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

PAMZ Announces Martha Kostuch ScholarshipSundre 2009/06/01

PAMZ recently released the details of its Dr. Martha Kostuch Environmental Education Fund that will be awarded annually to a local area high school student(s) pursuing a post-secondary education related to resources conservation or environmental education. "Martha" was a founding member of PAMZ and a director from its inception until her untimely death in 2008. The award honors Martha's contributions to PAMZ, her passionate belief in our youth and her lifelong love of the environment.

During her 30-year career as an environmental advocate, Dr. Kostuch made a significant impact on how environmental management policy was developed in Alberta, advocating for effective collaboration among stakeholders. Her work influenced a shift towards shared governance, recognizing that there is a shared responsibility for all sectors to act as good stewards of the environment.

For more information visit the PAMZ website library. www.pamz.org/library

Oriole Park School Partners on Air Quality Project - Mobile Unit Will Monitor Vehicle Emissions and Other PollutantsRed Deer 2009/02/19

The Oriole Park School will welcome a new neighbour in February, well at least temporarily. A mobile air quality monitoring station from the Parkland Airshed Management Zone (PAMZ) will be parked by the school to assist the group with its air quality monitoring that takes place throughout the region on an ongoing basis. In addition to monitoring overall air quality, the unit will be looking at levels of pollutants from tailpipe emissions from vehicles. The unit will be parked near the drop-off zone on the west side of Ogden Avenue from mid-February through mid-March and again in October 2009.

'Parkland Airshed approached the District and requested the opportunity to monitor air quality at one of our school sites. Oriole Park volunteered to have the monitoring unit at its site,' said Darren Skrepnyk, Director of Facilities with Red Deer Public Schools. 'It's not that there is an issue at Oriole Park, or at any of our schools. PAMZ and the District were interested in monitoring air quality at parent's drop off zones in general. It should provide us with some interesting information,' said Skrepnyk.

'Car idling and vehicle emissions have become an increasing concern in general, we are hearing more and more about it in the news' says school principal Cathy Gukert. 'When there was a call for a school to have the unit, we welcomed the opportunity.'

'We will be monitoring levels and comparing them to provincial air quality objectives as well as other urban locations where we have monitored air quality,' said PAMZ Executive Director, Kevin Warren. 'We have consistently identified emissions from idling vehicles as a major concern for zone residents and approached the school district with the idea of monitoring the emissions at parent drop off or bus loading zones. We are pleased to see that Oriole Park School has already instituted an excessive idling avoidance policy for buses that service the school.'

The City of Red Deer played an active role in creating the initiative between Red Deer Public Schools and PAMZ. They are also interested in the results of the monitoring process. 'The data we collect at this station provides us with information on the type, amount and potential sources of air pollution in Red Deer,' said Pam Vust, Environmental Initiatives Coordinator with The City of Red Deer. 'This information will help us develop effective programs to help maintain our good air quality.'

For further information, please contact:

• Cathy Gukert, Principal ' 'cole Oriole Park Elementary School 403-347-3731
• Darren Skrepnyk, Director of Facilities ' Red Deer Public Schools ' 403-342-4421
• Kevin Warren - Parkland Airshed Management Zone ' 403- 862-7046
• Bruce Buruma, Director of Community Relations - Red Deer Public Schools - 403-342-3708

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.