FLORIDA DEP AND DOT RECOGNIZE MAY AS CLEAN AIR MONTH, OFFER AIR POLLUTION SOLUTIONS

Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Department of Transportation Press Release Header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DOT, Carina Miles, 407.571.6783, CarinaMiles@global-5.com

FLORIDA DEP AND DOT RECOGNIZE MAY AS CLEAN AIR MONTH, OFFER AIR POLLUTION SOLUTIONS

~State encourages citizens to help protect air quality~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Transportation are partnering this month to promote practices to improve air quality in Florida. Florida’s residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to adopt environmentally friendly practices to help protect Florida’s air quality throughout May—and all year long.

“Florida should pat itself on the back for its aggressive approach to improving air quality,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard, Jr. “By monitoring air quality, promoting pollution prevention and coordinating with local, state and federal clean air programs, Floridians have made great strides in just a few short years.”

There are many steps Floridians can take to prevent air pollution and protect human health, as well as the environment. These steps include:

  • Drive less—use public transportation, carpool or ride a bike;
  • Drive smart—check FDOT’s 511 Traveler Information Service before hitting the road;
  • Use energy-efficient products;
  • Use reel or electric lawn mowers;
  • Compost rather than burning waste materials;
  • Use green cleaners;
  • Maintain heating and air conditioning units;
  • Recycle;
  • Plant native trees and shrubs; and
  • Spread the word.

A great way to reduce time spent idling in traffic and reduce vehicle emissions is to plan ahead with 511. The toll-free service provides drivers with up-to-the-minute roadway information on all of Florida’s interstates, toll roads and other major metropolitan roadways. The resource is available by calling 511, visiting FL511.com, downloading the Android or iPhone app, or following one of FL511’s 12 Twitter accounts.

In the last decade, Florida has achieved large reductions in emissions of soot, sulfur dioxide and smog-contributing nitrogen oxide through a combination of enforcement, conversion to cleaner fuel and implementation of federal requirements.

The DEP’s Division of Air Resource Management, located in Tallahassee, is charged with regulation of Florida’s air resource, including air monitoring, permitting and compliance of emission sources, and implementing the Siting Acts. Through a variety of services, the division regulates Florida’s air resource fairly, consistently and efficiently to enable economic opportunities for the state, while fully implementing state and federal Clean Air Act requirements.

For more information about the division, click here.

For more information about the Florida Department of Transportation’s 511 System, visit www.fl511.com.