Clean Air Initiative Unveiled

Gov. Napolitano & State Senator Carolyn Allen unveiled a joint effort to address air quality issues in Arizona and pass comprehensive air quality legislation. Senator Allen’s Senate Bill 1552 (SB1552) is a starting point for this discussion & includes measure to:

· Expand the use of clean-burning, low-emissions fuels in our fastest-growing areas
· Restrict the use of leaf blowers on days when a High Pollution Advisory has been issued
· Require commercial trucks to cover & secure their loads to prevent particulates from escaping the vehicle & create more pollution

The new measure builds upon the groundwork begun by Gov. Napolitano in 2 executive orders, including Executive Order 2007-3, Improving Air Quality, & Executive Order 2006-13, Climate Change Action.

“Every Arizonan resident deserves to have healthy air to breathe,” Gov. Napolitano said. “Children & senior are the most vulnerable. The quality of our air is a challenge that comes with our unprecedented growth, but it is not an obstacle that cannot be overcome.”

Arizona is under 2 tight federal deadlines to show actions taken to reduce emissions of particulate pollution & meet the new, national ozone standard by the end of 2008 & for 10 years afterward. If the state does not take action now to improve air quality, the federal government could impose severe restrictions on Arizona & could, in the worst case, withhold federal highway dollars.

Poor air quality causes significant health problems for our residents. In 2005, Arizonans spent 23,000 patient days (more than 60 years) in the hospital for asthma. Air pollution has a debilitating effect on asthma sufferers, compounding the condition & making breathing extremely difficult. Heightened & more frequent asthma attacks triggered by air pollution are the #1 cause of school absenteeism among children in Arizona with more than 2,500 children under the age of 15 hospitalized for asthma during 2005.

Gov. Napolitano & Senator Allen called upon community members, business leaders & all interested parties to debate this important issue constructively so that a strong, comprehensive air quality bill can be crafted to improve air quality for all Arizonans.

Joining the Governor & Senator Allen in the call for a comprehensive clean air plan were:

· Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
· Sonoran Institute
· Salt River Project
· Sierra Club
· Arizona Public Health Association
· American Lung Association of Arizona
· Arizona Asthma Coalition
· St Josephs Hospital & Catholic Healthcare West
· Gila River Indian Community
· Ak Chin Indian Community
· Maricopa County
· Pima County
· Pinal County
· Maricopa Association of Governments
· Arizona State University - School of Nursing
· Arizona Department of Health Services