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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The arrival of the 2009 ozone season brings critical |
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challenges for Central and South Central Texas, where rapid |
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population growth threatens to compromise air quality by raising |
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ozone-forming emissions; and |
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WHEREAS, High levels of ground-level ozone can be a health |
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hazard, especially for children, seniors, and people who suffer |
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from lung disease or are active outdoors; studies link excessive |
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ozone exposure to lung irritation and inflammation, breathing |
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difficulties, headaches, nausea, aggravated asthma, reduced lung |
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capacity, and increased susceptibility to such respiratory |
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illnesses as pneumonia and bronchitis; chronic high-level exposure |
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can cause permanent lung damage; and |
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WHEREAS, To protect the health and well-being of the public, |
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the Environmental Protection Agency strengthened its National |
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Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground-level ozone in 2008; |
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monitored ozone levels in the Capital Region, which includes |
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Travis, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, and Williamson Counties, and in |
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the Alamo Region, which includes Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, and |
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Wilson Counties, slightly exceeded the new standards in 2006-2008, |
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putting the area at risk of receiving a "nonattainment" designation |
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when the EPA makes its final determinations in March 2010; this |
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designation would trigger federal requirements for transportation |
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and industry that could in turn increase costs for businesses and |
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delay regionally significant transportation projects; and |
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WHEREAS, The Capital and Alamo Regions can avert the |
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nonattainment designation if they decrease ozone levels to 77 parts |
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per billion or less and 78 parts per billion or less, respectively; |
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an unprecedented level of regional cooperation is needed to meet |
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this goal; consequently, the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition, the |
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Air Improvement Resources Committee, local governments in the two |
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regions, the Capital Area Council of Governments, the Alamo Area |
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Council of Governments, and the CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas |
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have created an initiative called the Big Push to build on voluntary |
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efforts already in place; and |
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WHEREAS, In support of the Big Push, the Central and South |
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Central Texas regions are implementing an outreach campaign to |
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encourage everyone to be an Ozone Action Hero and to pledge to do |
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what they can to voluntarily reduce ozone-forming emissions from |
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April through October 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, Because many small actions can combine to produce a |
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significant result, the coalition is asking all area governments, |
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agencies, businesses, and citizens for their assistance; |
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individuals can help through such measures as driving less, idling |
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their vehicles less, and waiting until evening to fuel vehicles or |
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use gas and diesel yard equipment; many area employers have |
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committed to join this effort by establishing policies to reduce |
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their vehicle and operational emissions and by implementing such |
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measures as ozone watch/warning programs and assisting employees in |
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reducing the impact of their commutes through teleworking, |
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carpooling, using mass transit, bicycling, or scheduling a |
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compressed workweek; and |
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WHEREAS, The largest employer in the Central Texas region is |
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the State of Texas; state agencies can play a vital role in the Big |
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Push by conducting evaluations of fleet usage, providing secure |
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bike racks and preferential parking for ride sharing and |
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low-emissions vehicles, choosing to teleconference, limiting use |
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of gas and diesel equipment early in the day and on ozone |
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watch/warning days, and enacting other policies to reduce harmful |
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emissions; and |
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WHEREAS, State agencies can also contribute to the endeavor |
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by publicizing the Texas State Employee Commute Solutions Fair, |
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which is to be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, |
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2009, at the Stephen F. Austin State Office Building, and by |
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encouraging employees to attend the fair; and |
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WHEREAS, By joining the Big Push to reduce ozone-forming |
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emissions in Central and South Central Texas, the state can protect |
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the health of residents and help avoid a nonattainment designation |
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from the EPA, thus preventing enforcement of burdensome regulatory |
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requirements that would add to the cost of doing business in Central |
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and South Central Texas; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby direct all state agencies to initiate emission reduction |
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policies and programs in order to help Central and South Central |
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Texas meet the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for |
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ground-level ozone; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official |
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copy of this resolution to the executive director of each state |
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agency. |