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61 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 25, 2004 Cities wary of relaxed air quality standards By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — This city’s leadership has joined a growing list of governments in Jackson County opposed to a proposal by the state Department of Environmental Quality to relax local industry emission standards. Mayor Hank Williams said the council — joining Talent, Ashland and Jackson County — passed a resolution declaring its position following a study session with DEQ representatives earlier this week. The topic of DEQ’s proposed air quality regulations has come up at recent Medford City Council meetings during the public comment portion. Several Medford residents have said they oppose the proposal and have asked the council to also oppose it. To date the council has not responded beyond saying that they would like to look more closely at the issue. Advertisement In Central Point, Williams said the council is wary of pollution data and computer modeling being used to support the DEQ’s proposal. "People tend to distrust computer modeling when it comes to a decision like this," said Williams. "I’ve lived in this valley for a long time and I’ve been here when you could see the air. I just don’t want to go back to that. "I realize we need industry and we need jobs but we don’t need to sacrifice our air quality to get them. Our air standards are already stricter than anywhere else, as they should be with the geographics in this valley. I think it (the council’s action) was a good decision." Councilman Mike Quilty, who cast the sole vote in support of the DEQ proposal, serves on the Medford-Ashland Air Quality Advisory Committee. He said he was torn between efforts by the advisory committee to define proposed standards and the council’s decision. "I had my say on the committee about what I thought should be in it and I felt I should stick by what I said," he explained. Quilty, who considered writing a letter separate from the council supporting the DEQ proposal but said he would not, said the DEQ’s proposal is not a "nasty plot to slide in dirty air," but an attempt to create jobs. "I was the member of the committee who said ‘let’s do away with offsets so there’s a chance for businesses to come in and provide jobs for our families,’ " he said. "I don’t want to go the way of Ashland, where children who are born here grow up and can’t afford to live here. "At the same time, I would never, ever want to degrade the valley back to what it was. It’s up to local jurisdictions to site industrial lands in a way that minimize impact on residential neighborhoods. I just think there’s room to allow for a little bit of growth while still providing clean air for the valley. I don’t think there’s anything in life that should be all or nothing." Talent officials make formal request TALENT — City leaders decided Wednesday to send a letter to the Department of Environmental Quality requesting the agency maintain air quality controls at current levels. "The position of the council is that we wish the DEQ not change the standards," said Mayor Marian Telerski. Under existing regulations, new or expanding industries that produce five or more tons of fine particles annually have to buy so-called clean air credits, which the DEQ and industry representatives say are not available. The DEQ has proposed eliminating the clean-air credits and easing local standards to allow industry to produce more fine- particle pollution but without exceeding federal standards. Telerski said allowing more leniency in the air quality standards to bring more business to the Rogue Valley is not a good solution for the long term. "There are better ways for us to improve, such as better education and better transportation. Basically, better anything," she said. "But not worse air." Telerski said that view reflects the opinions of citizens who have spoken on the issue before the council in recent weeks. "Not one person has come before us saying, ‘We want more particulate matter,’" she said. Telerski will be assisted in writing the letter by City Council member Wendy Siporen. City Manager Betty Wheeler said the DEQ has requested all community input be turned in by Jan. 31. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford.E-mail her at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times