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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                            Matt Dulin                             Tony Hernandez 
                Jim Parsons             Dusti Rhodes           Blake Whitaker

City officials now can and should punish polluters

Houston's pollution problem may make for some pretty sunsets, but it doesn't do much for quality of life. So when measures are introduced to help curb the city's substantial pollution problem, residents can't help but breathe a small sigh of relief.

The Houston Chronicle reported Sunday that the city of Houston now, for the first time in at least five years, has the power to sue companies whose industrial plants are found in violation of anti-pollution laws. Previously, violations were referred to the state, which was often slow to respond to complaints. Now the city can sue without having to wait for the state to decide it wants to pursue legal action.

Having a city government that is willing to step up and actively pursue violators offers a degree of comfort. Large companies carry a great deal of clout, and its nice to know there are public officials more interested in cleaning up our skies and our image than bowing to corporate power.

No one can doubt the gravity of the issue -- Houston's air quality is still well out of the range of what is considered satisfactory. In April 2004, Renyi Zhang, an associate professor of atmospheric science at Texas A&M, conducted a study that found Houston's pollution level to be 67 to 150 percent above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard, depending on the time of year.

In addition, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued a report in 2003 that stated the pollution levels in Milby Park were significant enough to raise the chances of residents developing cancer. 

It's enough to make you want to take the first bus to Wyoming and never look back.

Environmental issues become harder to leave on the back burner when they become life-threatening. The city's new power to bring legal action against companies that put profit before people may not have a profound impact, but if used aggressively, could be an effective way to help make life in Houston a little bit healthier.