Ozone High Pollution Advisory Wednesday and Thursday, June 3 and 4, 2020

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone High Pollution Advisory for Wednesday and Thursday, June 3 and 4, 2020. WOOD BURNING RESTRICTIONS AVOID LEAF BLOWING Prohibited for government entities AVOID USING  OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

Transportation Coordinators  Due to unhealthy levels of ozone, Maricopa County Air Quality Department requests all Transportation Coordinators to email employees and activate your HPA plans. The department encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation, especially when pollution levels are expected to be on the rise. Remind employees that they are encouraged to make more clean air. ?????? Ozone: Ground level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction that needs heat from sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds [VOCs] to form.  The months of April through September make up our Valley’s longer-than-normal "ozone season." _____________________________________ "High Pollution Advisory" or "HPA" means the highest concentration of pollution may exceed the federal health standard.  Active children, adults and people with lung disease such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Maricopa County employers enlisted in the Travel Reduction Program are asked to activate their HPA plans on high pollution advisory days. "Health Watch" means the highest concentration of pollution may approach the federal health standard.  Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion during a health watch. _______________________________________________________ Restrictions Employees and contractors of government entities are prohibited from operating leaf blowers. Residents are encouraged to avoid leaf blowing during HPAs. Open burning activity is restricted in Maricopa County. This includes individuals and businesses which have burn permits for open burning. Take Action Drive as little as possible: carpool, use public transit, or telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit Valley Metro:www.ShareTheRide.com  Fuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours. Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers. Delay big painting projects until high-pollution advisories or health watches have passed. Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air. Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimineas, and outdoor fire pits. Avoid using leaf blowers. Use a rake or broom to keep debris out of the road and away from storm drains, ditches, and streams. Conserve electricity.