Try Transit Day!

From CAT and LANTA:

Ride the bus with us on Try Transit Day, November 30, 2007!

Media Conference 10:45 to 11:30 AM at the Allentown Transportation Center

Related events:

Allentown Parking Authority Director, Tamara Weller, riding the new Allentown Circulator Bus from her office to the Allentown Transportation Center arriving 10:45 AM. Also, PENNDOT District 5-0 Press Officer, Ron Young; and Assistant District Design Executive, Gerald Fry will join Weller on this Circulator at the PPL stop, Ninth and Court Streets at 10:35 AM.

Pennsylvania State Representative, Karen Beyer, riding the D Bus from the Allentown Transportation Center at 9:30 AM to South Mall with LANTA Executive Director, Armand Greco, and CAT Director, Steve Schmitt. Returning on the D Bus, arriving at the Allentown Transportation Center at 10:55 AM

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski riding the Allentown Circulator Bus departing the Allentown Transportation Center at 11:30 AM. Allentown School District Superintendent, Dr. Karen Angello; Parking Authority Director Weller; PENNDOT District Press Officer Young and District Design Executive Fry will join the Mayor on this ride.

Media Conference – 2:30 PM Broad & Guetter Bus Terminal in downtown Bethlehem

Related events:

Pennsylvania State Representative Joe Brennan and Bethlehem City Council Member Robert Donchez catch the F Bus at 4th and New Streets in South Bethlehem at 2:30 PM on its way to Broad & Guetter, arriving 2:35 PM.

Bethlehem Mayor John B. Callahan and City Administrator, Dennis Reichard, plus Pennsylvania State Representative, Steve Samuelson and Bethlehem City Council Member-elect, Willie Reynolds, join Brennan and Donchez on the F Bus and travel to the Westgate Mall, returning on the F bus headed back into town, due to arrive at Broad & Guetter at 3:15 PM.

Other celebrities riding specific scheduled buses on Try Transit Day:

PENNDOT District Press Officer Ronald Young and District Assistant Design Executive Gerald Fry will take the #2 shuttle to work, boarding at 7:15 AM at Broadway & 39th Street in Cetronia, riding to the PENNDOT offices at 10th and Hamilton Streets in downtown Allentown.

LANTA Board Member, Paul Marin; Allentown Economic Development Corporation Director, Joyce Marin; and Marin Group Vice President, Elizabeth Garnto riding the 7:25 AM D bus from 5th and Chestnut in Emmaus to the Allentown Transportation Center. Paul Marin and Elizabeth Garnto traveling on using the 7:45 AM A Bus to Broad & Guetter Streets in Bethlehem.

CAT Board Member, Wendy Riedy, catching the G Bus at 7:50 AM at 7th Avenue and Union Boulevard headed towards Broad & Guetter Streets.

LANTA Board Member Fred Williams and his wife Carol, riding the Silverline from the Palmer Park Mall at 10 AM to the Lehigh Valley Mall.

For more information about Try Transit Day see http://www.car-free.org/TTD.htm.

Air Quality Forecast for Wednesday, November 28 and Extended

Wednesday, November 28:

 

Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code GREEN

 

Short-Term Discussion: Currently, partly sunny skies persist across the region as we begin to dry out after about an inch of rain fell on the region over the last day or two. Right now, the winds remain gusty across the region as the cold front, which caused all of the rain over the past couple of days, pushes off to our east. It still remain rather mild, with temperatures hovering near the 50 degree mark. The heavy rain from overnight has really allowed the PM 2.5 concentrations to fall though. In fact, levels are hovering in the good range. We expect this trend to continue tomorrow as a cool and dry air mass remains in place over the region.

