This Month's Topics:

Public & Stakeholder Participation Information

• Get There Green! 2023
• It’s a plant! It’s a moss! No, it’s lichen!
• Recognition of Sustainability
• International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
• Dates to Remember
• AQI Alerts for Respiratory Health
• Connect with Us at Air Mail!

Public & Stakeholder Participation Information:

• Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act – The Bond Act provides funding for projects that will provide clean water, help New Yorkers adapt to climate change, and create new green jobs. The submission deadline for the Bond Act Project Ideas Survey has been extended through September 30, 2023.
• Ongoing Public Engagement: New York Cap-and-Invest Program under the Climate Act – DEC and NYSERDA are seeking feedback on a series of questions on the three regulations being developed for the Cap-and-Invest Program: Cap-and-Invest Rule, Mandatory Reporting Rule, and the Auction Rule, as well as the methods for the analysis underpinning the program. While we have encouraged comments by July 1, 2023, to inform the next phase of the process, comments will continue to be accepted and your feedback is important to us. Check the Cap-and-Invest website for the latest information on upcoming meetings, recordings of past meetings, and the status of the process.
• Ongoing Public Engagement: Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative Meetings – DEC is undertaking a statewide community-based air quality monitoring effort focusing on ten disadvantaged communities with high air pollution burdens around the state. Check the 2022-23 Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative webpage for the latest information on upcoming community meetings, recordings of past meetings, and the status of each location's air monitoring efforts.
• Effective September 4, 2023: 218 ACC II: The adoption of this rulemaking will incorporate the State of California's Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation.
• Effective September 4, 2023: 218 HD Omnibus: The adoption of this rulemaking will incorporate the State of California's Heavy-Duty Omnibus Low NOx (oxides of nitrogen) regulation ("HD Omnibus") and Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas ("Phase 2 GHG") Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty vehicles.
• Various NYS projects in the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB).

Air Mail! is 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.

Get There Green! 2023

Get There Green! (#GTG23) is a week to promote and celebrate more sustainable modes of transportation. This year, it is taking place September 17 through 24 and coincides with Climate Week NYC. During this week, everyone is encouraged to join in a week of climate action by using more sustainable modes of transportation for as many trips as they can. These include:

• Walking;
• Biking;
• Taking public transit;
• Carpooling;
• Driving an electric vehicle; or
• Anything else that isn’t driving alone in a fossil fuel vehicle.

Read more about how to Get There Green! on the DEC website. Also in September, remember to visit our Living the Green Life webpage as we will be featuring more about how to Get There Green!

It’s a plant! It’s a moss! No, it’s lichen!

While hiking in the woods, you may have noticed lichen on trees and rocks before. Often mistaken as a plant or moss, lichen is a complex symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae. Lichen receives its nutrients from photosynthesis, relying on the atmosphere to survive. They cannot filter what they absorb because they lack roots and protective surfaces. While the algae provides food in the form of sugar from photosynthesis, the fungi provide structure and protection. Lichen is found across the globe, even in some of the most inhabitable locations, including extreme cold and dry conditions. However, dirty air is one condition many types of lichen cannot survive in.

Since different species have different tolerance levels, the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service use lichen as a biomonitor to assess air quality. Sensitive lichen can develop structural changes when exposed to air pollution, including reduced photosynthesis, bleaching, and death. As sensitive lichens die, they may be replaced with more resistant species.

Lichen provides many benefits to the environment. As a keystone species, they provide food sources for many animals, such as the endangered spotted owl and northern flying squirrels, supply nesting material, prevent erosion, and clean our air. Lichen also traps particulate matter and absorbs small amounts of certain pollutants such as sulfur, mercury, and nitrogen, and allows algae to survive in adverse conditions and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis.

Polluted air can significantly decrease lichen biodiversity. However, once the air becomes clean again, sensitive lichen species may return. Since the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, we are seeing continuous improvement in air quality in NYS and across the country. The cleaner air in NYS has enabled a lichen species called Usnea (Parmeliaceae) to return to NYC after nearly 200 years of absence. By working to keep our air clean, we can create an environment where lichen can thrive, help all of earth's inhabitants to breathe easier, and enjoy more diverse habitats in our future hikes in the woods.

Photo Captions: Lichens grow on many things including trees and rocks. They also clean our air by trapping pollution particles as they grow.   

Recognition of Sustainability

In 2022, DEC launched the Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative. The initiative collects air pollution data in ten disadvantaged communities to help identify sources contributing to disproportionate burdens and develop strategies to reduce air pollution within these communities. DEC works alongside two companies for this project, Aclima and Google Cloud. The ongoing initiative uses Aclima’s mobile monitoring fleet and Google Cloud’s tool BigQuery to collect billions of air quality and greenhouse gas measurements. DEC will be using the results of this initiative to recommend strategies for reducing emissions of toxic air contaminants, criteria air pollutants, and greenhouse gases in these communities.

