Daily Advisories Seek to Help Health and Economy

November begins the Denver area's Winter Air Quality program. From November 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007, the Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will issue daily air pollution advisories for the seven-county Denver metropolitan area.

The High Pollution Advisory Program urges citizens to do their part to reduce winter air pollution. The notices are issued at 4 PM daily and the Regional Air Quality Council (RACQ) helps get the word out by faxing and e-mailing to local governments, businesses, and other organizations.

Meteorologists use weather information and the expected effect of air pollution emissions from a variety of sources to forecast air quality through a daily color-coded advisory system. Typical Colorado Winter weather can produce strong temperature inversions which may lead to increased carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) levels and impaired visual air quality in the region during the winter months, jeopardizing our health and our economy. Federal health-based standards exist for both carbon monoxide and particulate matter. The State of Colorado also has a visibility standard that applies during daylight hours in the Front Range region throughout the winter High Pollution Season.

The daily advisories will indicate either a status of Red or Blue depending on the anticpated conditons for the next 24 hour period. Resisdents are urged to take action that will help minimize or compound the effects of the climatic conditions.

Advisories

Red : Indicates that conditions are poor or are expected to worsen. They activate mandatory residential burning restrictions and call for voluntary driving reductions. Residential burning restrictions apply to everyone in the seven-county metro Denver area residing below 7,000 feet in elevation. No fuel of any kind can be burned in a unapproved stove or fireplace when a "Red Advisory" is in effect.

Exceptions are for those using EPA-certified or other State approved devices. Certified wood burning stoves and pellet stoves (Colorado Phase III or U.S. EPA Phase II) and natural gas fireplaces and fireplace inserts are exempt and can be used any time. Most municipalities in the seven-county region have adopted ordinances to restrict residential burning when a "Red Advisory" is issued. These include Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Broomfield, Denver, Englewood, Federal Heights, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Lafayette, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Mountain View, Sheridan, Thornton, Westminster, and Wheat Ridge. For other municipalities within the metro area, the state's residential burning regulation applies.

Public participation during a "Red Advisory" will help lower winter air pollution levels in the Denver area on days when conditions could lead to violations of one or more air pollution standards.

Blue: Indicates that conditions are good or are expected to improve. They require no public action. However, the use of alternate transportation is encouraged whenever possible, and motorists are encouraged to properly maintain their vehicles.

Current Air Quality Conditions

Area residents can learn of currnet condiditons and sdvisories any time by calling the 24-hour Air Quality Advisory hotline at 303-758-4848. This hotline is updated every afternoon by 4 p.m. throughout the winter High Pollution Season. Or one can visit the Air Pollution Control Division's web site at http://apcd.state.co.us/psi/advisory.html. Most media include information about the current advisory in their news, weather, or traffic updates. Check the Daily newspaper, listen to the radio, or watch your favorite local newscast.

1. Comply with the mandatory residential burning restrictions. Residential burning activities have been curtailed dramatically in the Front Range region over the past 15 years.
2. Use alternative transportation whenever possible. Carpool, ride the bus, or take the light rail. Motor vehicles are responsible for 90 percent or more of the carbon monoxide problem in the Denver area and about 60 percent of the particulate matter problem (road dust, tailpipe emissions, street sanding, etc.). Approximately 30 percent of the visibility problem can be attributed directly to motor vehicle use. Motor vehicle use also contributes significantly to carbon dioxide -- a major global warming gas -- and to air toxins like volatile organic compounds, organic aerosols, and unburned hydrocarbons.
3. If you must drive, combine or link trips. Cold start emissions from vehicles are responsible for 80 - 90 percent of the total emissions emitted from vehicles.
4. Properly maintain your vehicle through regular oil changes and regular maintenance service intervals suggested by the vehicle manufacturer. A poorly-maintained vehicle pollutes as much as 25 times more than a well-maintained vehicle.
5. Explore telecommuting and teleworking options with your employer on High Pollution Days.
6. Teleconference instead of requiring everyone driving to one location for a meeting.
7. Conserve energy - turn down the thermostat.