 

So for Wednesday, expect the mostly sunny skies to continue as an area of high pressure moves into our west. As a result of this high being to our west, we will see winds remain out of the north and west, keeping temperatures in the mid to upper 40s. In addition, these winds will help keep conditions fairly dry, which, in turn, will keep PM 2.5 levels from climbing out of the good range. By the evening hours, we should see the winds shift out of the south as the high pressure system slides off to our east. At this time, we should also see the cloud cover begin to increase as a cold front pushes into the Midwestern US. Watch for this cold front come Thursday…

 

Extended: Over the next several days, expect to see a much cooler air mass settle into the region, compliments of a cold front passage on Thursday. This cold front will also provide the region with some isolated showers as it swings off to our east. On the backside of this front, a fairly strong area of high pressure building into the Plains will help to keep the wind flow out of the north and the cooler and drier conditions locked in over our area. As the cooler air builds into the region, we will see a storm system develop across the Plains and Midwestern US. This storm system will continue to slide east over the weekend and will effect our region come early next week. Right now, the devils are in the details but it looks to be a battle between the colder air mass over Canada and the ridge of high pressure across the southeastern US that will end up driving this system’s path. Therefore, we can expect anything from rain to snow as this system makes it way through the region. Once this system does pass through, expect some of the coldest air of this year to move into our area. Overall, air quality levels, during this active time, should predominately remain in the good range. The atmosphere will likely remain unstable enough to keep any moderation in the PM 2.5 concentrations at bay across the Lehigh Valley and Reading area.

Thanksgiving Forecast and Extended

The Lehigh Valley/Berks Area Air Quality Forecast for:

Thursday, November 22, 2007: Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code YELLOW Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Friday, November 23, 2007: Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code GREEN

Saturday, November 24, 2007: Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code GREEN

Sunday, November 25, 2007: Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code GREEN

Monday, November 26, 2007: Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code YELLOW

Regional Maximum PM 2.5 Concentrations:

Tuesday, November 20, 2007: PM 2.5 – YELLOW (66 AQI or 22.9 µg/m3)

Short-Term Discussion: Breaks in the clouds are allowing some peaks of sunshine over the forecast area. Temperatures will probably be on the warm end of the forecast range. Clouds and rain extend over the Great Lakes and the mid-section of the country. These will make their way eastward affecting our region on Thanksgiving Day. Much colder air will filter in behind this next system. Fine-particulate concentrations have moved into the upper end of the moderate range and should remain there through tomorrow.

 

Partly cloudy with some areas of fog or haze forming overnight and temperatures falling towards the 50 degree mark. Remaining partly cloudy with increasing winds and a chance of a morning shower as a cold front crosses the region. Temperatures could rise into the 60s before winds switch to the northwest and temperatures begin to fall later in the afternoon. Thursday’s fine-particulate concentrations will fall during the day but remain high enough to stay in the code YELLOW (moderate) range.

 

Partly cloudy, windy and cold overnight with a stray flurry and temperatures falling towards the 30-degree mark. Becoming mostly sunny with diminishing winds on Friday and afternoon temperatures only expected to be near 40 degrees. Friday’s fine-particulate concentrations should fall into the code GREEN (good) range.

 

Mainly clear overnight and very cold with some of the outlying areas seeing temperatures bottom out in the upper teens by dawn. Becoming mostly sunny on Saturday with afternoon temperatures in the mid 40s. Saturday’s fine-particulate levels should remain in the code GREEN (good) range.

 

Clear Sunday night but not quite as cold with temperatures expected to bottom out near 30 degrees. Mostly sunny with some clouds later in the day as southerly winds pick up allowing temperatures to reach the low 50s. Sunday’s fine-particulate levels should rise but remain in the code GREEN (good) range.

 

Mainly clear with some areas of fog developing overnight and temperatures expected to fall just below freezing by dawn. Increasing clouds and winds; rain should develop later in the day with temperatures expected to reach the mid to upper 40s. Southerly winds and increasing humidity levels should push Monday’s fine-particulate concentrations into the code YELLOW (moderate) range.

