February 15, 2008

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors announced today its clean air campaign titled Running Out of Air. The campaign will educate and encourage all Maricopa County residents to visit the Web site, www.RunningOutofAir.com, take action and Make the Clean Air Commitment to clean the air we all breathe.

"Maricopa County faces a crisis with air pollution and without the support of our residents we take the risk of running out of clean air," said Andrew Kunasek, chairman, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors; District 3. "Our air is polluted, and we need the help of all Maricopa County residents to make the air healthier to breathe. We are asking that everyone in the county make the commitment to learn what they can do, take action, and make it a healthier place for all of us."

Unhealthy air affects us all and unless everyone in Maricopa County takes initiative to clean the air we breathe, it will only get worse. Consider these statistics:

*In 2005 the average hospital stay for Arizona residents with asthma was 3.2 days; *In 2005 the number of Arizona residents having respiratory operations was 19,655. Another staggering statistic shows that the **percentage of Valley residents who still drive to work alone and don't carpool is 91 percent. These numbers only prove how critical it is that everyone in Maricopa County takes action to solve this crisis.

The campaign will serve as a platform to educate the public about how they can make a measureable difference in the air quality by changing simple everyday activities. By visiting the Web site, www.RunningOutofAir.com, visitors can make the Clean Air Commitment, urge family, friends and businesses to do the same, and take responsibility for the air they breathe to improve quality of life for all of us.

The RunningOutofAir.com Web site urges residents to change habits to improve the Valley's air quality by doing simple things everyday:

Use a rake or a broom rather than a leaf blower; Consolidate errands to cut down on multiple trips in your car; Don't use wood-burning fireplaces, especially on High Pollution Advisory days; Conserve electricity. RunningOutofAir.com will create a social network of Maricopa County residents who have committed to take action to help reduce their efforts on air quality. With these simple suggestions being applied by everyone, Maricopa County will meet their goal of reducing dust particulates by five percent each year for the next three years, as outlined in the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) five percent plan. Created by MAG along with Maricopa County and state and regulatory agencies, the plan requires Maricopa County to reduce dust pollution for the benefit of everyone.

"We need the help of everyone to fulfill the requirements in the five percent plan," added Kunasek. "It is the responsibilty of all citizens in Maricopa County to help reduce dust pollution; we can't do this alone."

The Phoenix Suns have stepped up as the first organization to partner with this county-wide initiative. To show their commitment to cleaning up Maricopa County's air, they are offering RunningOutOfAir.com and Phoenix Suns Web site visitors who make the Clean Air Commitment a chance to win a 2008 Toyota Prius, a fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle. The Prius will be given away during halftime at the Phoenix Suns vs. Houston Rockets game on Saturday, March 22, 2008.

There are many things everyone in Maricopa County can do to help; visit www.RunningOutofAir.com to Make the Clean Air Commitment, take action and clean the air we all breathe.

*Source: Arizona Department of Health Services

**Source: 2004 Transportation Demand Management Executive Summary for Valley Metro

About Maricopa County Air Quality Department

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department is a regulatory agency whose goal is to ensure federal clean air standards are acheived and maintained for the residents and visitors of Maricopa County. The department is governed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and follows air quality standards set forth by the federal Clean Air Act.

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Tuff Turf of Phoenix editors comment...

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