State environmental agencies are marking federal Air Quality Awareness Week with a variety of forward-looking initiatives.
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Air Quality Division will provide informative opportunities for citizens to learn more about the state’s air quality and how it pertains to their day-to-day lives. In the community spirit of the Cowboy State, DEQ is reaching out to Wyoming residents with tips on what each person can do to help preserve and maintain Wyoming’s clean air. Wyoming residents are encouraged to consider small daily habits – such as idling vehicles less, properly maintaining vehicles in order to improve fuel efficiency, and/or carpooling – that not only have positive air quality impacts, but also can result in hundreds of dollars of savings each year. Cheyenne and Casper, the state’s two most populous cities, recently were recognized as among the nation’s best areas for low year-round particle pollution.
In neighboring Idaho, DEQ Director John Tippets took to video to address the adverse air quality effects of open burning on public health and the environment, and to encourage citizens to look at DEQ website for information on open burning regulations and alternatives to open burning. See his one-minute video.
The Utah DEQ reminded stakeholders about the valuable work it does in communities by announcing a new look for its mobile air monitoring lab trailer.
Meanwhile, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection reminded Twitter followers that four regions where air quality alerts have been issued in the last few years can be followed daily. Tweets are generated daily by EPA’s EnviroFlash system and provide the date and air quality forecast using the Air Quality Index of the highest pollutant for each region. Twitter updates are available for Acadia National Park in the Mid-Coast Region, Bangor in the Eastern Interior Region, Lewiston in the Western Interior Region, and Portland in the Southwest Coast Region. [Teplitzky/Dunn/Parisien]