 

Extended: A rather cold holiday weekend for the most part. Temperatures should begin to moderate a bit by Sunday. A storm system is forecast to form over the Gulf States then swing into the Northeast early next week. Rain should arrive late Monday evening. While cold air is poised behind this system the models suggest most of it will push into eastern Canada rather than spilling into our area. We expect fine-particulate levels to rise into the moderate range early next week before falling back into the good range by the middle of next week.

 

——————————————–

 

Tim Leon Guerrero

 

Meteorologist

 

PA DEP Bureau of Air Quality

American Lung Association’s Faces of Influenza Initiative Kicks Off in New York with Actress Jennifer Garner, Actor Dean Cain and Public Health Officials

Actress Jennifer Garner joined the American Lung Association to officially launch this year’s Faces of Influenza campaign with a free public vaccination clinic and media event in New York City on November 12. American Lung Association President and CEO Bernadette Toomey and Chief Medical Officer, Norman Edelman, MD, also participated in the event, which kicked off the campaign for the 2007-2008 influenza season.

In addition, Garner was joined by numerous health officials and other Faces of Influenza, including: actor and father Dean Cain, Anne Schuchat, MD (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Richard and Alissa Kanowitz (who lost their 4-year-old daughter Amanda to influenza), Tyra Bryant-Stephens, MD (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) and Luis Rodriguez, MD (Mount Sinai Services, Elmhurst Hospital Center).

American Lung Association Chair-elect Steve Nolan joined Bernadette Toomey, Dr. Edelman, Dean Cain and David Lynch (New York State Department of Health) in getting their flu shots at the event, along with nearly 800 others.

Several media outlets attended/covered the event, including:

• Reuters
• Getty Images
• People Magazine
• Baby Talk Magazine
• Big Apple Parent
• Women’s Day Online
• FOX and Friends (National morning show)
• Mike and Juliet (National morning show)
• WNBC-TV (New York City NBC station)
• WCBS-TV (New York City CBS station)
• CW-11 TV Morning News (New York City morning news program)
• NY1-TV (Local New York City cable news network)
• 1010 WINS (Popular New York City news station with high commuter listenership)
• Medizine’s Healthy Living
• Health News Digest.com
• HealthDay.com

Dr. Edelman and Jennifer Garner also conducted a media tour with 25 TV and radio stations across the country on November 13, including interviews in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami and many other markets. Additionally, Dr. Rodriguez participated in a media tour with numerous broadcast outlets targeting Hispanic Americans with important information on influenza prevention. Dr. Rodriguez did more than 15 interviews in Spanish, with many top markets, including New York, Chicago, Sacramento and others. The Faces of Influenza program is designed to help Americans put a “face” on this serious disease and recognize annual influenza immunization as an important preventive measure to protect themselves and their families.

To find out if you are among the “faces of influenza” and learn more about how to protect you and your loved ones, visit www.facesofinfluenza.org. The site also provides access to the Lung Association’s Flu Clinic Locator, which allows visitors to type in their 5-digit zip code to receive a list of immunization clinics in their area.

The American Lung Association’s Faces of Influenza educational initiative is made possible through a collaboration with sanofi pasteur.

PM2.5 Forecast for Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Tuesday, November 20, 2007:

Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code YELLOW

Short-Term Discussion: We had some significant snowfall in places though most areas only had the heavy slushy variety since overnight temperatures remained above freezing. Temperatures should increase over the next several days though things may be a bit wet for the time being.

Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers tonight; temperatures should remain steady in the mid 30s overnight. Remaining cloudy Tuesday with intermittent showers and temperatures slowly rising to near 50 degrees. Tuesday’s fine-particulate concentrations should creep into the lower code YELLOW (moderate) range.

Extended: A wet week is in store for us as a series of weak disturbances pass through the Northeast. Temperatures will begin to increase with the possibility of high temperatures in the low 60s on Thanksgiving Day. A more organized storm system will cross the Midwest later in the week bringing the chance for additional rain on Thursday or Friday. We expect fine-particulate concentrations to rise into the moderate range over the next several days before falling back into the good range over the weekend.

