since there are no train stations in Arlington, drivers still have to get to the station. From some areas, that drive is as long or longer than the drive to Dallas or Fort Worth.
Additionally, if the people our public transit efforts are aimed at don't drive now, providing them transportation doesn't help pollution control.
There may, however, be a component of the air pollution concerns that is a factor. If Arlington opts for a bus system, for example, the types of buses used may be a valid consideration.
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