Emission concerns addressed over I-35 expansion project

AUSTIN, Texas — As the Interstate-35 expansion continues in Central Texas, concerns over meeting new emissions requirements are rising.

At this week’s Transportation Policy Board meeting held by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, members asked questions about landing within the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards.

“One question is whether we fall out of compliance or not. What does it do to our big projects? What does it do to the I-35 project?” asked Travis County Precinct Three Commissioner Ann Howard.

Next month, the Environmental Protection Agency’s new National Ambient Air Quality Standard Particulate Matter standard begins. Howard wants to know what that means for the I-35 project going forward.

“Do you have to do other things? Should you do other things?” she asked.

In February, the EPA lowered the primary annual standard from 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter to 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter.

Walker Williamson with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality attended Monday’s meeting with the answers for board members.

RELATED| Residents speak out against I-35 expansion at CAMPO meeting

“We would set emissions levels in that zip and you would have to show that the emissions that result from the transportation plan don’t exceed that emission level,” he said.

Opposers to the I-35 expansion project fear that more traffic will only bring more pollution via gas emissions, while members want to understand the consequences of not falling within the EPA’s parameters.

“You would be restricted in terms of what you could do up to meeting that conformity level for emissions,” said Williamson.

Next month, the state of Texas will have to submit the National Ambient Air Quality Standard to the EPA to meet clean air requirements. CAMPO is also set to vote on the Transportation Improvement Plan next month.

If the state fails to meet those qualifications, it will have a 120-day window to match the EPA’s standards.

Austin residents are weary of the pollution that will come from expanding the interstate.

“There are unfortunately a minority of elected officials who seem to be saying it’s okay for me and my neighbors and their children and their elderly parents to breathe in the toxic emission,” said Adam Greenfield with Rethink35.

The Transportation Improvement Plan is expected to be voted on at next month’s Transportation Policy Board meeting which is scheduled for May 13.