Comment submitted by George Morris, Organizer, North Texas Environmental Meetup

I'm in favor of strict regulation of cement kilns, and do not want to see obsolete technology grandfathered in. The wet kilns in Midlothian have an adverse effect on the air quality of North Texas and cannot be tolerated when we are already failing to meet Air Quality standards. My wife is one of many local residents who suffer from asthma. The costs of managing this condition are not borne by the companies that benefit from these dirty kilns, and instead are externalized onto thousands of people who suffer reduced quality of life, shortened lifespan, and related illnesses. Why should they be allowed to profit at our expense? Air pollution also feeds a vicious cycle. When we suffer from high particulate levels, fewer people choose to walk, jog, or bike outside. High levels of pollution cause more people to choose to drive, which creates even more pollution. Cleaning up the kilns is a prerequisite for making Dallas a more pedestrian and bike friendly city. -George Morris, Organizer, North Texas Environmental Meetup http://www.meetup.com/enviromentalists