TheAsthmaFiles2015 - Air Alliance Houston Profile

AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON

Air Alliance Houston is being profiled because their main focus is improving local air quality. They have been actively working on this issue through many channels, notably through filing lawsuits against major polluters who don't comply with clean air policy. They also have programs for education and advocacy, and join in projects with other similarly aligned organizations.
Some recent projects/endeavors:
1. The organization puts pressure on companies by supporting local legislature that requires polluters to register with the city of Houston, a law that is currently being contested in the courts. (pollution enforement)
2. In partnership with the American Lung Association, created a cellphone app that allows citizens to get real-time ozone level updates, so they can make informed decisions as when to enjoy the outdoors. (cellphone ozone updates)
3. Applied to join an EPA program to install air-quality monitoring benches in public spaces (but was met with resistance from the state of texas. (monitoring benches)
4. One of a few programs they run for students, on each earth day they hold an art competition for elementary and middle schoolers to increase children’s awareness of environmental issues (earth day art)
5. Campaigns to get the Houston city council to set idling limits for diesel trucks; fumes are a health risk. (Currently pushing for an anti-idling ordanance) (diesel regulation)
Timeline of Project Events:
1. May, 2015 – Joined the Environmental Integrity Project in filing a petition asking federal officials (& specifically the EPA) to block permit changes that increased the allowed emission levels for power plants. (block permit changes) (permit changes 2)
2. July, 2014 – Air Alliance Houston-operated monitoring stations picked up elevated levels of diesel emissions, which can lead to a myriad of health problems for the community. They used this information to launch new awareness campaigns and start lobbying for diesel restrictions for Houston. They plan future community-measurement projects to supplement city-run monitoring stations (air quality monitoring)
3. August, 2013 -- As part of the Clean Gulf Commission, the Air Alliance Houston opposed the creation of a new coal terminal facility, put political pressure on local government to deny their permit. (involved with environmental issue outside of Houston, that could potentially affect their health from a distance) (new coal facility)
4. May 2013 – Successfully sued in the case Air Alliance Houston, et al. v. McCarthy, saying the EPA had not been doing its duty in compliance with the clean air act. This caused the EPA to issue new regulations regarding emissions and other factors. (Air Alliance Houston Vs McCarthy)
5. March, 2013 – In partnership with the University of Texas and the American Lung Association, released the free app OzoneMap, a way for Houston residents to get real-time updates of ozone levels in the area (ozone map app)
Unique ways of engaging the community:
1. Ozone theater: free, age-appropriate education about air pollution and health for elementary and middle school students using drama-based educational techniques that provide more active engagement fro students. Also provides schools with ozone-warning flags to broadcast the ozone levels to the community. Has won awards including: The Clean Air Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and The President’s Cabinet Award from University of Texas Medical Branch. Different and important because it gets kids engaged and educated at a young age. (Ozone theater)
2. Community One-pagers: Air Alliance Houston releases short and concise reports of measured/reported air quality for different communities in Houston that residents can consult so they know the exact data for their area. Important because it empowers homeowners to know the facts and statistics for themselves. Released in English and Spanish. (one-page reports)
3. OzoneMap Project: engages community by releasing real-time ozone data in a way that is accessible to most people: via a cellphone app. Allows individuals who are more affected by ozone levels to make informed decisions about when to avoid the outdoors. Unique because of the tech-based way to deliver information. (ozone app)
Data collected/visualizations:
1. Community one-pagers, as previously discussed include air quality info specific to regions in Houston. Includes Ozone-levels experienced, and an ozone-level forecast. Example document
2. Conducted research in Galena Park, TX (with community participation) including health surveys and year-long air quality monitoring, Working to roll out more community based monitoring programs in the future.(collecting local data)
Research they've produced or drawn on:
1. Air Alliance Houston does a lot of collaboration with groups with similar goals, such as the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Integrity Project, &c. They draw on Data and research made by these organizations, and contribute to their datasets as well. For the One-pager reports, they also use data collected by the City of Houston, presented in the form of community health profiles. (City of Houston)
2. The data collected by the Air Alliance (from their Galena Park-based research project) measured higher-than-recommended diesel fumes and is the direct catalyst for the diesel regulation push in local legislature. (diesel regulation)
Technology & Infrastructure used by Air Alliance Houston:
1. The ozone map can be accessed by smartphones, ipads, or computers. (ozone map)
2. The education programs such as Ozone theater need only teachers to operate, but there are supplemental educational materials available on the website. (air pollution info)
3. In research projects such as Galena Park where air quality data is monitored, equipment is needed to collect that data. The city collects data with it’s own stationary monitors, but the study wanted to collect from different areas. Attempts are being made (unsuccessful as of September 2015) to join the EPA Village Green Project that would install air-quality monitoring benches around the city. (monitoring benches)
Social Ecology:
1. Houston had really bad air quality, and as recently as 2005 a large effort has been made to clean it up. However, there have been difficulties because of the amount of companies located there that have large responsibilities in generating air pollution. (Houston air history)
2. The organization itself is actively participating in coalitions with other groups with similar goals, and it also partners with regulatory governmental agencies (in part helping them get more power to enforce the law, and in part to make sure they are fully regulating industry.) They are quite politically active and engage in supporting legislation that would improve air quality and public health.
Events or Data as motivation:
1. The initial creation of the group (originally known as GHASP) was the large amount of smog and low air quality Houston had in the 1980s. Today the air quality is much improved, but there is still more work to be done. (GHASP)
2. They have had success in the past pursuing lawsuits when they find businesses or organizations are not complying with regulation, as with Air Alliance Houston vs. McCarthy.
3. They have a plan in place to achieve better air quality by 2020 -- long term goals to be achieved through many shorter term projects, that are funded through grants and through donor support. (long term plans)
Funding Sources:
1. Funding comes through both donors and sponsors of their programs. Donors include the Sierra Club and Environmental Defense Fund. Sponsors range from local Houston-Galveston Area Councils, to large Corporations such as IKEA or Coca-Cola (sponsors)
History of the Group:
1. The Alliance resulted from the merger of Mothers for Clean Air, and GHASP, each of which worked to limit smog in the city. When combined, they worked on Advocacy, Research, and Education to increase awareness and put into place measures that would lessen air pollution, as well as monitor levels to ensure regulations are being followed. When they aren't, the Alliance is quick to make a fuss and to ensure penalties are carried out.
Challenges facing the Group:
1. To help people realize that the negative environmental effects don’t stop at fence lines, and that industry can effect health in negative ways, even if it isn't right next door.
2. There is a lot of resistance to environmental “radicalism” in the area, if not in the city, then in the state. Already the city of Houston has hit challenges when trying to implement new air pollution governance policy, because they are not getting support from the state of Texas or its legislatures.
Governance the group seeks:
1. Air Alliance Houston definitely calls for more regulation, as well as more power for regulators. This is seen in their lawsuit when the EPA was not regulating industry to the standards of the Clean Air Act, as well as their support for the city of Houston to implement its own regulation and standards to industry in its jurisdiction.
2. They also call for more air quality monitoring sources, as well as increased analysis of the data collected. They encourage the public to participate in data collection, but more standardized practices can be achieved through governmental data collection.
How can the Asthma Files Support:
1. Possibly add asthma education to the ozone theater program, make sure people who are at risk (asthmatics) know to check ozone levels before leaving the house for a long period of time.
2. A good idea this organization supports is to get the public involved with data collection, advocacy programs, and to know that it matters to and effects everyone. This idea could be adopted by the Asthma FIles, especially involving the public in data collecting.