Submitted by SJV Valley Air District

Valley Air District officials are urging residents to reduce driving and other emission-producing activities this week due to unseasonably high temperatures.  Although ozone numbers are not forecast to reach Air Alert levels, the high temperatures and stagnant conditions may lead to elevated ozone levels, unusual for this time of year.

Despite abnormally high temperatures and a string of wildfires, this year has proven to be another year of historically low ozone levels for the Valley.  In fact, this summer, the Valley set new records for having the longest stretch of consecutive days with no exceedances of the most stringent 8-hour standard (75 ppb) established by the federal government.

The Air District credits Valley businesses, farmers and residents for the significant progress the Valley has made in reducing ozone pollution.

“We were prepared to declare Air Alerts throughout the summer, especially after the start of the school year, to urge Valley residents to cut back on driving.  However, ozone levels never reached the trigger level necessary to declare an Air Alert,” said Seyed Sadredin, the District’s air pollution control officer and executive director.

If the trend continues, 2014 will be the second consecutive year during which the Valley has not had a violation of the 1-hour ozone standard.  This is the standard for which the Valley has been subject to the $29 million penalty under the federal Clean Air Act.  The Air District has already submitted a formal request to the California Air Resources Board and the federal EPA to revoke this penalty and is awaiting formal response to declare the Valley in attainment of this challenging standard. Continue reading “Valley Air District Urges Residents to Reduce Driving” »