Clean Air Matters
by Joan Machlis How important is clean air? Each of us breathes in a lungful of air more than 20,000 times a day. Any pollution in the air will end up in our lungs – and the lungs of our kids. The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) protects air quality for all of us in Thurston, Mason, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Pacific counties by enforcing federal, state and local air quality regulations. And we all have a role to play. Air quality can be negatively impacted by even the smallest, seemingly benign activity. As neighborhoods grow and people move closer to one another, once-common practices (many of which are now illegal) have greater impact on neighborhoods. For instance, ORCAA routinely receives smoke complaints from use of fireplaces and wood stoves. One of the largest sources of air pollution in this region are fires: outdoor burning of yard debris, land clearing materials and – unfortunately trash – as well as indoor use of wood-burning appliances such as woodstoves and fireplaces. To better protect our shared air, outdoor burning is prohibited in Olympia, and burn bans can be called whenever air pollution reaches unhealthy levels. In addition to regulating open burning, ORCAA focuses on making sure businesses and industries adhere to clean air regulations and laws. When working with businesses, the agency seeks the best means possible to ensure businesses can prosper without degrading air quality. ORCAA increasingly works with business and residential communities to reduce energy use. We have a monumental task in keeping the air clean as development, population and traffic increases. ORCAA works toward compliance with clean air requirements. The rest of us can make a real difference by using cars less, and instead use mass transit, carpooling, biking and walking more. Another step is trading your gas mowers in for electric equipment. Last year ORCAA and the City of Olympia sponsored a hugely successful lawn mower exchange with environmentally aware residents. Another big contributor is having properly working certified wood stoves and avoiding using your fireplace during weather inversions. For more information, and to find out what you can do to make a difference, please visit www.orcaa.org. For ideas on what you can do to reduce air pollution as an individual, please see http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/peg/reduce.html Joan Machlis is an Olympia City Council member and the Vice Chair of the Olympia Region Clean Air Agency
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