All News Releases By Date

EPA’s Ozone Media Kit Helps Get the Word Out Easier

Release Date: 5/15/2001
Contact Information: Carol Febbo: (215) 814-2076

Contact: Carol Febbo: (215) 814-2076

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will make it easier to spread the news about ozone smog pollution by giving reportes its “Ozone Media Kit.” The kit, on compact disk, contains important facts and figures; photos, ozone maps and graphics; sound bites; local, state, and federal contacts; and links to reliable and valuable sites with additional ozone information.

EPA has also provided funding for “Don’t Pollute, E-Commute” pilot projects in five cities, including Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Houston and Denver. E-Commute will enable companies to reduce thousands of tons in auto emissions by allowing employees to work from home one or more days per week.

The reductions in automobile trips to work in the city and surrounding areas will earn mobile emissions credits which can be accumulated, traded or donated to further reduce smog-creating pollutants. Trading these credits will add a financial incentive for E-Commuting for both workers and employers.

“E-Commute is exactly the kind of market-based incentive program EPA wants to promote to improve air quality and reduce highway congestion. We hope that members of the business community will seriously consider participating in these programs because we all have an obligation to help bring the Philadelphia area into attainment with the health-based ozone standard,” said EPA acting regional administrator Thomas C. Voltaggio.

Voltaggio joined business, government and non-profit organization leaders today at the Delaware Valley Ozone Action Partnership reception at the Franklin Institute to kick off the 2001 ozone season.

Ground-level ozone smog is formed mostly on hot, sunny days and can be unhealthy to breathe, especially if you have respiratory problems. When ozone levels are forecast to exceed national health standards, alliances like the Delaware Valley Ozone Action Partnership declare an Ozone Action or Code Red Day.

When an Ozone Action Day is forecast, employers and the media spread the news, asking people to take cost-efficient, voluntary actions to reduce emissions by using transit or car pooling to work, refueling cars in the evening when the sun is down, and postponing lawn mowing with gas-powered mowers. There are now 150 cities and states with ozone forecasting programs

The Ozone Media Kit, designed to assist the media with print or video stories during the ozone season, will also be available at www.epa.gov/airnow/mediakits/ozone/. The web site will be updated periodically.