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Clean air action Pollute less now � or face stricter limits later If you think those wheezy, coughing, polluted days of the mid-1980s and before are gone forever, think again. Climatologists have predicted HOT weather for this summer, and that can � and probably will � create conditions that will prompt state air-quality officials to call voluntary Clean Air Action Days. The program goes into effect whenever the mercury rises above 96 degrees and the wind falls below 5 mph. Local air-quality officials, business leaders and others concerned about Rogue Valley air announced the beginning of the second year of the voluntary program at a press conference last week. Note the word "voluntary." Officials hope people will take steps to reduce pollution now, voluntarily, rather than having regulations shoved down their throats later. That could happen if certain weather conditions persist over a period of time, or if immigrants continue to cross the Siskiyous in droves. More people, more pollution. It�s that simple. So the Clean Air Action Days program is important. Such voluntary programs have worked well here in the past and are working well now in Portland, where efforts have been "wildly successful," state air-quality officials say. Actually, there�s no reason for residents to wait for officials to call a clean air day to clean up their act � or at least reduce their contributions to a dirty airshed. The problem at this time of year is a buildup of ozone and other pollutants at ground level, producing smog. Ozone is the primary component of smog. Among measures you can take right now to curtail your pollution-causing activities: Reduce auto time (walk, ride a bike or take the bus); cut back use of lawn mowers, chainsaws and other gasoline-powered small engines; and reduce use of aerosol sprays and spray paint. If a clean air day is expected to be called, the Medford-Jackson County Chamber of Commerce � on the day before � will notify business owners and ask them to have employees limit pollution-causing activities. Business leaders at last week�s press conference said reducing pollutants in the airshed can literally give your neighbors the gift of life. In addition, such measures could prevent mandatory regulations from being imposed in the future, a happenstance that could be costly to the local economy. The Rogue Valley hasn�t exceeded ozone standards since the mid-1980s. Let�s not return to those unhealthful times. Not everyone can take steps to curtail pollution-causing activities, but most of us can do something. Be a volunteer. Voluntarily participate in reducing pollutants in your share of the airshed. We invite readers to respond to this or other editorial opinions via e-vent. Send comments of 75 words or less to [email protected] to be considered for immediate publication. Contact your representatives Speak out! Do you have a comment about today's editorial? If so, speak out in our local online forums! To participate in National polls & discussions, or to start a petition or contact elected officials, go to "e-thepeople interactive town hall" The Mail Tribune welcomes letters on any topic of general public relevance and interest. Please include a daytime phone number and address for verification. We cannot print letters, even e--mail letters, without verification. We're interested in the comments of all our on--line readers, but we can only publish letters from residents within our Southern Oregon and Northern California circulation area . Sorry, we cannot publish poetry. Writers are limited to one letter every 30 days. Address your letters of 250 word or less (150 words for thank you or election letters) to: Letters to the editor Box 1108 Medford, OR 97501 Fax (541) 776--4376. Or send your letter e--mail to: [email protected] The Mail Tribune offers its opinion pages to stimulate discussion and understanding of issues important to our community. Editorials in this column reflect the opinions of the Mail Tribune. Editorial Board James Grady Singletary , Publisher Robert L. Hunter , Editor Julie Wurth , Managing Editor John N. Reid , Executive Editor Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA