Research By UC Law Students May Help Clean Up Dirty Air Problem

Cincinnati's air quality problem is about to get some help from an unlikely source - a group of University of Cincinnati law students.

Nithin Akuthota, Jim Herbe and Mike Cappel, working on a project out of the UC College of Law's Center for Law & Justice, last week saw a project they began last summer to improve Cincinnati's air soon approved by an 8-1 vote by Cincinnati City Council.

The students found a way to address local pollution issues and complaints that will not require any new spending. Their proposal seeks to have the City of Cincinnati's Law Department's Prosecutor contract with the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services to investigate pollution claims and to have the cases adjudicated by the Housing Docket Judge Guy Guckenburger.

With faculty leadership by UC law professor Bradford Mank, the students worked with Councilmen John Cranley and David Crowley, the City of Cincinnati's Law Department, the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, the Housing Docket and a group of local environmental activists.

The Cincinnati Clean Air Act will allow the City to address air pollution issues not regulated by State and Federal agencies.