HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8247 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No, 8247
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 9, 2000
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CX Subject:
Air Pollution Watch and Air Pollution Warnings
May 1, 2000 marks the official beginning of this year's Ozone Season. For the
past 10 years, the City of Fort Worth has actively embraced and encouraged the
use of the "Ozone Action Day" Alert System. This year however, a new system
is being implemented by the State with the hopes of raising personal awareness
to air pollution levels and providing people with a sense of closure to these
emergency notifications. Similar to the familiar thunderstorm, tornado, or flash
flood system, days with high levels of air pollution (Ozone) will be marked as Air
Pollution Watch or Air Pollution Warning Days.
An Air Pollution Watch is called by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) and the North Central Texas Council of Governments
(NCTCOG) on days when the ozone level becomes elevated. Registered
agencies (of which Fort Worth is one) will be notified via e-mail, fax, telephone,
and/or television of the watch. When a watch is enacted, citizens and employees
are encouraged to partake in those activities that work to reduce the level of
ozone forming emissions on the day(s) following the watch issuance. The Air
Pollution Watch is the trigger for the City's Employee Incentive Program.
An Air Pollution Warning is called by the TNRCC and NCTCOG when the area
becomes imminently endangered to exceed the ozone standard. When a
Warning is issued, people are informed that the area's air quality is unhealthy
and at risk persons (the young, the elderly, and people with pulmonary problems)
should take those steps necessary to protect themselves. Additionally, citizens
and employers will be asked to curtail high polluting activities until the episode
has passed. City employees will be encouraged to reduce emissions during
warning times also.
Ozone Season historically lasts through the end of October with most of the
exceedances occurring between the middle of June and the middle of October. It
is imperative that we work to control our emissions and reach attainment by 2007
or the area will face severe economic penalties and even greater health care
burdens. Residents, civic groups, or businesses seeking additional information
concerning the revised alert system should contact the Department of
Environmental Management, Education Division, at 871-8079.
Bob Terrell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS