In hopes to settle an environmental lawsuit by the state, Milwaukee County has made a proposal to install bike racks on buses to cut down asbestos pollution.

County officials hope the plan will shed its liability in the lawsuit filed against them.

Asbestos Lawsuit Filed in 2006

In 2006, a suit was filed against the county regarding the release of asbestos when the courthouse was demolished.

According to George Torres, the Public Works Director for the county, if the plan doesn’t get approved the county could face more than $30,000 in fines for the released asbestos.

The proposed plan would help the county makes amends with the state by doing a “green good deed.”

How Would the Plan Help?

By installing bike racks on public buses, commuters would be encouraged to leave their cars at home and opt to ride their bikes or the bus.

This would in turn decrease the amount of exhaust fumes that are released into the air daily and expose the community to harmful exposure to substances like asbestos.

The county claims that they were already planning to install the racks before the environmental lawsuit was filed.

The plan has been pitched to the state Justice Department, which filed the suit against the county, and officials are awaiting approval.

(Source: JSOnline)

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