( – promoted by odum)
Driving to Shelburne today on a delivery, I was once again sadly amazed at the translucent gray haze obscuring the view of Camel’s Hump, Mount Mansfield, and the entire Green Mountain Range. Down in the valleys the diminishing quality of Vermont’s air is less evident, but the view to the hills is difficult to miss. It’s also hard to miss the “Very Unhealthy” red zones representing pollution on ANR’s Air Quality Index map:
http://www.anr.state…
What’s particularly interesting is that the air quality monitoring locations in Burlington, Rutland and Brattleboro are all situated at elevations less than 600′ above sea level. Bennington sits at 709′ and Underhill at 1291′, but when you glance to either the hillsides where people live, or to the ANR air quality map, the evidence of unhealthy air is staring you right in the face. Today, the Taconics, the Greens, and the Northeast Highlands have an AQI index exceeding 200, landing in the category of “Very Unhealthy”. Even with lower elevation monitoring stations, Air Quality Advisories have been issued three times this year.
In my opinion, and only partially verified, the primary source of air quality degradation results from eased emission standards for coal-burning plants in the Midwest. No matter where this pollution is coming from, it seems as though the fact of diminishing air quality would be of high concern not only to ANR, but to the Department of Health and the Department of Tourism, and that some legal action might be taken on it. I’d be curious to learn if anything is being done, or can be done due to the hurdles of interstate law or the Clear Air Act.
Despite various myths, pollution is not caused by humidity, nor is it only present on hot days. It is only with complacency that one could say, “Our air will always be clean,” especially since on this very day, a thick, “Very Unhealthy” cloud rises up the hills.
What do you think? How is your view of your favorite mountain?
Nate Freeman
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