EPA: New Tools Make Understanding Air Quality Easier Than Ever

(Washington, D.C. – November 19, 2007) Ever used your computer to “fly” through the mountains, or zoom in on a satellite picture of your house? Now you can use the same technology to learn more about emissions and air quality across the country and where you live.

 

EPA has developed two tools that let computer users “see” air quality information on a virtual globe. Both tools are available to the public starting today

 

“Google has changed the way people use the Internet. By combining their innovative mapping tools with our air data, EPA and Google are changing the way people use the Internet to protect their health,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

The first tool is part of the new “Air Emission Sources” Web site, which is designed to make emissions data for six common pollutants easy to find and understand. Based on the latest National Emissions Inventory, the site uses charts and Google Earth files to answer a user’s questions. Users can look at overall emissions, emissions by type of industry, or emissions by largest polluter.

Want to know what industry emits the most sulfur dioxide in your state? Select your state from a map, pick a pollutant, and the site creates a chart showing you emissions by industry. Want to “see” which refineries in your state emit the most sulfur dioxide? Use the “tilt” feature in Google Earth to quickly find the largest emitter. Then click on the balloon to get more details about emissions from that facility.

 

EPA also is providing Air Quality Index (AQI) information in the Google Earth format. Use the AQI tool to quickly see air quality across the country, then click on a specific location to see that city’s AQI forecast and current levels of ozone or particle pollution.

 

The AQI is EPA’s color-coded tool to inform the public about daily air pollution levels in their communities. EPA, in collaboration with state and local governments, provides AQI forecasts and conditions for more than 300 cities across the United States.

 

On the web:

• Go to the Air Emissions Sources Web site: www.epa.gov/air/emissions

• View information in Google Earth format about which facilities emit any of six common pollutants: http://www.epa.gov/air/emissions/where.htm

• See AQI forecasts and current conditions: www.airnow.gov
  View air quality information in Google Earth format: http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=google_earth.main
  EPA is also using the Google Earth platform to display Acid Rain Program data: http://epa.gov/airmarkets/progress/interactivemapping.html

DiLazaro Honored With R. Emmet Doherty Clean Air Award

Shown at the R. Emmet Doherty Award Presentation ceremony are, from the left: Mike Bedrin, DEP Northeast Regional Director; Tom DiLazaro, R. Emmet Doherty Award recipient; Shirley Lentz of the Women’s Club of Allentown; and Keith Williams, chairman of the Lehigh Valley/Berks County Air Quality Partnership.

DiLazaro Honored With R. Emmet Doherty Clean Air Award

ALLENTOWN (Nov. 16) — The LehighValley/Berks County Air Quality Partnership, the American Lung Association of Pennsylvania and Woman’s Club of Allentown presented the 37th Annual R. Emmet Doherty Clean Air Award to Thomas DiLazaro, former DEP Air Quality program manager, during a ceremony yesterday at Cedar Crest College in Allentown.

“Tom has long been committed to improving air quality in the Lehigh Valley and promoting the efforts of the Air Quality Partnership to educate residents about how they can reduce air pollution,” said Keith Williams, chairperson of the Lehigh Valley/Berks County Air Quality Partnership. “His many years of service to the Commonwealth, his dedication to enforcing Pennsylvania’s air quality laws and regulations and his enthusiastic support of the Air Quality Partnership of Lehigh Valley/Berks County make him a very worthy recipient of this year’s R. Emmet Doherty Clean Air Award.”

The Clean Air Award recognizes the efforts of a local business, organization or individual for improving air quality in the greater Lehigh Valley region. First presented in 1970, the award is named in honor of R. Emmet Doherty, a former director of the Lehigh Valley Pollution Control District who monitored air quality and championed air pollution reduction during his 19 years of service.

