* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Branch
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
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Informational Hearing - Air Pollution From Truck Traffic
FOR the purpose of inviting representatives from the American Lung Association, ESP, the Department of Transportation, and the Health Department to appear before the Council to discuss trends in truck traffic through Baltimore, the implications of those trends for the health of Baltimore’s citizens, and ways for the City to combat the negative health impacts of vehicle emissions.
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Recitals
Baltimore’s Port and transportation network is one of the main engines that drives the region’s economy. Its recent success and growth has undoubtedly brought more jobs and commerce to the City. However, greater cargo volumes also mean greater numbers of trucks passing through Baltimore’s neighborhoods. As the Port expands its berths, and the economy slowly recovers, this trend is likely to continue and grow in the future.
Increased truck traffic can be problematic for the City because it also tends to bring increased air pollution along with it. The nitrous oxides and volatile organic chemicals released by internal combustion engines raise smog levels and combine to form ground level ozone that can be dangerous to human health. According to the American Lung Association(ALA), more than half of all of these two ozone building blocks released into the atmospher...
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