Air Quality Awareness Week:
Friday – Ways to Keep Your Community Clean and Green
May 2, 2008
You can reduce air pollution by working with planners in your community.
Be proactive to encourage smart growth. As a resident of one of the communities within ORCAA's six county jurisdiction, you already enjoy some of one of the world's most spectacular places to live. Help keep it clean, green and natural by sitting in on the meetings of your local planning commission or county council meetings. Encourage your government leaders to choose green design options and to make smart planning decisions.. New growth and changes to existing infrastructure should include energy efficient, green buildings, easy access to mass transit, and safe lanes for walking or biking around town. Also, encourage planning options that conserve open space and decrease sprawl.
CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW TO CUT POLLUTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Air Quality Awareness Week:
Thursday – Ways to BUY Clean and Green
May 1, 2008
You can reduce air pollution by making smart purchasing decisions.
Americans use so many Styrofoam cups each year that, if stacked end to end, they would to circle the earth 426 times. That's one hundred cups per person per year. These cups are made from petroleum products, a non-renewable resource. The processes and resources that create, distribute, and dispose of these cups contributes to air pollution – and contribute to our continued reliance on foreign oil.
Think before you buy – Choose one of the reusable coffee mugs at your local coffee shop instead of purchasing the coffee in a disposable cup. Avoid other disposable products as well.
CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW TO CUT POLLUTION WHEN YOU SHOP
Air Quality Awareness Week:
Wednesday – Ways to Keep Your School Clean and Green
April 30, 2008
Students, teachers and administrators: You can reduce air pollution by the making smart choices at your school.You can all play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a number of suggestions on who you can make a difference in your school.
Students: Bring science to life by using EPA's web-based tools such as "Explore the Climate Change Kids Site" and "Climate Animations." These bring to life the science and impacts of climate change. The site also provides games that help students, their parents and their teachers learn about both the science of climate change and what actions they can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Air Quality Awareness Week:
Tuesday – Ways to Drive Clean and Green
April 29, 2008
You can reduce air pollution by the driving choices you make. Start by driving less. Ways to drive less include:
- Car pooling
- Walking or riding a bike
- Shopping by phone or mail
- Riding public transit
- Telecommuting
When you do drive, you can reduce air pollution as well. CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW.
Air Quality Awareness Week:
Monday – Ways to Live Clean and Green
April 28, 2008
The average home in Washington produced approximately the same amount of pollution as an average family car (i.e., over 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nearly 10 pounds of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), based upon the average monthly residential electricity consumption. To estimate YOUR home's emission rates, use this calculator. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a number of ways you can help reduce the amounts of air pollution and greenhouse gases you produce in your home and office. CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE.
Exploring Alternatives Great Way
to Kick off Air Quality Awareness Week
April 25, 2008
Now is the time to become more Air Aware.
The week of April 28-May 2 has been declared Air Quality Awareness Week by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and residents are encouraged to participate by taking steps to make small changes in their daily lives to help improve the air we share.
To help people become more "Air Aware," the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) offers a series of ideas for actions individuals can take at home, on the road, in schools, at the office, and throughout their communities. These simple, yet effective, measures can help create better air quality for all of us.
Although air quality in Washington generally earns high marks, and the six counties served by Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) enjoy clear, clean air much of the year, serious issues continue to threaten this vital resource. Exhaust from diesel vehicles and smoke from wood stoves, fireplaces and outdoor burning pose the greatest risks to human health in our state.
According to Richard Stedman, ORCAA's Executive Director, the attention of everyone – including the public, the business sector, and the government – must stay focused on the issue of clean air.
"Clean air can't be taken for granted," Stedman said. "With increasing population and associated development, maintaining our good air quality will be a great challenge. We must continually look for ways to reduce air pollution, especially from diesel combustion and outdoor burning sources whose emissions have the greatest impacts on public health."
Several studies have clearly proven that air pollution causes cancer and harms the heart, lungs and immune systems, especially in individuals with pre-existing health conditions, infants, young children, the elderly, and pregnant women. The cost of these health impacts will further burden our health care system.
Throughout Air Quality Awareness Week, ORCAA will share specific ideas for what residents can do on a daily basis. More details HERE.
Public Hearing Scheduled for Proposed Changes to Ocean Protein's Facility
April 21, 2008
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) works closely with businesses within its jurisdiction to ensure air quality concerns are addressed as businesses grow and develop. ORCAA also encourages public involvement in the permitting process.
Toward that end, a public hearing is scheduled for May 21 in Hoquiam regarding a permit application from Ocean Protein, LLC, to modify the odor control system at the Ocean Protein fishmeal production facility at 518 22nd Street in Hoquiam. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Hoquiam High School’s Little Theatre, 501 W. Emerson, Hoquiam, Washington.
As the administrator of state and federal clean air laws within the six counties of its jurisdiction, ORCAA’s approval is required in advance for installation, modification or construction of businesses that may emit air pollutants.
Ocean Protein proposes three significant modifications to existing odor control equipment aimed at improving overall odor control efficiency. The existing Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) will be improved by adding a booster fan to aid in purging exhaust gases while the unit cycles between preheat chambers. This improvement is intended to eliminate the potential for short bursts of odors while the preheat beds are being cycled. Second, a capture fan will be added to the fish scrap receiving area to better capture fugitive odors from fish receiving operations. Lastly, a new odor control device will be added downstream of the existing RTO and scrubbers. The new device will use a non-thermal plasma process to remove pollutants and will generate minor amounts of ozone as a consequence. Ozone is a regulated air pollutant and will be required to be monitored and regulated to acceptable levels.
