State Health Department to Continue Ozone Forecasting Through Labor Day Weekend
August 30, 2007—Denver—The Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment will continue to forecast
ground-level ozone conditions through at least the Labor Day
weekend, department officials confirmed. The
ozone-forecasting season begins June 1 and traditionally
concludes the last day of August. However, predicted
meteorological conditions conducive to increased
ground-level ozone concentrations have prompted the
department to extend the forecasting season. "Since our
meteorologists began ozone forecasting in 1999, we've
reserved the option to continue forecasting into September
to keep residents informed and to protect public health,"
said Paul Tourangeau, director of the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment's Air Pollution Control
Division. The department has extended forecasting into
September on four other occasions since 1999 because of
meteorological conditions that influenced ozone
concentrations. Ozone Action Alerts will be issued as
needed at least through Monday, Sept. 3. Residents can
conveniently access the latest alert and other air quality
information via the Web at either
http://coloradoairquality.info or
http://ozoneaware.org.
Residents also may call 303-782-0211 and 303-758-4848 for
recorded alert and air quality information. Tourangeau
said, "Labor Day weekend usually is marked by a lot of
family and community events, many of which are out-of-doors.
We want to do everything we can to provide people with
information that will help them make sound decisions
regarding their daily activities." The Regional Air
Quality Council also will continue to inform media directly
when alerts are issued. Thus far in 2007, 44 Ozone Action
Alerts have been issued since June 1. This season, one or
more Denver-metropolitan area and North Front Range monitors
have recorded ground-level ozone concentrations at or above
the federal health-based standard on nine separate days.
Department-maintained monitors sample the air year round.
Real-time monitoring data is updated hourly on the
department's Web site and available to all.
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