Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
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CLEAN AIR NEWSLINE

May 2006 Edition

In this issue:

 

Two more cruise ships to plug in while at port

Kudos to the Holland America Line for furnishing two of its cruise ships that dock at Seattle’s Terminal 30 with on-board equipment so the vessels can plug-in to a shore-based power source while in port. This will allow the ships to run off the city's electric grid rather than idle their diesel engines during ports of call, resulting in significant reductions in diesel emissions.

Our agency has identified the reduction of diesel emissions as a priority for Puget Sound region, so our Diesel Solution program work includes partnering with Holland America Line and the Port of Seattle to reduce air quality impacts associated with marine activity.

Diesel emissions account for over 70 percent of the potential air toxics cancer risk in our region. Additionally, diesel particulate matter is linked with health effects including heart problems, aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis and premature death.

Each Holland America Line ship burns approximately 27 metric tons of high sulfur diesel fuel during a visit in order to generate the electricity demands of the vessel while in port. With the establishment of shore capacity, Holland America Line can shutdown the main ship board engines for approximately eight hours of each nine-hour visit. Holland America Line is paying the majority of the cost of $840,000 per ship and over $1.8 million for dockside modifications with some support from the Clean Air Agency to purchase five flexible electrical transmission lines needed to connect the ship to the grounding switch on the terminal. The work is underway and Holland America Line anticipates plugging in mid summer.

Last year, Princess Cruises outfitted its two Seattle home-ported ships with shore power capability and started plugging in last cruise season.

Find out what Diesel Solutions projects are happening in your community by viewing http://www.pscleanair.org/programs/dieselsolutions/ds_project_status.pdf .

 

What's the State of the Air?

Check out the newly released 2006 State of the Air in Washington report to learn how air quality agencies and the American Lung Association of Washington (ALAW) are working together to improve air quality and public health . The report is a joint project by Washington air agencies and ALAW to highlight the air quality issues and trends, illustrate how air quality affects individuals, provide updates on initiatives to help clear the air and offer suggestions for clean-air choices people can make in their daily lives. The report is available on ALAW's Web site: http://www.alaw.org/air_quality/outdoor_air_quality/state_of_the_air/ . Or you can request a print copy by calling ALAW at 206.441.5100.

 

Governor Gregoire proclaims May as Clean Air, Asthma Awareness month

Recognizing the pivotal connections between air quality and our health, the health of families and loved ones, and the health of ecosystems that we live in, Governor Gregoire has proclaimed May 2006 as both Clean Air Month and Asthma Awareness month. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to join the American Lung Association of Washington, the Department of Ecology and local air agencies in observing the occasion, and to take steps to help keep Washington’s air healthy and clean. For ideas on everyday actions YOU can take to clear the air, visit: http://www.pscleanair.org/actions/default.aspx.

 

Be in the know as you enjoy the glow – A reminder about recreational fires

With Memorial Day weekend around the corner signaling the start of summer and (hopefully!) warmer weather, it’s primetime for patio living – enjoying barbecues, recreational fires, and the company of friends. To ensure good times prevail for both you and your neighbors, here are just a few friendly reminders about your legal responsibilities when it comes to outdoor fires.

Recreational fires are defined in state law as cooking fires and charcoal barbecues, campfires and bonfires that occur in designated areas or on private property for cooking, pleasure or ceremonial purposes. Fires lit in chimineas, fire pits, fire bowls and similar free-standing devices, commonly sold at home-improvement stores and mass retailers, fall under this definition. They are allowed in both urbanized and unincorporated areas, though the following regulations apply:

  1. Keep it small not tall. Fires must not exceed three feet in diameter or two feet in height.
  2. Fuel it right. Only charcoal, dried firewood or manufactured firelogs may be used. It is illegal to burn anything else.
  3. Stay clear of structures. Fires cannot be within 50 feet of structures.
  4. Stand guard and extinguish. A person capable of extinguishing the fire must attend it at all times, and the fire must be extinguished before leaving it.
  5. Ask first. Permission from a landowner, or owner’s designated representative, must be obtained before starting a recreational fire.
  6. Mind the ban. Recreational fires are always prohibited during air-quality burn bans. They may also be prohibited during a fire-safety burn ban (check with your local fire district.)
  7. Be a good neighbor. It is always illegal to smoke out your neighbor. If smoke from your fire bothers your neighbors, damages their property or otherwise causes a nuisance, you must immediately put it out.

For more information, see the Washington Administrative Code Section 173-425-050(6).

 

Clean air tip:

Looking for a healthier alternative to that smoky chiminea or fire bowl in your backyard? Check out the variety of patio heaters and fire-pits that burn natural gas or propane, available from home-improvement stores, mass retailers, and many online marketplaces. With one of these clean, efficient units warming your summer evening, there’ll be no complaints from neighbors and no smoke to taint your own star-gazing. And when it’s time to turn in, just turn it off!

 

Monthly air quality data summary: March*

The dry conditions that began in February continued through March. Precipitation for the month was 42 percent below normal and temperatures just slightly below normal. 

Air quality for the month was a big improvement over February. We had 26 days in the “Good” category (only seven in February), five days in the “Moderate” category, and no days in the “Unhealthy” categories.

For data summaries of air quality monitored throughout our four-county region, click to http://www.pscleanair.org/airq/reports.aspx .

* Because of the time it takes to review data for quality assurance and process data for reports, our summary discussions in each “Newsline” edition will be two month previous. Thus, our report for this edition is for March 2006.

 

About the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

The mission of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is to ensure that people in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties have clean, healthy air to breathe. Our job is to provide air quality management services on behalf of cities and counties for their citizens. We do this by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality, and educating people and businesses about clean-air choices. To learn more about our work, visit us at www.pscleanair.org .

 

About the Clean Air Newsline

Clean Air Newsline is a monthly electronic newsletter to provide air quality information to the residents of King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Subscribers receive the latest on air quality news, trends and projects that affect our local communities and the air we breathe. Feel free to pass the information along to others.

We also use the Newsline as needed to send timely and important messages about burn bans, Smog Watches and early calls to action when air quality deteriorates.

If you would like to subscribe, you can do so at www.pscleanair.org/news/email_list.shtml. Be sure to select Clean Air Newsline to be added to the e-mailing list.