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.
