Clean Air Partners Celebrates End of 2002 Ozone Season

In early November, when most people were thinking about raking leaves and getting their winter clothes ready to wear, members and friends of Clean Air Partners gathered for the Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony.

CAP Chair Sharon Bulova, Managing Director Heidi Adams and Sheila Lewin of Pathways Communications presented an overview of the 2002 campaign, which coordinated public relations, paid media, theater slides and a website to deliver key messages. The Managing Director also sought to broaden the membership base, and create avenues for a grass roots effort to educate children and those involved in elder care.

CAP conducted four surveys during high ozone episodes, and also implemented an employer-based attitude and awareness survey during the summer months. The survey was developed to capture a snapshot of public awareness and understanding of ground-level ozone and the voluntary actions that can be taken on Ozone Action Days.

The 2003 work program will build on work to date, with six focus areas: Ozone Action Days; marketing and public relations; public education; measurement systems; membership services; and administration and leadership. The cost of the FY 2003 work program is $678,103. Grants from government agencies provide $442,000. Membership dues account for $15,000. Project sponsorships and grants are budgeted to cover the cost of paid media, public education and outreach. The budget reflects a $38,000 reduction in administrative costs, with those funds being earmarked for education.

The last item of business before lunch was the election of officers. Baltimore City Councilwoman Catherine Pugh was elected Chair for 2003, succeeding Fairfax County (VA) Supervisor Sharon Bulova.

BMC Executive Director Paul Farragut gave a presentation documenting the considerable progress that’s been made in reducing air pollution through cleaner fuels, more fuel-efficient vehicles and vehicle emissions inspections programs. He noted that the summer of 2002 was very similar to the summer of 1988. In 1988, the region suffered 38 ozone exceedance days, while in 2002 we experienced 17 exceedance days.

One of the highlights of the meeting was a video produced by Fox 45’s Lori Pinson. Lori conducted man-on-the-street interviews around the Inner Harbor during the first week in November. She asked people to explain ground-level ozone, and then if they were familiar with Code Red days, and knew what to do. Her informal survey showed that nobody really understood ground-level ozone. However, everyone had heard of a Code Red day, most related Code Red days to health, and many of the people were able to name one or more actions that they could take to reduce ozone pollution.

The 2002 Award Winners were:

Outstanding Ozone Action Days Program

Outstanding Government Ozone Action Days Program

The Clean Air Trendsetter Award was new in 2002, and recognizes a project that promotes clean air in innovative ways. The old Montgomery Ward building on Monroe Street in Baltimore was redeveloped using flooring, carpeting and cubicle materials that are mostly recycled and produce very low emissions. The building also features a "green" roof, which captures and recycles storm water.

Clean Air Partners is a volunteer, nonprofit organization. CAP grew out of ENDZONE Partners, which began as an informal organization in 1995 and was chartered by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) in 1997. BMC continues to coordinate the region’s Ozone Action Days program in conjunction with the Maryland Department of the Environment, and provides other staff support to CAP.

Posted: 01/23/2003