Ozone is created in the atmosphere through photochemical reactions involving other pollutants, including those from vehicles. (Denver Post file)
Re: “Colorado will be hurt by new ozone cap,” Sept. 20 point-counterpoint column.
Kelly Sloan adopts energy interests’ predictable preoccupation to control language in a Denver Post debate about EPA ozone regulations. He describes the impact of a strengthened ozone standard placing “much of the state — both on the Front Range and the Western Slope — out of attainment.” He should describe the situation as being out of compliance. You attain compliance, and compliance is not attained by throwing up your hands and saying the standards for cleaner air are too high.
That is like saying the standards for obesity should be changed because very nice people I know are already overweight.
Sloan never mentions that ground-level ozone kills people and trees, and stunts crops, or that on the Western Slope, itap not traffic as much as methane leaking from old and new gas wells that creates the ozone. More expensive technology could help with that, an exercise we must start to save our health and ecology, and ultimately ourselves.
Barb Coddington, Glenwood Springs
This letter was published in the Sept. 27 edition.
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