To Whom It May Concern:

We are writing you about one of the most important issues facing our Dallas-Fort Worth region: Air Quality. This issue directly impacts our citizen’s physical and economic health. Unless we aggressively address this issue, there will be major economic consequences. To successfully address this issue, it will take all of us, the public and private sectors, working together to see positive results.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets a standard for what constitutes clean air and the Dallas-Fort Worth region does NOT currently meet that standard. The EPA has given us a deadline of June 2010 to achieve compliance with the standard. Once a city or region exceeds the EPA’s limits for a period of time, the federal government starts handing down ‘punishment’ such as: the loss of federal highway funding and more stringent requirements on businesses needing air quality permits in order to expand current operations or to move into this region.

Idling of heavy-duty trucks has been identified as a major contributor to our air quality problem within the Dallas-Fort Worth region. To address this problem, the Mesquite City Council passed an ordinance on January 5, 2009 prohibiting motor vehicles that weigh over 14,000 pounds from idling over five minutes during ozone season (April 1st – October 31st each year). Enforcement of the ordinance will begin in August 2009. Signs and brochures on the ordinance have been developed and we are asking for your help with posting them at your facilities in order to raise awareness. Additional information on the ordinance as well as an order form for signs and brochures can be found at the following website: www.cityofmesquite.com

One alternative to idling a truck’s engine in order to provide heating, air conditioning or other electrical needs is the use of truck stop electrification systems. Truck stop electrification systems allow truckers to “plug” in vehicles to operate necessary systems thus eliminating the need to idle their engines. These systems can reduce diesel emissions while saving your company the cost of fuel that would be used while idling. There are five truck stop electrification systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Enclosed you will find additional information on truck stop electrification systems and a map of the truck stops in our region where these systems have been installed. Please encourage your employees to use these systems as alternatives to idling their engines.

We appreciate your help with cleaning up our air by considering these requests. For further information on these important and critical requests, please contact Gereal Hogue at 972-216-6903.

Sincerely,

Timothy M. Tumulty, P.E.
Director of Public Works