State Health Department to Continue Ozone Forecasting
Through Labor
Day Weekend
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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State of Colorado,
Department
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