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CLEAR Temp: 71 °F Wind: W at 3 mph Sunday, June 8, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 6, 2003 Hot, still days trigger smog alert The state DEQ urges Rogue Valley residents to curtail unnecessary ozone-causing activities By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune A smog advisory has been issued today and Saturday for the Medford-Ashland area by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The DEQ’s "Clean Air Action Day" alert means that local residents are asked to voluntarily stop unnecessary driving, cutting their lawns with gas-powered mowers, using aerosol sprays or other ozone-causing activity until the hot, still air pattern moves out of the valley. "We’re asking people to put off activities for a few days to avoid putting more chemicals into the air," explained John Becker, the DEQ’s air quality manager in southwestern Oregon. "Right now, we are looking for no break in this weather: hot and dry with little ventilation," he added. "In weather like this, chemicals can build up." Advertisement The problem is the unhealthy buildup of ozone and other pollutants at ground level, creating smog that exceeds the federal health standard. Avoiding exceeding the federal ozone standard will help prevent mandatory regulations, according to DEQ officials. Smog is particularly harmful to children, the elderly and people with asthma and other lung problems. Smog-sensitive people should limit outdoor activity during the alerts, officials said. The Clean Air Action Days program covers the valley from Ashland to the city of Rogue River, from Eagle Point to Jacksonville. The volunteer program, which went into effect in the late 1990s, goes into action when the mercury rises above 96 degrees and the wind fails to top 5 mph. The federal standard was exceeded for one day at the end of August last year but a Clean Air Action Day wasn’t called because the weather changed relatively quickly, Becker said. "We’ve been at the moderate level a few days now — we want to avoid exceeding federal standards," he said. Noting that gas-powered engines are the top source of smog, officials give the following tips to reduce pollution: Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked or waiting in line. Ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting your engine. Wait until the heat wave breaks to use gas-powered mowers and yard equipment. Use public transportation and limit driving when possible. "We’re just asking people to cut back on their activities that cause pollution," Becker reiterated. "Ozone is a cumulative thing," he added. "When it’s hot and dry with no wind, it all adds up." For more information about the Clean Air Action Day program, smog and health and for information on ways to help keep the air clean, visit www.deq.state.or.us/aq/education/caad/index.htm Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times