STATEMENT: TCEQ proposes Dallas and Tarrant counties for nonattainment of soot standards

Dallas, Tarrant, Harris, and Bowie counties in excess of new particulate matter standards

DALLAS – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced on Tuesday that it will vote on whether to recommend to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that four Texas counties – Dallas, Tarrant, Harris and Bowie – be designated as in “nonattainment” of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standards.

In February 2024, EPA published new air quality standards for fine particulate matter (also known as soot), lowering the attainment standard from 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter to 9.0. States are required by the Clean Air Act to submit the air quality designation of counties to EPA within one year of a new standard being published.

Particulate matter, smaller than 2.5 micrometers, is a serious danger to human health as particles enter deep into the lungs and can even get into the bloodstream. Scientific studies have linked PM2.5 to a number of conditions, including premature death, respiratory diseases, heart issues and health complications for newborns.

In response to the TCEQ’s upcoming vote, Environment Texas Dallas City Hall Advocate Ian Seamans issued the following statement:

“Fine particulate matter infects the air we breathe and threatens our health. This proposed designation could force reductions in pollution from construction sites, power plants, cars and trucks, gas-powered lawn equipment, and other sources of deadly particulate matter.

“As our Lawn Care Goes Electric report shows, gas and diesel-fueled lawn equipment was responsible for as much particulate matter in Dallas and Tarrant counties in 2020 as 3.9 million gas-powered cars on the road for a year. Incentives for electric lawn equipment, similar to those established by the City of Dallas, are a smart strategy to help reduce this pollution.

“We must also reduce the amount of these gas-powered vehicles on the road and transition toward electric vehicles while prioritizing walkable, transit accessible neighborhoods. Our counties must do a better job of attaining federal standards that protect our health and our environment.”

###

Environment Texas is a policy and action group with one mission: to protect and restore the natural world.