Saturday, May 11, 2013
A depot for county buses in Silver Spring is irksome to some neighbors and may be violating the county's own rules.
The constant hum of Ride On buses idling—powered on, but not driving anywhere—is just plain annoying to some of the Silver Spring residents who live near the county's vehicle depot, a special report from WTOP claims. Furthermore, the buses may be idling too often and for too long, in violation of the county's own rules about minimizing bus idling that may emit noxious fumes. County rules say buses shouldn't be left on for more than three minutes. A reporter with WTOP took video and observed the buses routinely being left on for longer than the mandated time limit. (Watch the video here.) Montgomery County officials responded to the report Thursday with a statement claiming that the buses have to be turned on for any number of …
Monday, February 25, 2013
A settlement was reached on Monday with American Electric Power to improve air quality in Maryland.
Maryland joined seven other states and the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday, Feb. 25, in reaching an $8.5-million settlement with Ohio-based American Electric Power to reduce air pollution emissions from its coal-fired electric power plants that carries to downwind states. "With this agreement, we’ve accelerated a timetable that will help make Maryland’s air cleaner for decades to come," Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler said. "Marylanders have been subjected to harmful emissions from out-of-state power plants for far too long. The 2007 agreement [with American Electric Power] was historic in its size and scope and we just made it even better for the citizens of Maryland and the entire Mid-Atlantic region.” The power company …
Monday, July 4, 2011
Montgomery County will be under a Code Orange air quality watch Monday.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, along with the Maryland Department of the Environment, has issued a Code Orange air quality alert for Monday for Montgomery County. Code Orange means that air pollution concentrations may become unhealthy for certain sensitive groups, including children, people with asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. Air pollution effects can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Montgomery County is under a Code Orange air quality watch for the day before July 4.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, along with the Maryland Department of the Environment, has issued a Code Orange air quality alert for Sunday for Montgomery County. Code Orange means that air pollution concentrations may become unhealthy for certain sensitive groups, including children, people with asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. Air pollution effects can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.
