This Month’s Topics:

• Public & Stakeholder Participation Information
• Environmental Justice for All
• Putting the Brakes on Heavy-Duty Vehicle Idling
• Keeping the Air Clean in 2019
• Dates to Remember
• AQI Alerts for Respiratory Health

Banner photo credit: Alexis Rattner, View from Noonmark Mountain, Keene, NY.

Public & Stakeholder Participation Information:

• Subpart 225-1 stakeholder webinar on January 29, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. EST, to discuss possible revisions to Subpart 225-1 Sulfur-in-Fuel.
• Part 218 public hearing on March 11, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. in Albany, NY, regarding amendments to Part 218 Emission Standards for Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Engines.
• Various projects in the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB).

Additional information and access to past announcements are on our Public & Stakeholder Participation Information page.

Air Mail! will now be the publication to announce public and stakeholder information about air quality topics. All NYS residents are environmental stakeholders – we welcome anyone to join the information sessions and other opportunities posted here.

Environmental Justice for All

As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Black History Month in February, we honor his legacy of fighting towards social justice, civil liberties, and efforts for equal rights for all. During the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. King led protests against poor housing conditions in Chicago, worker rights in Memphis, and many other injustices across the south. His advocacy actions, along with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, created a seedbed that allowed future environmental justice policies and activities to grow across the nation, and especially in New York State.

DEC serves NYS residents by addressing environmental justice concerns directed by the agency’s Office of Environmental Justice.  Communities of color and low-income communities throughout urban and rural areas in New York State experience more disparities than other neighborhoods. Through fair treatment and meaningful public participation, along with commitments from government and industry, exposures to harmful levels of environmental contaminants can be reduced. Accurate air quality monitoring detects potentially harmful pollutants, and may identify their sources, which can lead to measures that help to ensure healthy air for all, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. We commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King’s social justice achievements through the work DEC continues to do today.

Regulation Spotlight: Putting the Brakes on Heavy-Duty Vehicle Idling

DEC works hard every day to keep our environment clean through many means, including regulations.  One such regulation is Part 217-3, Idling Prohibition for Heavy Duty Vehicles, which helps keep our air clean and reduces pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter by limiting the time large vehicles can operate their engines while parked.  Emissions from vehicles, especially diesel-powered ones, have long been known to cause adverse health effects in humans and animals.  The idling regulations prohibit heavy-duty vehicles, including large trucks and buses, from idling for more than five minutes at a time. Less idling is good for the environment because it reduces air pollution, noise, and fuel use. It also saves money for vehicle operators and consumers alike.

Exceptions to the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Idling Prohibition include:

• Vehicles stuck in traffic
• Idling for maintenance purposes
• Powering an auxiliary function or apparatus, such as a concrete tumbler
• Vehicles involved in an emergency response situation
• Vehicles operating in cold temperatures for more than two hours
• Light-duty vehicles including cars, SUVs and trucks.

Vehicle emissions are known to damage lung tissue and can lead to and trigger respiratory diseases, such as asthma, when inhaled. Pollution from vehicles also contributes to the formation of acid rain and adds to the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

Remember, under New York State regulations, only five consecutive minutes of idling are allowed for heavy-duty vehicles.  Your municipality may have more stringent restrictions.  Let’s put the brakes on needless vehicle idling – your lungs, heart and the environment will thank you for it.

Keeping the Air Clean in 2019

Staying warm during the winter can be tough, not only on the wallet, but also on the environment. Winter home heating increases energy demands on power plants, household boilers, and furnaces, making them work harder and emit more air pollution. Follow these tips to stay warm this winter, while also keeping our air clean:

• Turn the thermostat down: Lower the temperature of your home to 68˚F to save energy. Each degree lower, until about 60˚F, can save you money.
• Heat only the rooms you need: Cover vents in rooms you do not use to channel heat where it’s needed. Make sure the vents in the rooms you use are clean and clear of obstructions.
• Keep the heat in: Add insulation and seal any holes that lead outside, such as plumbing holes, to keep in as much heat as possible.
• Let in the sun: Open the curtains during the day to let the sun’s natural heat warm your home.
• Bundle up: An easy way to stay warm is to put on warmer clothing and add another blanket at night to say comfortable without turning up the heat.
• Maintain your heating system: Air vents may develop holes and leak warmth over time. Make sure they are in optimum condition for the winter.

By using these energy saving tips at home, you are reducing emissions that pollute our air.  Let’s all make a resolution to keep our air clean and easy to breathe in 2019. 

Dates to Remember:

• February 1 to February 28: Black History Month - We honor and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans throughout history. Here is a list of outstanding individuals who show us how important it is to have #OutdoorEquity of the environment: Audrey and Frank Peterman, Will Allen, George Washington Carver, Wangari Maathai, Nikki Silvestri, and Norris McDonald – all extraordinary contributors to a healthy environment.
• February 14: Valentine’s Day- Air pollution can be literally a heart breaker as it increases the risk of developing heart conditions and makes existing heart problems worse.

Stay Informed about Your Air Quality

New York's ozone season runs from April through September. DEC publishes ground-level ozone forecasts during ozone season, and particulate matter pollution forecasts year-round using the Air Quality Index (AQI). DEC sends out an air quality alert when there is a high AQI value, which indicates polluted air. Individuals with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, and people who exercise outdoors should take caution during an air quality alert. Find out if an Air Quality Alert is in effect by calling the toll-free Ozone Hotline: 1-800-535-1345.

The AQI can be accessed in 3 ways:

• check the daily ozone and particulate matter pollution forecast,
• sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts for New York State via email, or
• sign up to receive AQI Alerts from EnviroFlash via email for where you live (outside New York State) and download the Air Now App.

We would like to know what you think. Please send your Air Mail! questions or comments to us at DAR.web@dec.ny.gov.