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CLEAN AIR NEWSLINE

March 2008 Edition

In this issue:

• Puget Sound region’s ozone attainment status in question
• Think Fresh with these spring clean-air tips
• Don't miss out as Wood Stove Replacement Program nears end
• Practical earth-friendly ideas at the Seattle Green Festival
• "Land Use in Washington" conference
• Seattle CityClub presents “Climate Protection: What’s Washington’s Plan?”
• Announcements:
• Permit open for comment
• Request for Proposal
• Employment opportunities

 

Puget Sound region’s ozone attainment status in question

A new, more stringent air quality standard for ozone, announced March 12 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), leaves a question mark for the Puget Sound region about our area’s ability to stay in attainment of the standard. 

Ozone comes primarily from automobile tailpipes and “cooks” in heat and sunlight on hot days to produce smog.  Exposure to ground-level ozone can reduce lung function, cause respiratory irritation, aggravate asthma symptoms, and weaken the immune system. Ozone has environmental impacts as well; studies show that ozone can damage agricultural crops and forests.

EPA lowered the eight-hour standard from .084 parts per million to .075 parts per million to better protect public health.  Local air monitoring data from years 2006, 2007 and 2008 will be averaged and used to determine attainment status, so we won’t know for certain until after this coming summer if our region will violate this new national ambient air quality standard.  The Puget Sound area has been close to the new level at a couple of monitors the past two summers, so we’re hoping we won’t have a long, hot summer with high ozone readings. 

For more information about ozone and the new standard, visit www.epa.gov/groundlevelozone/pdfs/2008_03_text_slides.pdf .

 

Spring clean the air we breathe. Think fresh!

Clean, healthy air is essential to our day-to-day well-being.  It is important to our long-term health and to the health of the environment. 

This spring, think fresh with these tips to help clean our air and climate:

• Think about using less energy.  Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs and save $10 a year per bulb.  Install a timer to automatically shut off outside lights.    Lower your thermostat as low as possible or off when you are away or sleeping.
• Think about checking your tire pressure regularly.  Twenty-seven percent of passenger cars on U.S. roadways are driven with one or more substantially under-inflated tires.  By keeping your tires properly inflated, you can improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent and also improve safety and tire life. 
• Think about driving smart.  No matter what you drive, how you drive can affect how much fuel you burn – and pollution you generate.  Avoid keeping unnecessary items in (or on) your vehicle.  An extra 50 pounds in your vehicle can reduce your MPG by up to 1 percent. 
• Think about taking a bike instead of the car.  A single occupancy vehicle emits roughly one pound of CO2 per mile traveled.  Ride your bike when you can and you will reduce vehicle pollution and gain numerous health benefits.

 For more ways to “think fresh” and to make a difference for clean and healthy air, visit www.pscleanair.org/thinkfresh .

 

Wood Stove Replacement Program nears its end. Don’t miss out!

Time and funds for the Puget Sound Wood Stove Replacement Program offered in Marysville, Tacoma and certain Pierce County communities are running out. 

The program is intended to help clean the air and bring these communities into compliance with federal air quality standards that are being exceeded, such as in Tacoma and surrounding areas of Pierce County, or have the strong potential to be exceeded, such as Marysville.  We are offering financial incentives for people who have pre-1995 wood stoves or fireplace inserts and are interested in replacing the outdated appliances with new technology.

While the program has been extended until April 30, funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so could run out before the end of April. 

The incentives, which range in value from $200 to $750, are provided to homeowners in the form of a coupon.  Residents living in targeted ZIP codes can apply.  The discount available is based on the type of new appliance selected; gas and electric appliances provide the highest incentive because they are the cleanest heating, least polluting devices.  Additionally, half the program funds for the Tacoma/Pierce County program are set aside for income-qualified households, allowing $2,500 per household for natural gas, propane, pellet, or electric appliances (stoves, inserts, natural gas furnaces, or electric heat pumps).

Details are available at www.pscleanair.org/woodstove.replacement or by calling 1-888-859-5799.

So if you or someone you know has a pre-1995 wood stove or fireplace insert and lives in Marysville, Tacoma or certain areas of Pierce County, act now!  A warmer, healthier and cleaner heating option awaits you!

