Memphis leaders have partnered with regional policy experts and advocates to continue fighting for cleaner air standards, just as the summer months bring heightened risks from the city’s smog.
Last week, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed a petition to the Environmental Pollution Agency (EPA) asking the agency to redesignate Memphis as an area that does not meet ozone air quality standards. The filing was done on behalf of Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP), Young, Gifted, and Green, and the Sierra Club.
The filing noted that smog increases the likelihood of respiratory illnesses, emphasizing that Memphis has been designated a “national asthma capital” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Most recently, the American Lung Association gave Shelby County an “F” for ozone pollution.
Rep. Justin J. Pearson said Memphis declining air safety conditions aren’t a “coincidence” but rather “cause and effect.” Polluters like xAI and TVA are contributing to the smog problem, Pearson said, “and yet, local health officials have failed to act. Not only did they miss the EPA’s deadline to submit a pollution reduction plan, they have turned their backs on families struggling to breathe.”
The SELC is asking the EPA to exercise its authority under the Clean Air Act to determine that Memphis is in violation of the federal standard limiting the amount of ozone solution allowed where air might potentially be inhaled by the public.
“The last four years of air monitoring data show that the Memphis metro area is violating national smog standards,” SELC claimed in a statement. “Recent data shows that the problem is getting worse – not better.”
Caroline Cress, SELC senior attorney, said they have been tracking Memphis’ ozone issues for a while – specifically how local agencies have been addressing the issue. They’ve also been advocating for the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) to take “swifter” action in addressing this issue.
“Ideally, the local government agency would have acted a long time ago to prevent the area from slipping into this violation of the federal standard to begin with,” Cress said. “They have been participating in voluntary programs that EPA facilitates.”
Cress said filing the petition was their way of intervening after noticing a lack of urgency from local governing authorities, with SELC reaching out to the EPA to pursue federal oversight of air quality.
Speaking of xAI, Cress added that “their facility emits a lot of pollutants that react with heat and sunlight to form ozone solutions. Which makes [xAI’s presence] particularly egregious: they came to town, set up shop, and started running these gas fire turbines without a permit – which was required – when the air quality in Memphis was already unhealthy.”
The petition also mentioned that the operation of xAI’s gas turbines have further complicated this issue, with the project expected to “operate certain voluntary air pollution controls.” Cress said Memphis’ air quality problems predate xAI, but their timing intensifies air threats.
Cress said the next steps are for the EPA to review and respond to their petition. In the meantime, SELC is hoping to persuade local government to take the air quality issue more seriously and take action to “reduce emissions.”
