In this episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Eric Zou, an assistant professor of economics at the University of Oregon. Zou has published fascinating work on how air pollution monitors work—or don’t work, as the case may be—to detect harmful levels of air pollution in the United States. Using data from satellites and ground-based monitors, his work has uncovered how local actors, particularly local governments, may be manipulating air quality data to avoid penalties under the Clean Air Act.

References and recommendations:

“Unwatched Pollution: The Effect of Intermittent Monitoring on Air Quality” by Eric Zou; https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56034c20e4b047f1e0c1bfca/t/603afc5c6607da3e67640175/1614478432535/monitor_zou_202101.pdf

Fort Lee lane closure scandal; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Lee_lane_closure_scandal

“Next-Generation Compliance: Environmental Regulation for the Modern Era” by Cynthia Giles; https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2020/09/next-generation-compliance-environmental-regulation-for-the-modern-era/

“Indians & Energy: Exploitation and Opportunity in the American Southwest” edited by Sherry L. Smith and Brian Frehner; https://sarweb.org/indians-energy/