New city Web site tracks environmental statistics

More than two-thirds of Bloomington workers commute to work alone everyday, according to the 2000 Census. 10 percent of workers walk and 10 percent carpool. Two percent ride bicycles to work and, believe it or not, that’s up 19 percent since 1990. \nThis is exactly the kind of environmental trend information now available on the Web, thanks to the City of Bloomington Environmental Commission. The commission recently published its comprehensive Bloomington Environmental Quality Indicators report online for the first time.\nThe report offers information on the status of Bloomington’s environmental quality gathered from the U.S. Census and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, said Kelly Boatman, vice chair of the Environmental Commission. She said she hopes the study’s wider availability will inform and educate citizens. \n“If someone is interested in air quality in Bloomington, they don’t have to go to five different sources,” said Boatman. “We’ve made the local information available in one location.” \nThe data is broken into categories of transportation, energy, waste, air quality, water quality and green infrastructure. Each category uses specific indicators, like hazardous air pollutant emission rates, as guides for data and statistics relating to Bloomington and Monroe County. Apart from the report, the BEQI Web site offers links to sites that invite support for pro-environmental policy changes and sites that offer ways to change existing habits into pro-environmental behaviors. \nLinda Thompson, senior environmental planner for the city, said the report should dispel impressions that Bloomington has a poor environmental quality. \n“There are some people who think the sky is falling,” Thompson said. “This might straighten their ideas out with research. Bloomington is really doing pretty OK.” \nAccording to the report, Bloomington is still very much dependent on fossil fuels and single-vehicle transportation, both detrimental to the environment. However, legislation like the Clean Air and Clean Water acts has slowed the rate of environmental degradation in Bloomington.\n“I hope that it’s educational for everyone in changing habits,” said Boatman. \nThompson said she hopes the site will promote citizen involvement. \nThe report is a long-standing project of the Environmental Commission, released roughly every three to five years, Boatman said. The Environmental Commission is composed of 12 members appointed by the Mayor and the City Council and is funded by the city. The full report can be read at http://www.bloomington.in.gov/beqi/index.htm.