The Bi-State Planning Commission's participation in the recent foray to lobby U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials to reduce the local "non-attainment" area for fine particulate pollution clearly exceeded the organization's mission and purpose.
Bi-State's mission is "to serve as a forum for intergovernmental cooperation and delivery of regional programs and to assist member local governments in planning and project development." On its web site, the organization goes further to say it is NOT "another layer or higher authority of government. . ."
The merits of the EPA's proposed "non-attainment" area for PM 2.5 (particulate matter of 2.5 micrometers or less) can and are the subject of debate and disagreement among residents, affected industries and regulators. But Bi-State's role advocating a much smaller "non-attainment" area designation places the organization in a very political corner aligned with local industry (and major emitters of PM 2.5), and claiming "jurisdiction" that even the organization says it does not possess.
Those traveling to Washington to meet with unnamed EPA officials last week included Bi-State Executive Director Denise Bulat, Moline Mayor Don Welvaert, Muscatine Mayor Dick O'Brien and Scott County Board Chair James Hancock. The letter the group submitted to the EPA said it was from "a coalition of local government and private sector representatives committed to clean air and the protection of the health of our citizens. . ." It was signed by all area mayors, the chairs of Scott, Muscatine and Rock Island County boards, but no "private sector representatives" are listed.
None of the city councils or county boards listed in the letter discussed the PM 2.5 standards and non-attainment issue, nor did any of the cities or counties pass resolutions supporting the letter delivered to the EPA. Residents or businesses with opposing views were never given an opportunity to express their opinions.
Bi-State's involvement in air quality issues began 10 years ago when it created an Quad City Air Quality Task Force as a subcommittee of its Quad Cities Urban Transportation Policy Committee. The stated mission of that appointed group was to: "maintain attainment status for ground level ozone through voluntary measures; provide for communication between public and private entities on voluntary measures by sharing experiences and knowledge; and support individual and group voluntary measures/activities such as public education, and mobile/stationary source reduction initiatives."
Taking political positions on EPA standards and recommendations has never been part of the task force expertise or mission.
If the Quad City Development Group – with its mission "to influence local, state, and federal public policy supportive of Western Illinois/Eastern Iowa regional economic development" – chooses to support and lobby the EPA on the non-attainment PM 2.5 issue, so be it.
Bi-State, however, should keep its focus (and the involvement of its staff and committees) as non-partisan advocates for clean air.
