[ADEQ Media] Valley 'ozone season' begins April 1 as EPA considers stricter standards

Wed Mar 31 14:54:57 MST 2010

PHOENIX (March 31, 2010) - As the Valley officially enters its six-month
"ozone season" April 1, the effects of anticipated stricter federal
pollutant limits are being closely watched.

Ozone pollution - which pervades the air each April through September -
caused 31 health watches and six High Pollution Advisories (HPAs) last
year, a marked improvement from 2008 when the Valley experienced 44
ozone health watches and 11 ozone HPAs.

But this year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reconsidering
the level of the ozone standard because the medical evidence shows that
the standard set in 2007 of .075 parts per million may not adequately
protect public health. A decision is expected by EPA by the end of
August. That decision may lead to not only more HPA and health watch
designations but more areas of the state being out of compliance with
the standard.

Ground level ozone pollution is a direct irritant to lung tissue in
addition to triggering asthma and other respiratory symptoms and can
damage the lungs from exposure over long periods of time. It can also
damage plants and crops and tarnish paint and other items outdoors.
Valley air is monitored daily by the Air Quality Division of the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality.

"Ozone pollution is a serious threat to public health for people in the
Phoenix metropolitan area. The year 2009 was better for clean air and
public health than 2008 but it was still unacceptable. The good news is
we can accelerate the pace of environmental progress if we continue to
increase opportunities for smart transportation and pollution
reduction," said ADEQ Director Benjamin H. Grumbles.

"The health impacts from ozone pollution are a serious motivator for all
of us to practice pollution prevention in our daily routines," states
Max Porter, acting director for the Maricopa County Air Quality
Department. "By taking small, simple action every day, we all can make a
difference."

"Making a contribution to the quality of our air is based on our
individual actions. Commuters in the Valley are choosing to be more
green by carpooling, riding transit and teleworking," said David Boggs,
Valley Metro executive director. "Based on trips that commuters logged
in the Valley Metro online ridematching system, about 4,000 individuals
kept 551,000 pounds of greenhouse gases out of the air in the past
year." 

Ozone pollution prevention tips: 

*        Drive less. When possible, carpool, van pool or use public
transportation

*        Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at coffee
shops, fast-food restaurants or banks. Park your car and go inside

*        Refuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours

*        Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints,
stains, finishes and paint strippers

*        Delay big painting projects until high-pollution advisories or
health watches have passed

*        Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard
chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from
evaporating into the air

*        Conserve electricity

To track how much pollution your commute generates, visit
www.ValleyMetro.org <http://www.valleymetro.org/>  and select
ShareTheRide. Sign up to receive air quality updates by email or text
message at www.CleanAirMakeMore.com <http://www.cleanairmakemore.com/> 

OZONE BACKGROUND: Ground level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction
that needs heat from sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic
compounds [VOCs] to form. The months of April through September make up
our Valley's longer-than-normal "ozone season."

WHO'S WHO?

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) provides a daily
forecast for air quality. When conditions exist, ADEQ will issue high
pollution advisories, health watches and alerts. Daily air quality
forecasts are on ADEQ's Web site at
www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/ensemble.pdf or by calling
(602)771-2367. Those interested in receiving the air quality forecast
via email and/or text alerts.can subscribe to ADEQ's Air Quality
Forecasts and Advisories list at www.azdeq.gov/subscribe.html 

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department issues No Burn Day
restrictions based on a high pollution advisory or health watch. These
No Burn Day restrictions typically occur during the winter months. To
find out if any burn restrictions are in place, call 602-506-6400 or
visit www.cleanairmakemore.com <http://www.cleanairmakemore.com/>
Information is given in both English and Spanish.

To learn more about the Maricopa County residential woodburning
restriction ordinance, view a copy on our website www.maricopa.gov/aq
Click on the direct link to the residential woodburning restriction
ordinance:

http://www.maricopa.gov/aq/divisions/planning_analysis/rules/docs/rwro99
11.pdf

Valley Metro/RPTA provides eco-friendly public transit options to
residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County, including a clean-fuel
bus fleet, low-emissions light rail, online carpool matching and bus
trip mapping, and bicycle and telework assistance. Funding is provided
by local, state and federal revenues and administered by a board of 15
governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit
system. www.ValleyMetro.org <http://www.valleymetro.org/> 

Media contacts:

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)

Mark Shaffer - (602) 771-2215 desk / (480) 433-9551 mobile

Maricopa County Air Quality Department

Holly Ward - (602) 506-6713 desk / (602) 526-7307 mobile

Valley Metro

Susan Tierney - (602) 262-4668 desk / (602) 292-4093 mobile

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