LAWRENCE–The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce new air quaility standards by the end of October. There are concerns that the new standards may push Lawrence into noncompliance. New changes including gas stations would be required to sell specially formulated, low-vapor gasoline during the summer months. Estimates on how much more the specially formulated gasoline would cost vary. The last time Douglas County has its air quaility monitored, it checked in at 72 parts per billion, but by that measurement was taken nearly four years ago. Lawrence and Douglas County have undertaken efforts to reduce emissions, including hybrid buses for public transit system, adding bike lanes to roads, and reduce emissions from a coal-fired power plant on the northern edge of Lawrence. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is expected to make a recommendation on whether Douglas County is in compliance with the new regulations in early 2011.
Friday, October 8, 12:45pm
