• Originally published July 26, 2008 at 12:10 a.m., updated July 26, 2008 at 12:10 a.m.

One city employee shivers with enthusiasm about her new role.

Marie Lester, Victoria’s environmental services education specialist, started her new role as environmental programs coordinator on July 14. Joni Brown, now with Keep Victoria Beautiful, left that position July 4 after seven years. Lester hopes to continue Brown’s programs, which she says helped Victoria receive a No. 16 clean air city ranking from Money magazine.

Lester discusses the details.

Q: How did you feel about entering your new role?

A: I’m just excited about continuing what Joni started and expanding on it. We are going to hire another education specialist. It’s on the city Web site. We’re looking for someone that can be independent and a self-starter.

Q: What are your goals for environmental services?

A: To continue all the programs we’ve been doing. My focus will be on the Clean Cities program and promoting alternative fuels in Victoria. The first big project I have is the Odyssey event on Oct. 3. The University of Houston-Victoria is letting us use a piece of land on campus that they won’t mow for a month or two. Then we’ll be using Ferris propane mowers. We’re inviting anyone with a yard – schools, churches, hospitals. Propane is the only alternative fuel right now that is readily available in Victoria.

Q: What did you think about “Money” magazine ranking Victoria No. 16 for cleanest air?

A: I thought this was really interesting. Victoria is near non-attainment so in the summertime, we’re close to not meeting EPA’s standard for ozone pollution. But because of the programs we’re doing, we’ve been able to stay within the EPA regulations. I just couldn’t believe we were No. 16. That’s great! They did it based on our air quality index. They saw that 98.9 percent of our days are marked “good.” But we’re still not on the Top 100 places to live, unfortunately. It’s still No. 1 in my book.

Q: How does Victoria track air quality?

A: We contract with the University of Texas every year to do air quality testing. The UT results tell us how much pollution is transported into our area and how much we’re transporting out. It tells us inside the city of Victoria – most of the pollution we have here is the result of things that move around, like scooters, cars. In September, we also do 28-days-straight air quality sampling in downtown Victoria. It’s the parts per billion in the area for specific pollutants. Our area in Victoria has a significant air particulate problem. We monitor six criteria of pollutants on EPA’s Web site – carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead and particulate matter.

Q: How can Victorians keep our air clean?

A: They can maintain their vehicles, reduce idling – most all of it revolves around vehicles. Fuel up after 5 p.m., combine errands.

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