HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05252010 - C.44RECOMMENDATION(S):
AUTHORIZE County participation in the 2010 Spare the Air Program and REQUEST that
each County department participate in the program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None to the General Fund. Participation involves each department posting Spare the Air
notices at the entrances to each County work site.
BACKGROUND:
The Spare the Air Program is a voluntary program organized by the Bay Area Air Quality
Management District (BAAQMD) to encourage the public to take steps to protect air quality
on days when ozone (smog) levels are expected to exceed the state and federal air quality
standards. The current Spare the Air season is already underway (beginning May 3, 2010)
and will typically last through mid-October. Spare the Air alerts are declared for days
forecast to have ozone concentrations high enough to exceed federal health-based standards.
The number of notices during a season has varied from 1 to 25. Last year, 14 Spare the Air
notices were issued for the Bay Area.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 05/25/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Jamar Stamps,
925-335-1220
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 25, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: EMY L. SHARP, Deputy
cc: Ted Cwiek
C.44
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development Director
Date:May 25, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Authorize County Participation in the Spare the Air Day Program
When smog conditions are expected to
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
exceed standards, the BAAQMD will issue a Spare the Air alert to the County's
Department of Conservation and Development, which in turn will alert all departments
using the contact list attached as Exhibit A. Each department contact will have the
opportunity to notify his/her departmental employees to refrain from unnecessary
activities that contribute to air pollution. These activities include driving, refueling
vehicles during the day, using gasoline-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers, using
lighter fluid when barbecuing, and using aerosol products and oil-based paints. Exhibit B
is an example of a notice that could be posted at the entrances to each County work site
during a Spare the Air alert. The BAAQMD advisories are also posted on their website
(http://www.sparetheair.org), recorded on the 1-800-HELP AIR forecast phone line,
announced in local newspapers, and broad-casted on local TV and radio stations.
Information regarding Spare the Air day is also available through social networking
internet sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
The BAAQMD promotes participation in the Spare the Air Program as part of employers'
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs, since many of the Program's
actions are also trip-reduction measures. Employees are encouraged to carpool, take
public transit, bicycle, or walk to work. If feasible, employees could also telecommute
provided that arrangements have been made with their supervisors.
No free transit will be offered on Spare the Air Days this year.
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
2010-020
NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kristine Roselius
May 3, 2010 415.749.4900 (office)
415.519.5419 (cell)
Spare the Air smog season begins today
SAN FRANCISCO – In an effort to protect public health and reduce harmful smog, the Bay Area Air
Quality Management District has launched the Spare the Air smog season today, on the first day of Air
Quality Awareness week.
“Tailpipe exhaust from the 3 to 4 million vehicles on our roads each day remains the largest source of
smog in the Bay Area,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “To reduce the health
impacts from smog, we all need to think differently about how we use our cars as part of our daily
routine.”
The Air District issues Spare the Air Smog Alerts whenever ozone pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy
levels. Ozone, or smog, can cause throat irritation, congestion and chest pain. It can trigger asthma,
inflame the lining of the lungs and worsen bronchitis and emphysema. Long-term exposure can reduce
lung function.
High levels of ozone pollution are particularly harmful for young children, seniors and those with
respiratory and heart conditions. When a Spare the Air Smog Alert is issued, vigorous outdoor exercise
should be done only in the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower.
Ground-level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides from motor vehicle
exhaust, gasoline vapors, industrial emissions and household chemicals combine with oxygen in the
presence of heat and sunlight.
A list of simple things the public can do to Spare the Air every day:
Carpool – any ride is worth sharing!
Take public transit
Work at home or telecommute
Bike to work or around town
Link errands to reduce driving
Use electric powered garden equipment
Residents can check the daily air quality forecast by:
Visiting www.sparetheair.org
Via the toll-free hotline 1-800-HELPAIR (435-7247)
Signing up for email AirAlerts at www.sparetheair.org
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (www.baaqmd.gov) is the regional agency chartered with
protecting air quality in the Bay Area. For more information about Spare the Air, visit
www.sparetheair.org.
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