In August 2012, with only 11 days notice for a hearing on the last-minute rollback of key provisions of those rules, you managed to fill 83 of 86 speaking slots. Well done. This is why EPA, the industry, and citizens across the US look at DFW as a hotspot of concern for cement plant pollution.

Here's a link to the Dallas Morning News piece written after the first 90 minutes or so.

Thanks also to everyone who's used our website to send comments to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson opposing the rollback. We were told yesterday that they'll still be taking comments for another month, so if you haven't joined the hundreds of your peers that have sent their own message to DC, there's still time.

While we appreciate your participation, we also apologize for needing it. We're sorry we had to put out calls for action to defend something we already thought we'd won. Sorry to have to ask, then pester, then beg for your time in fighting a rearguard action, when we need to save our energies for the fights right in front of us.

Yesterday, many of you asked us "Do you think our presence at the hearing will do any good?" We don't know. All we can do is try. But our experience has shown that if we keep trying, our odds for success improve.

As in life, 90% of social progress is just about showing-up. Yesterday, you showed-up.

In return, we promise to keep our part of the bargain and continue to put staff in the field, to make sure citizens have a voice at all the smaller, but important meetings, and briefings, and appointments that take place in-between the events that make headlines.

Meanwhile, please continue to follow the fate of these rules, as well as all other clean air issues affecting us in DFW, at the only local website devoted to them, downwindersatrisk.org. Thanks again. You're an amazing army for good.