Parkland Airshed Management Zone
New Program to Target Air PollutionRed Deer 2010/01/25
Climate change is a hot subject of debate but there is no debate about air pollution. That's why the Parkland Airshed Management Zone (PAMZ) is creating its Action HERO recognition program to encourage industry, business, municipalities and the public to combat ground level ozone. Action HERO is the short version of Action for Health and the Environment by Reducing Ozone.
Ground level ozone is formed from emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from such sources as motorized vehicles, industrial processes, power plants, and small motorized equipment such as lawn mowers, chain saws and snow blowers. 'Ozone is a major constituent of smog, that yellow or brown haze we see on the horizon or over a city on a hot, still day,' says Kevin Warren, Executive Director of PAMZ. 'At high concentration levels, it can cause respiratory and other health problems, damage vegetation and lower our quality of life. It's not a serious problem yet in Central Alberta and we want to keep it that way.'
Periodic episodes of high ground-level ozone compelled PAMZ to develop an Ozone Management Plan that was approved by Alberta Environment in 2009 and is now being implemented. The plan focuses on the voluntary participation of the various sectors in our area, including the public, to take an active role in reducing emissions that cause ozone. 'We first need to find out what business, industry, municipalities and the public are already doing to reduce emissions.' says Warren. 'Our biggest challenge is encouraging everyone to take more concerted action to reduce ozone.'
This week PAMZ will send out a questionnaire to gather information on what is being done now in the PAMZ area, which stretches from Crossfield to Ponoka and Three Hills to the B.C border. Along with the questionnaire PAMZ will introduce its Action HERO program to encourage organizations and businesses to take up new initiatives to reduce ozone. Warren says, 'Initiatives can range from simple actions like making conference calls instead of driving to meetings, using your lawn and snow blower less often, organizing car pools and anti- idling campaigns to more complex technical solutions for reducing emissions at your plant or business.'
Starting this June 2 on National Clean Air Day, the Action HERO program will recognize communities, businesses, groups or individuals that take up the challenge to find new ways to reduce ozone.
For more information about The Action HERO Recognition Program, the PAMZ Ozone Management Plan, and Ozone and what you can due to reduce your emissions that lead to its formation visit the other section of the PAMZ website library www.pamz.org/library
