Environment in Allen County

A thorough discussion of Allen County's environment would be impossible on these pages, since environmentalism is a broad philosophy regarding conservation as well as the improvement of the health of the earth's systems, which typically advocates the preservation, restoration, and/or improvement of the natural environment.   Therefore, the following only briefly addresses those environmental aspects that have a direct relevance to the LACRPC.

The relationship between the natural and built environment affects the health of the human community and natural environment. The ecological health of the community's natural environment is affected by collective and individual behaviors . . . acts of both commission and omission. The built environment is the result of accumulated years of capital and human investments, which must support both human health and that of the natural environment.  While the natural environment has long sustained the built environment, its condition is the net result of our local policies and personal behaviors. 

The Planning Commission is dedicated to helping both individuals and communities make thoughtful decisions that not only support local development, but also increases the viability and health of the natural environment.  Provided below are suggested widgets and hot links intended to help decision makers and individual citizens make decisions that could lead to improving the local natural environment.

Air Quality

According to the Clean Air Act, regions that are in non-attainment or maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for specific pollutants, including: ozone, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, or nitrogen dioxide, must be able to demonstrate that any highway or transit activities will not cause new air quality violations, worsen existing air quality violations, or delay timely attainment of the relevant air quality standard, or interim milestone.  Therefore, all federally funded long-range transportation plans, transportation improvement programs as well as transportation projects must demonstrate consistency with the State Implementation Plan (SIP) or state air quality plan for meeting NAAQS air quality standards.

Although Allen County was designated an 8-Hour Ozone non-attainment on June 11, 2004, the MPO worked with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to develop a SIP to document regional strategies needed to achieve emission reductions necessary to meet the air quality standards.  An outcome of the collaboration identified mobile source emissions (emissions from vehicles traveling on the planned transportation system) thresholds which cannot be exceeded.  Per the most recent U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) conformity determination on the Long Range Plan dated August 24, 2009, including projects contained in the FY 2012-2015 TIP, the Plan is consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) testing criteria. Therefore, the new TIP has been demonstrated consistent with "reliance on previous regional emission analysis" concerning mobile source emission thresholds. 

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often called greenhouse gases. The EPA Climate Change Site (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/index.html) provides information and data on emissions of greenhouse gases to Earth's atmosphere, and also the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Some greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Other greenhouse gases (e.g., fluorinated gases) are created and emitted solely through human activities. The principal greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere because of human activities are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. You can visit the EPA  Climate Change Site and use the online calculator to get a rough "ballpark" estimate of your personal or family's greenhouse gas emissions and explore the impact of taking various actions to reduce your emissions.  See the hot links and widgets on this page.

Ottawa River Cleanup

Every April, Lima Allen County Neighborhoods in Partnership (LACNIP) work with many community stakeholders to sponsor the Ottawa River Cleanup.  Partners include:  the City of Lima, the Ottawa River Coalition, and Keep Allen County Beautiful.  They work together to bring 300 volunteers from across the region, setting aside the last Saturday in April to maintain this valuable natural resource.  The Ottawa River bisects Allen County, beginning from the east and passing through the heart of the City of Lima.  It proceeds southwest into Shawnee Township where it turns north, flowing into Putnam County. The Ottawa River drains 365 square miles in northwest Ohio, flowing into the Auglaize River at Kalida and eventually into Lake Erie via the Maumee River.  For details about this year's cleanup event, an Ottawa River Cleanup Fact Sheet can be found at this link.  Volunteers must sign a "Volunteer Form" and those under the age of 18 need to have the same form signed by a parent or legal guardian.