Washoe one of nine winners nationwide
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is presenting the 2014 Clean Air Excellence Award to the Washoe County Health District's Air Quality Management Division for their innovative work launching the "Keep It Clean" public awareness campaign.
The campaign increases public awareness and engages the citizens of Reno, Sparks and Washoe County, on air quality issues. There are three major community action components to Keep It Clean: Know the Code, a woodburning advisory program; Rack Em Up, an alternative transportation program; and nOzone, a smog prevention program. Each of these encourages emissions reductions and empowers citizens to take positive actions to reduce ozone and particulate matter throughout the year.
"Washoe County's clean air awareness campaign is helping citizens to take simple steps – like bike riding to school and reducing wood burning – that reduce ozone and particulate matter year round," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest
"It's a significant achievement for anyone to receive this award and it's really something for a small County staff of 18 to be recognized," said Washoe County Health District AQMD Director Charlene Albee.
From improving indoor air quality in Tribal communities in the Northwest to installing solar panels in Tennessee, award winners demonstrate a commitment to improving the air that we breathe and addressing climate change. This year's other winners are:
Clean Air Technology
Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility – Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, and Covanta Energy – Dickerson, MD
Community Action
Regional 8-Hour Ozone Flex Planning – Central Texas Clean Air Coalition – Austin, TX
Ducktown 28-Kilowatt Solar Array – City of Ducktown – Ducktown, TN
Education Outreach
Idle Free Louisville – Kentuckiana Air Education – Louisville, KY
Improving Tribal Indoor Air Quality -- Tribal Healthy Homes Northwest – Issaquah, WA
Regulation/Policy Innovations
Seaport Air Quality Program – Port of Seattle – Seattle, WA
Transportation Efficiency Innovations
Clean School Bus NC: Kids Breathe Here – North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Public Instruction – Raleigh, NC
FPL's Clean Fleet and Consumer Education Program – Florida Power & Light Company – Juno, FL
Thomas W. Zosel Outstanding Individual Achievement Award
Richard A. Valentinetti – Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
