AIR QUALITY IMPROVES IN MOST AREAS; FOCUS SHIFTS TO MAINTENANCE PROGRESS BRIEFINGS SLATED FOR SEATTLE AND SPOKANE

Washington State Department of Ecology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 1995
95-190

CONTACT:
Larry Altose, 206-649-7192
Jani Gilbert, 509-456-3150

MEDIA ADVISORY

AIR QUALITY IMPROVES IN MOST AREAS; FOCUS SHIFTS TO MAINTENANCE PROGRESS BRIEFINGS SLATED FOR SEATTLE AND SPOKANE

OLYMPIA, WA -- Washington's outdoor air continues to get cleaner, although some problem areas remain, according to the state Department of Ecology. Ecology and local air pollution control agency officials will outline the past year's air quality trends, as well as future challenges and opportunities, at briefing sessions next month in Lacey and Spokane. Members of the news media are welcome to attend the sessions.

The briefing sessions will take place Monday, December 4th, at Ecology's headquarters in Lacey and Wednesday, December 6th, at Spokane Falls Community College, Student Union Building (#17), Lounges A and B, in Spokane. Both briefings are set to run from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (See the end of this release for directions to Ecology Headquarters in Lacey.)

"Some parts of the state may be removed from the federal list of poor air quality areas during the coming year," said Ecology air quality program manager Joe Williams. "In general, most areas are making progress. Now we have to be careful to not lose what we've gained over 25 years. That's going to be a challenge because population and traffic continue to grow. Even though emission rates are down, the number of sources is going up."

Williams noted that the national outdoor air quality standards protect human health. "These improvements mean Washington citizens have made their communities healthier places to breathe," he said. "But over the next few years the federal government will tighten these standards, based on new information from medical research. Clean air will be a continuing concern."

In Western Washington, local air quality agencies and Ecology are preparing requests to remove parts of Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston Counties from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "non-attainment area" list.

In Eastern Washington, state and local officials are seeking EPA approval of air quality clean-up plans in parts of Spokane, Yakima, and Walla Walla counties. Approval of these clean-up plans--coupled with air quality improvements--will clear the way for these areas to seek removal of their "non-attainment" designations.

The briefings also will include updates on these issues:

Puget Sound and Clark County air quality maintenance proposals (Lacey session),
Spokane County air quality clean-up planning (Spokane session),
Spokane County grass seed field burning (Spokane session),
Columbia Basin wind-blown dust research project (Spokane session),
EPA's review of and possible changes to the outdoor air health standards for fine particles and ground-level ozone (both sessions),
Regional haze research and planning (both sessions), and
Natural events policy for dust storms, forest fires and volcanic eruptions (both sessions).

Officials from Ecology, local air pollution control agencies and the EPA will be available to the media at each session.

Directions to Ecology's Lacey Headquarters: From Northbound I-5: Take Martin Way exit (109), turn right onto Martin Way, turn right onto Desmond Drive. Follow the drive in front of the building to visitor parking. From Southbound I-5: Take Martin Way exit (109), turn left onto Martin Way, turn right onto Desmond Drive. Follow the drive in front of the building to visitor parking.

Additional Ecology air quality program contacts: Dan Johnson, planning and program development supervisor, 360-407-6872; Stu Clark, policy analyst, 360-407-6873; Joe Williams, air quality program manager, 360-407-6880.