Parkland Airshed Management Zone
PAMZ Holds Ozone Management Plan WorkshopsRed Deer & Olds 2008/11/20
The Parkland Airshed Management Zone (PAMZ) recently held two public workshops in Red Deer and Olds to allow residents in Central Alberta to provide input into the development of an Ozone Management Plan.
Based on an assessment of provincial ozone levels conducted by Alberta Environment in 2006, the planning trigger in the Canada Wide Standard for ozone was exceeded at PAMZ's Caroline and Red Deer monitoring stations. As a result, PAMZ agreed to lead the development of an Ozone Management Plan to ensure the Standard for ozone is not exceeded within the zone in the future and that air quality is maintained or improved wherever possible.
Ground-level ozone is one of the main components of smog, which is formed by the interaction of hydrocarbons (unburned or evaporated gasoline) and nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight.
Ozone that is close to the ground can cause eye irritation; headaches; coughing; impaired lung function; and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Asthmatics and children are most at risk. The chance of experiencing adverse health effects from elevated ozone levels increases during heavy exercise or outdoor activity.
Ozone causes agricultural crop losses and noticeable leaf damage in many types of vegetation. Plant leaf cells become injured and even die as a result of ground-level ozone. This can be seen as small black or brown spots on broad-leafed plants, or yellow spots on conifer needles.
The PAMZ plan is focused on managing anthropogenic emissions contributing to ozone and identifying opportunities for reduction. In order for the plan to be effective, it has been developed in consultation with all affected stakeholders and neighboring airsheds. At the public meetings both the public and local governments and industries were able to provide feedback on a draft plan. The plan should be completed by the end of December 2008.
There is still an opportunity for local stakeholders to provide input on the draft plan. A presentation on the plan and a summary of the plan's objectives can be found in the PAMZ website library at www.pamz.org/library. Please direct any feedback to kwarren@pamz.org before Dec. 5, 2008.
PAMZ to Unveil Air Quality Management PlanRed Deer 2008/10/16
In November 2006 Alberta Environment released the results of an air quality assessment indicating the need to develop an ozone management plan for the Parkland Airshed.
Since that time the Parkland Airshed Management Zone Association (PAMZ) has been working on an air quality management plan to reduce emissions that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. The plan is aimed at ensuring levels of ground-level ozone in the region remain better than national standards established by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment.
On November 18 and 20, 2008 PAMZ will be hosting stakeholder meetings in Red Deer and Olds respectively to review the draft air quality management plan with regional stakeholders. The meeting is open to everyone and zone residents, industries, and organizations are strongly encouraged to attend and learn how they may be affected by the plan and to provide feedback. The PAMZ airshed has set a goal of completing the first version of the management plan by the end of December 2008.
The meeting details are:
- Tuesday November 18, 2008 1:00 - 4:30 PM
Royal Canadian Legion, 5241-46 Street, Olds - Thursday November 20, 2008 1:00 - 4:30 PM
Royal Canadian Legion, 2810 Bremner Avenue, Red Deer
If interested in attending RSVP by November 14 to kwarren@pamz.org or 403-238-6640
Additional background information on air quality assessments for the Parkland Airshed is available at Alberta Environment's web site at: http://environment.alberta.ca/1974.html. For more information on these assessments, please contact Bob Myrick, Team Lead, Alberta Environment by telephone at (780) 415-9364 or by email at Bob.Myrick@gov.ab.ca.
