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Partnering for Cleaner Air Annual Air Quality Conference reaches out to more than 400 business and community leaders in Maricopa County

October 22, 2009



PHOENIX (Oct. 22, 2009) – On Oct. 20, the Maricopa County Air Quality Department hosted the Partnering for Cleaner Air Annual Air Quality Conference at the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center. With more than 400 business and community leaders in attendance the one-day conference featured numerous panel discussions that informed participants about the steps that must be taken to educate citizens, businesses and government entities about individual responsibility to clean the air.

 

“The Partnering for Clean Air Conference is the first in many steps needed to clean the air in Maricopa County,” said Lawrence Odle, director of the Maricopa County Air Quality Department. “Each and every person has individual responsibility to improve air quality and unless we educate our citizens and community leaders about what processes need to be followed, we take the risk of losing crucial federal funding for the state, and that is not an option.”

 

In addition to intriguing roundtable discussions, the launch of the county’s Clean Air Make More Clean Air Champion campaign, and interactive real-time surveys between each discussion—Denis Hayes, National Coordinator of the first Earth Day and a Clean Air Champion in his own right, delivered during the luncheon an inspirational and moving keynote speech about environmental sustainability and the future of air quality.

 

“Although we have all come here on different boats, we are on the same boat together,” said Hayes. “With that privilege comes one basic responsibility, to do the right thing. We all need to take the time to step back for a moment and think. Think about the beauty of the magnificent landscape you see when the air is clean; think about how you would explain whatever decision you make about the environment to your 10 year-old granddaughter, then whatever that explanation is, act on it.”

 

The conference featured a day filled with intriguing discussions focused on sustainability, public health, regulatory function and perspectives by the business community.  Conference panelists included Bob England, M.D., MPH; Director, Maricopa County Department of Public Health; Benjamin Grumbles, Director, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Allan M. Wachter, MD, Chairman of the Maricopa Asthma Coalition; Deborah Jordan, Director, Air Division, U.S. EPA Region 9; and a discussion with elected officials from all levels state government including The Honorable John Huppenthal, Arizona State Senate; The Honorable Ray Barnes, Arizona House of Representatives; Don Stapley, Supervisor, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 2; and The Honorable Hugh Hallman, Mayor of Tempe.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize clean air is health care,” said Benjamin Grumbles, director for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. “All of us have a responsibility to strive for cleaner air in one of the most beautiful places in the country, but also one of the most challenged.”

 

During the elected officials’ panel, County Supervisor Don Stapley said, “Air quality today is more complex than it’s ever been.  We have to educate the consumers so they understand that they are part of the environmental problems we face today. The future will come in how we do business:  LEED certified buildings, greening our fleets, implementation of solar energy among many other ways to create a sustainable future for Maricopa County citizens.”

 

“There clearly are things that are human caused that add to the air quality problem,” said Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman. “Cities specifically can do a better job. We need to gather our resources and work together to obtain the MAG 5% plan.”

 

The overlying theme of the conference—Partnering for Cleaner Air—does not only pertain to businesses and government entities, but includes all Maricopa County citizens.  The Air Quality Department maximized this opportunity to unveil its Clean Air Make More Clean Air Champion campaign to conference attendees. The campaign focuses on the little things that citizens do each and every day to reduce air pollution and highlights them as Clean Air Champions.

 

The Clean Air Champions include Nate Freeman who is a construction dust supervisor and makes sure that his job sites are in compliance with all Maricopa County dust regulations; Terry Solis, a Trip Coordinator for her company, encourages employees to carpool and use alternate modes of transportation; Tiffany Sprague is a resident who keeps her home as environmentally friendly as possible. She uses compact fluorescent light bulbs, recycles regularly, has low maintenance landscaping, and is even installing solar panels on her home.

 

These are a small sample of Clean Air Champions in Maricopa County. The Clean Air Champion campaign will continue to recognize individuals who are taking small actions to clean the air we all breathe and help reduce air pollution.

 

During the conference general session, attendees participated in an interactive survey created by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy that garnered significant results. Highlights of the survey showed that 34 percent of conference attendees said they are very concerned about air pollution in Maricopa County; while 82 percent of attendees believe that their own behavior can have a positive impact on air quality.

 

The Partnering for Cleaner Air Annual Air Quality Conference was hugely successful in bringing together attendees to learn about what they each need to do the change the air quality in Maricopa County. With only a small effort, a huge change can take place making it a healthier place for everyone.

 

To view presentations from the conference visit www.AnnualAirQualityConference.com. For more information about the Maricopa County Air Quality Department or to nominate yourself or another as a Clean Air Champion, visit www.CleanAirMakeMore.com/champions.

 

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 achieved 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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