Ozone Action season begins;
more Ozone Action days possible as EPA lowers standard
SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, announces the May 1 start of Ozone Action season in Southeast Michigan. This is the 15th year of the voluntary program that helps keep Southeast Michigan air clean.
And the good news is that the air in Southeast Michigan is cleaner, but the standard has been lowered, so the possibility is great that there will be more Ozone Action days called this summer.
On March 12, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a lowering of the ozone standard, from 80 parts per billion (PPB) to 75 ppb. As Southeast Michigan’s lead planning agency for air quality, SEMCOG has long been a champion of continuing to improve air quality in the region. Regardless of any change in the standard, however, emissions will continue to decline significantly for several years as newly enacted control programs are phased in. Therefore, SEMCOG opposed this change, but realizes that lowering the standard could result in more Ozone Action days this summer. In 2007, there were three Ozone Action days; in 2006, there were two.
Actions taken by Southeast Michigan residents on Ozone Action days to make a difference and we must continue to be diligent. SEMCOG encourages good habits every day, but especially on Ozone Action days, Southeast Michigan residents can help keep the air cleaner by doing the following:
- Try not to refuel on Ozone Action days. If you need to refuel on an Ozone Action day, fill up in the evening when the weather is cooler, and don't "top off" the tank.
- Reduce automobile use on Ozone Action days. Plan to carpool, use public transit, bike, walk, or work at home.
- Relax on Ozone Action days. Choose the lawn chair over the lawn mower.
Ground-level ozone is a result of hot, sunny days. Elevated levels can be a health hazard, particularly for the elderly, the young, and those suffering from respiratory ailments such as emphysema or asthma.
Ozone Action days are announced in area media and other outlets, such as electronic freeway message signs. Last summer, three Ozone Action days were called. The average number of Ozone Action days per season is 10. In 2004, just one Ozone Action day was called; the highest was 25 in 1999.
Additional information on Ozone Action days is available on SEMCOG's Web site at www.semcog.org, look for Ozone Action under “Hot Topics” on the home page. Residents wishing to be added to SEMCOG's Ozone Action e-mail notification list can should send an e-mail to ozoneaction@semcog.org; put “notification” in the subject line and include name, phone number, and e-mail in the body of the e-mail.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SEMCOG is a regional planning partnership of governmental units serving 4.9 million people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan striving to enhance the region's quality of lifeSEMCOG. . . Equipping local government leaders for the future
535 Griswold, Suite 300 • Detroit, MI 48226-3602 • (313) 961-4266 • fax (313) 961-4869