ORCAA completed a preliminary review of Ocean Protein’s proposal and has determined that the proposed modifications will likely improve odor control at the facility. On this basis, ORCAA’s Preliminary Determination is to approve Ocean Protein’s NOC application.
The permitting process administered by ORCAA includes providing public notices and opportunities for public comment on permit applications. Copies of ORCAA’s Preliminary Determination are on file and available for review at Hoquiam’s Timberland Public Library located 420 7th Street in Hoquiam, and at ORCAA’s office in Olympia. The documents are also available HERE.
Join our Email Network – and be air aware!
April 14, 2008
Join our email network to receive breaking news about local air issues!
As a brand new service, ORCAA now offers you personalized Clean Air news as it becomes available. By signing up for the new Email Alerts newsletter program, you will be among the first to know when we issue a burn ban, call to voluntary restrictions, issue an air quality alert, or have other news to share.
ORCAA Celebrates 40 Years of Cleaner Air
April 2, 2008
OLYMPIA – In 1968, Dan Evans was Washington's Governor, Boeing rolled out its first 747 Jumbo Jet, Jimi Hendrix moved back to Seattle, Washington's North Cascades National Park was created and residents in western Washington breathed a little easier.
On March 24, 1968, following passage of Washington's Clean Air Act, the Olympic Air Pollution Control Authority was born. Today, that age
ncy – now the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) – continues to protect public health and the environment by working with businesses and individuals to reduce air pollution in its jurisdiction.
Now celebrating its 40th Anniversary, ORCAA continues the work it began in 1968 – the challenges and threats to public health have changed over time, but the work to keep our air clean and healthful goes on. Today, ORCAA works closely with business and industry to find solutions that reduce pollution in a positive and supportive manner. Through ORCAA's involvement, innovative solutions have been found to problems ranging from what do to with excess wood waste in lumber mills (now used as fuel in electricity-generating boilers at industrial sources) to how to curb toxic emissions from school buses (retrofit aging buses with modern emissions control technology). In 2000, ORCAA achieved attainment with the federal ambient air quality standards for particulate matter. Challenges remain ahead for the agency for continued attainment of these standards.
In honor of ORCAA's 40 years of Public Service, the agency staff and Board of Directors invite all members of the public to attend a 40th Anniversary Celebration April 9, 2008, during the regularly scheduled Board of Director's Meeting at ORCAA Headquarters (2940-B Limited Lane NW, Olympia).
- What: ORCAA's 40th Anniversary
- When: April 9, 2008, 10 a.m. to noon.
- Where: ORCAA Headquarters, 2940-B Limited Lane NW, Olympia, WA 98502
Black carbon pollution emerges as major player in global warming
March 31, 2008
As reported in the Environmental News Network: Soot from biomass burning and diesel exhaust has 60 percent of the effect of carbon dioxide on warming but mitigation offers immediate benefits. Black carbon, a form of particulate air pollution most often produced from biomass burning, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust, has a warming effect in the atmosphere three to four times greater than prevailing estimates, according to scientists in an upcoming review article in the journal Nature Geoscience. MORE
"Pristine" parks tainted by pollution, study finds
March 20, 2008
What goes up, must come down, even if its tiny particles of air pollution, and that's exactly what's happening around the country. Air pollution is filtering down into remote waterways, causing pollution levels to spike in some the most remote, seeminly pristing lakes and streams in our wilderness areas and National Parks.
A sweeping, six-year federal study released Tuesday found evidence of 70 contaminants in 20 national parks and monuments – from Denali in Alaska and Glacier in Montana, to Big Bend in Texas and Yosemite in California.
Public Hearing Scheduled for Proposed Shelton Wood Pellet Facility
March 14, 2008
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) works closely with businesses within its jurisdiction to ensure air quality concerns are addressed as businesses grow and develop. ORCAA also encourages public involvement in the permitting process.
Toward that end, a public hearing is scheduled for April 17 in Shelton regarding a permit application from Atlas Shelton, a subsidiary of Coeur d'Alene Fiber Fuels, to construct and operate a wood-pellet production facility at 1333 East John's Prairie Road in Shelton. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Mason County Commission Chambers, 411 North 5th St. Shelton. As the administrator of state and federal clean air laws within the six counties of its jurisdiction, ORCAA's approval is required in advance for installation, modification or construction of businesses that may emit air pollutants.
Atlas Shelton's proposed facility will have the capacity to produce 10.8 oven dry tons per hour of pellet fuel produced from waste wood. This facility will have the potential to emit 54 tons per year (tpy) of particulate matter, 49 tpy of reactive oxides of nitrogen, and 46 tpy of volatile organic compounds, as well as other combustion byproducts.
ORCAA has assessed air quality implications of Atlas' proposed facility and concluded that compliance with applicable air regulations and standards will likely be maintained. On this basis, ORCAA's Preliminary Determination is to approve the Notice of Construction application.
Pollution in air taints U.S. parks
February 29, 2008
FROM THE OREGONIAN – The snow-covered evergreen trees around Crater Lake National Park may be miles from civilization, but they still contain industrial PCBs, the banned pesticide DDT and at least two currently used pesticides.
The fish in Golden Lake at Mount Rainier National Park carry relatively high levels of toxic flame retardant.
And the DDT measured in fish at Montana's Glacier National Park is higher than levels found in fish studies from Africa, even though the United States phased out DDT production in 1972 and Africa still uses it for mosquito control.
Those findings come from a six-year study of airborne contamination in 20 Western national parks and monuments released this week. Yosemite and Kings Canyon, in California, and Rocky Mountain, in Colorado, also are cited as having some of the higher levels of pollution. MORE
============================================================