Region's air among most polluted in state
An American Lung Association report notes, in particular, problems in Dutchess, Orange and Putnam counties.
The American Lung Association’s annual report on air quality in New York finds the Hudson Valley contains some of the most polluted air in the state.
The report, released Wednesday, looks at ozone levels and particle pollution for the three-year period of 2014 to 2016.
With regard to ozone pollution, Orange County gets a grade of C, the same as in last year’s report, but Dutchess and Putnam fell from C to D this year, Westchester County again was rated F.
Ozone levels were not measured in Ulster and Sullivan counties.
The only area county measured for particle pollution (soot), was Orange, which scored an A grade, the same as last year.
Orange County is now home to the Competitive
Power Ventures (CPV) electric generating plant in Wawayanda, which eventually will be powered by natural gas but has been tested with diesel fuel.
That brought a reaction from American Lung Association report author Janice Nolen.
“We also recognize that oftentimes, especially during the startup of a plant, there are higher emissions than there would be otherwise, and that is not something we have been pleased with,” Nolen said. “We have colleagues in the environmental community, particularly, who take legal action to require that those measures be recognized and be dealt with differently.”
While some residents in the Wawayanda-Middletown area have complained about sore throats and burning eyes during the diesel fuel testing, the state Department of Environmental Conservation conducted air quality tests last month and said there was nothing in the steam plumes that would cause health problems.