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NEWS RELEASE
May 17, 2006
Contacts:
Bryce Bird, (801) 536-4064
Manager, Division of Air Quality
Cheryl Heying, (801) 536-4015,
Manager, Division of Air Quality
(Salt Lake City, Utah) – Unseasonably warm temperatures have prompted the Utah Division of Air Quality (DAQ) to jump start its ozone alert program by calling a “yellow” action day today, Friday and Saturday in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Utah counties, asking residents to take voluntary measures to limit their driving.
“We are seeing moderately high pollution levels and need people to limit their driving for the sake of air quality and people who are sensitive to pollution,” said Bryce Bird, manager of DAQ’s air standards branch.
Typically, the summer ozone alert program begins in June and runs through Sept. 30, signaling days when smog can pose a health risk. During last year’s ozone season, 16 no-drive days were called – four more than in 2005 – all in the month of July. This year, residents will be able to make better choices by clicking on DAQ’s Web page www.airquality.utah.gov to find three-day forecasts in Salt Lake, Davis, Cache, Weber and Utah counties. The ozone alerts are part of the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Choose Clean Air campaign, a color-coded system that during the winter alerts people to days when inversions trap fine particulate pollution in the valleys. The problem in the summer is ozone – an invisible gas formed when vehicle emissions combine with heat and sunlight. If the levels are high (0.08 parts per million or 80 parts per billion), officials will issue health warnings and a voluntary no-drive day.
Air Quality conditions are posted daily on the Choose Clean Air Web site: www.cleanair.utah.gov, as well as extended forecasts at www.airquality.utah.gov. “Green” means the air quality conditions are good and residents are encouraged to make clean air choices to help keep air pollution levels low. “Yellow” means the pollution is building and residents are encouraged to take proactive steps by voluntarily carpooling, consolidating vehicle trips, and avoiding fueling the car or mowing the lawn in the middle of the day. A “red” day means pollution levels are critically high, and residents should avoid using gasoline and diesel-powered engines.
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