One Of Nation's 'Greenest' Airports

Seven years ago, the EPA issued Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport a $37,000 fine for such environmental violations as sewage, jet fuel and deicing chemicals in nearby ponds and creeks. But that was then... and DFW is now listed as one of the 'greenest' airports in the nation by environmental officials.

KTVT-11 reports today, closely-monitored aerators pump the water clean. Energy efficient machinery heats the terminals. At the gate, chilled water cools the interiors of planes.

The airport also captures and treats five million pounds of deicing fluids annually. Airport buses and trucks play a part, too -- they run on alternative fuel. Even local wildlife has returned.

"We could've set that on the back burner and said we can't afford to do that," said DFW Airport board member and Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief. "That's not what we said. We said we will do that now."

The "green" rating comes as most of North Texas has not yet met federal requirements for air quality, said EPA Adminstrator Richard Greene.

"These efforts will help us all breathe a little easier," Moncrief said.

FMI: www.dfwairport.com