Air Quality

Mobile Source Pollution

The federal Enviromnetal Protection Agency (EPA) will require Louisville to act on mobile source pollution (largely, car and truck exhaust) in the near future. Among the range of possible actions, Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has suggested new idling ordinances and/or renewed vehicle emissions testing. Any vehicle emissions testing should be structured to avoid the mistakes of the previous, fatally flawed emissions testing system. Both, idling ordinances and vehicle emissions testing, should be explored as air quality mitigation actions.

There are several other measures that would result in the improvement of our local air quality. Small gas engine use (lawn mowers, leaf blowers) needs to be reduced. The creation of a great local public transit system would take many private cars and trucks off our roads. A JCPS student/school assignment plan that guaranteed local school assignment to students and parents committed to walking or bicycling to school would reduce the number of buses, cars and trucks on our roads. A "No New/Renewed Drive-Thru/Drop-Off" policy from Metro would reduce the number of cars idling at banks, fast food establishments and schools.

Another measure that needs consideration is the "pass" that some events get from APCD. For instance, Thunder over Louisville is not required to acquire a permit. Why should any event not be held responsible for it's contribution to air pollution?

Current Louisville Air Quality Index