Tom DiLazaro retired from DEP in June 2007 after 34 years of service. DiLazaro worked in several different capacities in the DER/DEP Air Quality Program, including as an Air Pollution Control Engineer. He was appointed Air Quality Program Manager in May 1993 and also served as the supervisor of DEP’s Bethlehem District Office. He earned his Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Engineering from Penn State. DiLazaro is married with two children and resides in Nazareth.

DiLazaro worked with the Lehigh Valley/Berks County Air Quality Partnership to develop and continue the Ride Free on Ozone Action Days in conjunction with the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA). DEP, the partnership and LANTA sponsor Ride Free program, which has been operating since 2001. Bus rides on LANTA’s Lehigh and Northampton County routes are free when DEP Air Quality meteorologists forecast an Ozone Action Day. In 2002, LANTA realized a 54 percent increase in its number of riders, as well as a significant reduction in ozone-producing automobile traffic.

He also worked with Partnership chairperson Keith Williams (recipient of the 2006 R. Emmet Doherty Award) on other air quality educational and promotional events such as developing nightly ozone and particulate announcements on WFMZ-TV weather broadcasts, Ozone Free BBQs with WFMZ-TV, Air Quality Nights at Reading Phillies games and a gas-can exchange program that provided over 600 free, low-vapor containers and allowed residents to turn in their old gasoline containers.

The Lehigh Valley/Berks County Air Quality Partnership is a coalition of individuals, businesses, governments and community groups that educates the public about the dangers of ground-level ozone and particulate matter, and encourages people to take voluntary actions to reduce their contributions to air pollution.

The partnership, in conjunction with WFMZ-TV, disseminates information about “Ozone Action Days,” or days when the air is expected to be unhealthy to breathe. Using DEP meteorological data, the partnership informs people about the predicted ozone levels and any precautions that need to be taken. In addition, the partnership and DEP are disseminating daily forecasts on air pollution caused by particulate matter, commonly called PM 2.5.

Ground-level ozone, a key component of smog, is formed when pollution from vehicles, industry, consumer products and power plants “bakes” in the hot, summer sun, making it difficult for some people to breathe. Particulate matter, which is airborne dust or small soot particles, can also cause health problems for children or the elderly with respiratory problems, as well as the general population.

For additional information on air quality issues, visit the department’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us keyword: Air Quality, or go directly to the partnership’s homepage at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/aq_apps/aqpartners/default.asp. The partnership has also developed a new blog for detailed activities and links to other air quality related sites at http://lvbaq.wordpress.com.

Air Quality Tip of the Week

DEP Seeks Comments on PM2.5 Designation Registration

HARRISBURG (Nov. 16) — The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking public comment on its proposed recommendations to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the designation of areas not meeting the revised 24-hour fine particulate (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).

DEP will be holding three public meetings on the following dates:

 

• 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 26 at DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg;
• 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27 at DEP’s Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr., Pittsburgh; and
• 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28 at DEP’s Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main St., Norristown.

EPA established a revised NAAQS for PM2.5 in October 2006. States are given the opportunity to make recommendations for designation of areas that do and do not meet the standard. EPA is expected to make final designations for attainment and nonattainment areas in December 2009. After the designations are finalized, DEP will have three years to develop a plan for the nonattainment areas to meet the revised 24-hour PM2.5 standard.

Written comments on the recommendations should be sent to Tim Leon-Guerrero, Air Resource Management Division, Bureau of Air Quality, P.O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468 or by e-mail to tleonguerr@state.pa.us no later than 4 p.m., Dec. 7. Written comments (including e-mail submittals) must include the name, affiliation (if any), mailing address, and telephone number of the person submitting comments.

For more information, contact the Bureau of Air Quality at 717-787-9495 or visit the DEP Web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Air Quality.”

Try Transit Day!

Air Quality Partners LANTA and CAT present:

As shared at the Partnership’s annual luncheon, mass transit is an important, practical step you can to help reduce ground level ozone and emissions in our area. Try Transit Day is designed to help new riders explore responsible transportation in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Check out the LANTA and CAT websites for more information.