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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 6: South Central
Serving Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and 66 Tribes
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In the News - Clean Air and Best Workplaces for Commuters

- Current Issues -
 

EPA Accepts Pledge from Arkansas and Tennessee for Clean Air Faster

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Leavitt has announced that he will approve the ozone nonattainment area reclassification petition submitted by Crittenden County, Arkansas, and Shelby County, Tennessee.

"Because the Memphis area has shown it will achieve clean air standards 3 years earlier than required, I intend to approve their request and classify the area as a marginal nonattainment area under the new, more protective national air quality standard for ground-level ozone," EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt said. "This action recognizes the hard work of local and state leaders over the past 4 months and their renewed pledge to employ innovative local emissions control program to ensure our clean air milestones are met."

State and local leaders from Arkansas and Tennessee joined Leavitt in recognizing collaborative efforts to bring clean air to Crittenden and Shelby counties. For example, the area is committed to local regulations that will control emissions from heavy duty diesel trucks and industrial NOx emissions in Shelby county, and a monitor study and control measures evaluation is planned in Marion.... Full Story

EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt Accepts clean air pledge from Arkansas and Tennessee leaders.
EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt accepts clean air pledge from Arkansas and Tennessee leaders.
 

EPA SmartWay Program Awards $100,000 Grant to Arkansas

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Mike Leavitt has announced the award of $100,000 to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to reduce truck idling. The Partnership is a national voluntary program developed by EPA and freight industry representatives to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases, and to promote cleaner, more efficient ground freight transportation. A key SmartWay strategy is to reduce long duration truck engine idling and to establish national transportation idle-free corridors. This strategy promotes a nationwide network of idle-reduction facilities along interstate highway freight corridors and at rail switch yards. EPA and its SmartWay Partners support pilot projects to evaluate and demonstrate the fuel-saving benefits of advanced idle reduction technologies, such as truck stop electrification. ... Full Story

EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt presents SmartWay Award to Arkansas Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller and Director Marcus Devine.
EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt presents SmartWay Award to Arkansas Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller and Director Marcus Devine.
 
Recent Press Releases -
November 4, 2004 - Seven Texas Education Projects Receive more than $108,000 from EPA News Release Archives
November 4, 2004 - Three Oklahoma Education Projects Receive more than $20,000 from EPA Region 6 News Search
November 4, 2004 - Truth or Consequences Education Project Receives $13,900 from EPA  
November 4, 2004 - Louisiana Education Project Receives $12,500 from EPA Radio Announcements
November 4, 2004 - Three Arkansas Education Projects Receive more than $32,000 from EPA  
October 28, 2004 - EPA Administrator Visits Pueblo Cultural Center, Restoration Project | en español |  
October 28, 2004 - EPA Administrator Meets Area Students, Discusses Lead Poisoning Prevention | en español |
 

Best Workplaces for Commuters helps commuters and improves air quality

If you live in a Metropolitan area and like the daily rush hour driving commute to work, you are a rare bird indeed. More than 1.5 million commuters now can avoid the frustrations caused by long driving commutes. They work for the 800-plus companies, in 30 states, that are part of the Best Workplaces for Commuters program.

This voluntary program offers many benefits to employees, employers, and the air we breathe! Best Workplaces began in February 2000, and continues to grow. Employers qualify by meeting a national standard of excellence for traffic- and stress-reducing commuter benefits. The initiative also contributes to the overall goal of improving air quality. ... Full Story

Dallas HOV lane
Dallas HOV lane
 
 

A Tale of Two Cities . . . Revisited

Take two large metropolitan areas already engaged in friendly, but often heated, competition for job growth, professional sports championships, tourism, convention business and more. Now add a commitment to clean the air, including air-friendly commuting. Think there might be a little competition?

Of course there is. Especially when you're talking about Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston-Galveston, both areas in Texas and in Region 6 of the U.S. EPA. Houston, with its own set of air pollution issues, and far fewer miles of light rail, is ahead. But Dallas-Fort Worth is coming on strong in its first campaign for the joint U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/U.S. Department of Transportation voluntary program, Best Workplaces for Commuters. ... Full Story

DART rail cars
Houston METRO train
Dallas and Houston light rail lines.
 
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