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Department of Ecology News Release - October 29, 2001
01-185
OLYMPIA - In an effort to keep people informed about the progress of air quality work in the Wallula area, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is hosting a public meeting this week.
The meeting is scheduled at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Walla Walla Regional Airport terminal, Blue Mountain Rm., 45 Terminal Loop Rd. in Walla Walla.
This is the second in a series of meetings to talk with people in the community.
At the meeting, Ecology staff will provide information about the current and planned efforts for evaluating the air quality situation in the Wallula area.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently classified Wallula's air quality as "serious nonattainment" for particulate matter. Serious nonattainment means there is a continuing or long-term problem with meeting the federal air quality standard for particulate matter. The standard is based on healthy air for people.
The federal Clean Air Act requires Ecology to develop an implementation plan to clean up the air when a nonattainment area is reclassified as serious. As part of the effort, Ecology gathers and analyzes information about potential air-pollution problems in the area and works with the community to develop and implement the plan.
Particulate matter is dust, soot and other particles that come from secondary chemical reactions of other pollutants. The small particles can harm people's ability to breathe, damage lung tissue and exacerbate chronic health problems related to breathing and respiratory problems.
"Our examination continues to show that serious nonattainment may not be the right label for the Wallula area," said Mary Burg, who manages the air quality program at Ecology. "Most of the tiny particulate matter is caused by the dry and windy conditions in the area, but we are finding some activities that people do that may be contributing to the air-quality problem."
At the public meeting, Ecology also will discuss next steps for evaluating the air quality situation in the Wallula area. The agency plans to hold another public meeting in February 2002.
CONTACT: Mary Getchell, Public Information Manager, (360) 407-6157; pager, (360) 534-8590
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/airhome.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
