In the District's Comprehensive Plan, the Mt. Vernon Square East area is set aside for a lively in-town residential community, with retail, arts and technology uses at a medium density. This residential community was begun with the building of 330 units of senior housing at Fourth and K Sts. The Intermodal Transportation Center would exacerbate existing air quality problems as documented by the Environmental Protection Agency. The District is currently out of compliance with federal air quality standards for ground-level ozone and is anticipated to fail to meet new federal standards for small particulate matter which take effect in 2002. These factors mean health problems for residents.
Vehicle exhaust consists of numerous highly toxic small particles and contributes to ozone problems.
A recent draft EPA report found a strong link between diesel exhaust and cancer. Particulate matter is also strongly linked to asthma and other respiratory disease. Ozone pollution contributes to respiratory disease, including chest pain, coughing and shortness of breath. It is especially harmful to asthma sufferers. The addition of over 7,000 vehicles into the Mt. Vernon neighborhood would clearly pose environmental and health risks.