In recognition of the work put into this project, DEC has received the Google Cloud Customer Sustainability Award. The Google Cloud Customer awards were given to eight governmental and educational organizations across the country who are setting new standards for creating meaningful change and leaving positive impacts within their communities. DEC is proud of the recognition of the work put into creating a greener and cleaner environment for all its residents and looks forward to continuing this project.

International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

Take a step outside and look up. On an average day, you’ll see a vast blue sky. Air pollution can visibly affect our view of the sky, losing its blue to be replaced with haze. All around the globe, we share the sky and the air within it and it’s our responsibility to keep it clean.

September 7 marked the annual International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. Officially recognized in 2019, this day aims to build a global community of countries and people to tackle air pollution. On each level, changes can be made. Governments can invest in cleaner energy sources. The private sectors can track and reduce the air pollutants from their factory and supply chains or switch to recycled or recyclable materials in products and packaging. As individuals, we can work to conserve our energy while supporting businesses or elected officials to make the same changes.

This day reminds us that clean air is something we can all contribute to, whether on a multi-national level or an individual. Be a part of the effort to keep our air clean so we can all enjoy blue skies and clean air.

Helpful Links:

• DECinfo Locator – An interactive map that lets you access DEC documents and public data about the environmental quality of specific sites in NYS as well as outdoor recreation information.
• DEC Delivers – Stay in-the-know by subscribing to the environmental topics that interest you. We will send you information, updates, and e-newsletters on the topics of your choosing. As an Air Mail! subscriber, you may be interested in subscribing to the Air Quality Alert topic so you know when air quality levels are a concern in your area.
• AQI Forecasts – Check the daily ozone and particulate matter pollution forecast for your area of NYS.
• NYSDEC YouTube – Keep up with what's going on with DEC staff by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Watch video clips of DEC public protection in action, learn about the Hudson River, or watch the latest episode of "On the Front Lines," DEC's video series.
• Conservationist – NYS’ premiere outdoor magazine--bringing nature to your door! Published six times a year, Conservationist is a NYS-focused magazine that is packed with informative and entertaining articles, first-rate photography, and stunning artwork. Articles cover a broad range of environmental and natural history related topics. Subscribe today to get a piece of the outdoors in your mailbox.

Dates to Remember:

• September - October: Fall Foliage Report – Before you head out on your leaf-peeping adventure, check out the fall color report from I Love New York. The Adirondack and Catskill mountains are breathtaking this time of year. Remember to be safe and respectful when hitting the trails.
• September 17-24: Get There Green! – DEC’s annual campaign encourages New Yorkers to use sustainable transportation for one week to battle greenhouse gas emissions and show what living a greener life can look like. More sustainable forms of transportation include walking, biking, public transport, carpooling or driving an electric vehicle.
• September 17-24: Climate Week NYC – Hosted in conjunction with the United Nations, Climate Week NYC will explore how to fulfill the commitments made by businesses, governments, and organizations in the pursuit of a net-zero future.
• September 22: World Car-Free Day – Transportation contributes to 28% of NYS’ greenhouse gas emissions. You can lower the number of emissions released by choosing to walk, bike, or even take the bus.
• September 28: Arbor Day – Trees help improve air quality. They provide cooling, reduce particulate matter, and provide fresh air to breath. In addition to clean air, trees also create happiness.
• September 30: Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol Signing – The Montreal Protocol regulated the use of fluorocarbons, which deplete the ozone layer, but we still need to be mindful of how we dispose of refrigerated household appliances.
• October 4: World Animal Day – Clean air is important for all of earth’s creatures.
• October 16: World Food Day – Purchasing locally grown food reduces fossil fuel emissions from cross-country transportation, improving air quality for everyone.
• October 18: Federal Clean Water Act was enacted this day in 1972 – By conserving electricity, you can help reduce the effects of acid rain on our waterways.
• October 31: Halloween – Consider keeping your trick-or-treating local by walking house to house or to outdoor fall celebrations. It will help keep our air clean.

Stay Informed about Your Air Quality

NYS' ozone season runs from April through September. DEC publishes ground-level ozone forecasts during ozone season and particulate matter pollution forecasts year-round using a scale called 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 three ways:

• Check the daily ozone and particulate matter pollution forecast.
• Find an Air Quality Monitor near you.
• Sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts for NYS via email.

Connect with us at Air Mail!

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