[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Issues an Ozone High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for Thursday, May 5

Wed May 4 13:02:14 MST 2011

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is issuing an ozone High
Pollution Advisory (HPA) for Thursday, May 5.

Warm temperatures and light winds forecast for Thursday are expected to
create a significant increase in ground level ozone. Air quality
forecasters say concentrations of the pollutant may approach the health
standard in some areas of the Valley on Wednesday. On Thursday, they
expect several areas to possibly exceed the federal health standard.

As a result, the Maricopa County Air Quality Department is enforcing the
mandatory "No Burn Day" restriction for Maricopa County from midnight to
midnight Thursday. This restriction includes individuals and businesses
that have burn permits for open burning.

"Ozone affects all of us by irritating our respiratory system, and can
even damage the lining of the lungs, so it's important for each of us to
take action to keep our air clean," said Maricopa County Air Quality
Department Director Bill Wiley. "By cutting down on the number of trips
you take in your car, skipping a drive-through line or making sure your
household chemicals and paint cans are sealed properly, you can make a
big difference in the quality of the air you and your family breathes."

ADEQ recommends that children and adults with respiratory problems avoid
outdoor activities on Thursday and suggests the general public limit
outdoor activity throughout the day. 

Valley Metro requests employers activate their HPA Plan. Residents and
employers are asked to use these tips to help make the air healthier to
breathe: 

*	Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimineas and
outdoor fire pits.
*	Drive as little as possible: car pool, use public transit or
telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit
Valley Metro: www.valleymetro.org
<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5cb3930b22b57043fdeec6178d3ad1de27eefe8c62c6871b
b4c19bf392db2899> .
*	Avoid using leaf blowers.
*	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.
*	To learn more about the air you're breathing, visit:
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 or health watches. Please visit
www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/ensemble.pdf or call (602) 771-2367. To
receive the air quality forecast via email and/or text message please
visit www.azdeq.gov/subscribe.html

CONTACT: Mark Shaffer - (602) 771-2215 desk / (480) 433-9551 cell

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department is a regulatory agency whose
goal is to ensure federal clean air standards are achieved and
maintained for the residents and visitors of Maricopa County. The
department is governed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and
follows air quality standards set forth by the federal Clean Air Act.
The department offers air quality information and resources on its Clean
Air Make More website. Please visit www.CleanAirMakeMore.com to learn
more.

CONTACT: Holly Ward - (602) 506-6713 desk / (602) 526-7307 cell

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 16
governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit
system. Please visit www.ValleyMetro.org <http://www.valleymetro.org/>
to learn more.

CONTACT: Susan Tierney - (602) 523-6004 desk / (602) 292-4093 cell

-30-

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