 

Practical ideas for healthy, earth-friendly living at the Seattle Green Festival

Come celebrate what’s working in our communities – for people, for business and for the environment.  The Seattle Green Festival, held April 12 and 13 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, features more than 150 visionary speakers, 300 green businesses, live music, kids activities, film festival, delicious organic food and more. 

Among the 40-minute workshops offered in the Green Home Pavilion, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency will lead “Heat Your Home, Not the Planet” on Sunday, April 13 at 3 p.m. with a panel of experts discussing ways you can more efficiently heat (or cool) your home, save money and reduce pollution.

Registration and ticket information is available at www.greenfestivals.org .  For those cycing to the event, Green Festival will provide a secure and complimentary bike valet.  Each attendee who uses the Green Festival bike valet will receive a voucher redeemable for $5 off registration. 

 

“Land Use in Washington” conference

This two-day conference April 21 – 22 in Seattle will focus on new issues and updates including implications of climate change and the Puget Sound Initiative to state and local land use practice.

Clean Air Agency Executive Director Dennis McLerran will be part of the panel discussing “Climate Change Implications for Local Land Use Policymaking and Permitting Requirements.”

Agenda and registration information is available at www.lawseminars.com/detail.php?SeminarCode=08LUWA .

Our agency’s adopted clean air policies for local growth management planning were developed to provide guidance for community planners, elected officials and other decision makers. To view these policies and additional resources, just click to
www.pscleanair.org/landuse .

 

Seattle CityClub presents “Climate Protection: What’s Washington’s Plan?”

What are the climate change challenges and opportunities faced by Washington state? Governor Gregoire’s Climate Advisory Team recently released their plan that aims to "reduce the pollution that leads to climate change, grow our clean energy economy and move toward energy independence".  How exactly do they plan to accomplish these ambitious goals? Do all the stakeholders agree with their tactics?

On Friday, April 25, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., the Clean Air Agency joins CityClub as one of its co-presenting organizations for a lively lunch-time discussion of state-level initiatives to address climate change at the Washington Athletic Club in downtown Seattle.  Bring your own questions to pose to the expert panel.  Registration and lunch cost information can be found at www.seattlecityclub.org/events.php#climatechange .

More information about the regional impacts of climate change can be found at www.pscleanair.org/programs/climate/default.aspx .  To review the state Climate Advisory Team’s objectives and final recommendations, click to www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/cat_overview.htm .

 

Announcements

Permit open for comment

The following Puget Sound Clean Air Agency permit is now open for public comment:

Cedar Grove Composting, Inc., Permit #9681 (Notice of Construction for Everett composting operations)
Comment period: Feb. 11 to March 26, 2008

For details about the permit or how to submit comments, click to www.pscleanair.org/announce/permits/openpermits.aspx#cedar .  Oral or written comments may be submitted at the hearing, or via e-mail or US mail until March 26, 2008. All comments received during the comment period and during the public hearing will become part of the public record. Once the Clean Air Agency has reviewed and responded to the comments from the public, final action will be taken on the proposed Order, including any revisions resulting from the comments received.

To receive notice about permitting; proposed Orders of Approval, Regulatory Orders, Variances and Operating Permits; hearings on those actions; extensions of comment periods; and final actions; simply sign up or change your profile to receive e-mail notification at www.pscleanair.org/news/agencynews.aspx .

 

Request for Proposal (RFP)

*  Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the State Route 520 bridge replacement and high occupancy vehicle (HOV) project, closes March 28, 2008 at noon

As a public agency, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency issues formal requests for proposals and qualifications for the purchase of certain equipment or supplies, or to enlist professional services to supplement our work. The Clean Air Agency is now accepting proposals electronically. See the RFP document for details on the requirements to submit proposals by hard copy or electronically. www.pscleanair.org/announce/notices/rfprfq.aspx .

 
Employment Opportunity:  Agency Finance Manager

We are looking for an experienced Finance Manager to provide financial leadership, direct the agency’s financial resources and staff and manage our accounting systems in accordance with best practices for local government.  Job description and application instructions can be found at www.pscleanair.org/about/documents/Finance_Manager_01-08.pdf .

 

About the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency serves the people of King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.  We work together to clean the air we breathe and protect our climate through education, incentives and enforcement.  To learn more about our work, and how you can be a part of it, too, 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 this newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe, you can do so at www.pscleanair.org/news/agencynews.aspx . Be sure to select Clean Air Newsline to be added to the e-mailing list.