Press Release

CLEAN AIR PARTNERSHIP KICKS-OFF ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

Area residents and businesses reminded they have more reasons than ever
to care about clean air at home, at work and on the road

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. LOUIS, MO - May 22, 2006...Lingering memories of last summer’s unrelenting heat and persistent poor air quality, combined with gas prices that have settled at near record highs are providing compelling reasons for area residents and businesses to heed the call of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership (The Partnership): to take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to orange and red level air quality days so we can all breathe easier. Following several weeks of outreach to get local employers, school districts and other organizations engaged in the regional clean air efforts, The Partnership today gathered more than a dozen exhibitors together at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis to take their message to the streets so individuals across the region could learn how they, too, can show they care about clean air.

A relentless weather pattern of heat, haze and humidity resulted in a summer plagued by poor air quality conditions last year, so The Partnership is calling on all area residents and businesses to do what they can to reduce emissions in an effort to help prevent a repeat this summer.

“Driving a car is typically an individual’s most polluting activity, so we continue to urge people to consider alternative modes such as carpooling and transit, and it helps when people remember that the money we spend on gas and maintenance can be one of our most significant expenses,” note Susannah Fuchs of the American Lung Association of Missouri, which is one of the founding members of The Partnership. “Considering today’s gas prices, area commuters have a greater incentive than ever to take simple steps to reduce their automobile use, and the subsequent reductions in emissions can only help in our ongoing push for clean air.”

During the summer of 2005, the St. Louis region experienced 23 “orange” days considered unhealthy for sensitive groups and two unhealthy or “red” air quality days, compared to zero orange or red days the prior year. Fuchs adds, “The contrast in our air quality between 2004 and 2005 reinforces the fact that we can’t let our guard down when it comes to our air quality. While we can’t control the weather, we must continue to work together to reduce emissions – the contributing factor to ozone pollution over which we do have some control.”

Clean Air Partnership Kicks off 2006 Campaign

Another key message from The Partnership this year focuses on the role that trip planning can play in reducing emissions, and encourages area commuters to take advantage of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Gateway Guide program (www.gatewayguide.com). Designed to keep traffic flowing in the region, the website provides commuters with real-time traffic information that they can use to better plan their route to avoid traffic tie-ups and highway construction zones and the related unnecessary idling which results in the release of increased emissions into the air.

As with last year, The Partnership also is reminding area residents that the actions they take on the road are only part of the solution; there are a variety of additional steps they can take at home and at work to improve air quality in the St. Louis region. From reducing their energy use by lowering the thermostat or choosing energy efficient appliances, to the types of plants they grow and the ways they maintain their gardens, there are a variety of simple steps individuals can take at home to reduce emissions. The Partnership also reinforces that even something as simple as brown bagging lunch or walking to a nearby restaurant are ways people can show they care about clean air while at work. Employees can also make a huge difference at work by encouraging their employers to establish ridesharing programs so that they and their co-workers have access to information about carpooling or vanpooling with RideFinders, or taking advantage of public transit alternatives offered by Metro and Madison County Transit. Information on these and dozens of other tips can be found on The Partnership’s website at www.cleanair-stlouis.com.

To spread its clean air message, The Partnership continues to build bonds with a variety of strategic partners and is actively encouraging individuals, businesses, organizations and schools to take part in voluntary ozone reduction activities. RideFinders, a key member of The Partnership, already has more than 100 Clean Air Rideshare Fairs scheduled to help area employers educate their employees about the link between the health implications of poor air quality and the role ridesharing can play in cleaning the air. The number of employers who are actively working with RideFinders and The Partnership has soared from around 800 last year to more than 1,000 heading into this summer, and these organizations play a vital role in helping to extend the clean air message to hundreds of thousands of area employees.

To learn more, sign up for daily air quality forecasts or to make arrangements for your business to become an official member of The Partnership so you can help your employees to care about clean air at home, at work and on the road, log on to The Partnership’s website at www.cleanair-stlouis.com or call (314) 645-5505 ext. 1007.

The St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership was formed in 1995, led by the American Lung Association, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, Washington University and others, to increase awareness of regional air quality issues and to encourage activities to reduce air pollution emissions.

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for more information, contact:

Shelene Scarborough or Julie Hauser
The Hauser Group, Inc.
(314) 436-9090
(314) 629-3887

-or-

Susannah Fuchs
American Lung Association
(314) 645-5505
(314) 518-3886

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