TCEQ engineer recommends Wise County's removal from list
By Travis Measley | Published Thursday, December 11, 2008
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Chief Engineer David C. Schanbacher submitted a recommendation Friday to TCEQ commissioners asking that Wise County be considered for removal from the list of potential nonattainment counties.
Wise County was one of 11 counties that were to be considered for nonattainment status at the Wednesday TCEQ meeting.
In the memorandum Schanbacher sent to commissioners, he cited the lack of an ozone monitor and low population density as reasons for not including Wise County in the nonattainment area.
He also said that historic surface winds on high-ozone days indicate that the county does not contribute to the ozone problem.
The three TCEQ commissioners were to decide Wednesday if they would recommend Wise County be included in the nonattainment area. Texas Governor Rick Perry will have until March 2009 to make his recommendation to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Decatur Mayor Joe Lambert and Bridgeport Mayor Don Majka were to attend Wednesday's meeting, along with other Wise County officials.
