M3.4 Air Pollution

·      Who and what are the top polluters in your zip code?

Toxic chemicals released by factories (lead compounds, sulfuric acid, ammonia, N-hexane, copper, Nickle, etc.), power plants and other industrial companies, lead hazard.

The top polluter in my zip code is the General Cable Corp.

·      What percent of the homes in your zip code have lead-based paint?

0% percent of home homes have lead based paints, even for the homes built before 1950, it shows 0% indicator to have lead.

·      Are there Superfund sites in your zip?  (In your BLOG, make sure to tell us what a Superfund Site is)

In 2004, this county ranked among the cleanest/best 10% of all counties in the U.S. in terms of the number of designated Superfund sites

What can you tell us about the Superfund sites that are near where you live?

The Rogers Delinted Cottonseed Co., the site occupies 81- acres, operated from 1965-1984. The site may be divided into three separate areas: 1) the processing area in the northwest corner of the property (approximately 20 acres); 2) irrigation fields located south and east of the processing area (approximately 30 acres); and 3) remaining undeveloped land located along the eastern portion of the site. Arsenic compounds were used to defoliate the cotton plants. The facility then delinted the cottonseeds by washing them with five percent sulfuric acid to chemically remove husks, lints, fibers, and other suspended particulate matter. The process also included the use of a fungicide to protect the delinted cottonseeds. The spent acid solution from the process area was collected in two surface impoundments. The impoundments were used as settling ponds to separate the suspended solids from the acid solution. The water from the impoundments was discharged by evaporation and irrigation of the cotton fields. A screening site inspection conducted in 1995, identified and investigated the specific areas where hazardous substances were either used, stored, or spilled. Twenty acres, formerly used to grow cotton, were sold to Step of Faith Worship Center on April 27, 1999. The religious group planned to operate a church and a private school on the property.

·      What did you learn about the air quality in your zipcode?

Air quality index is good (34), satisfactory, no risk, head outside.

Is the top county in DFW area classified be the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as moderate no attainment for 8- hour ozone levels.

·      How about the water quality?

The water quality is really good (above the national average), Plano’s water system has a “Superior” rating with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and it exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards.

·      How did your zipcode fair on a social justice / environmental justice basis?

Low-income communities and communities of color may suffer greater impacts from environmental degradation than other groups.