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BA/codered.pr Contact: Jim Caldwell, 301-217-2355
Graham Norton, 301-217-2170
COUNTY ANNOUNCES
OZONE ACTION PROGRAM For Immediate Release: July 2, 1996
A multi-faceted program to help reduce harmful ground-level ozone
emissions during warm weather months was announced today by Montgomery County
Executive Douglas M. Duncan.
The "Code Red Action Day" plan consists of several action-oriented items
targeting metro area governments and Montgomery County residents, employees
and businesses.
The cornerstone of the plan is the "Code Red Ride Free" program started
last year which allows passengers on the County Ride On buses to ride free
during the morning rush hours on Code Red days when air quality is designated
as "unhealthful."
Duncan verbally challenged other area jurisdictions that operate transit
services to implement a Code Red Ride Free type program in their areas. He
has also written to Washington metro area officials, urging them to join
Montgomery County in encouraging the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority (WMATA) to adopt a similar program for Metro buses.
"The ground emissions problem affects more than just Montgomery County,"
Duncan said. This is truly a regional issue .that we must all work on
together."
In addition to using public transportation, residents are also
-more-
COUNTY ANNOUNCES OZONE ACTION PROGRAM 2-2-2-2
encouraged on Code Red Days not to mow their lawns and to refuel their
automobiles after dusk when ozone levels are diminished.
Among the other actions the County government will be taking on Code Red
days are:
- Curtailing mowing operations on County properties;
- Curtailing center line painting on highways. The County has already
switched to less volatile striping paint.
- Re-fueling County vehicles after 7 p.m. An air quality "wheel" will
be posted at each of the County's eight fueling stations indicating air
quality for the day; and
- Notifying employees and at-risk populations of health hazards through
community outreach during the ozone season.
In another effort to help reduce harmful emissions, the County's Ride On
transit system recently added three "green buses" -- fueled with compressed
natural gas (CNG) -- to its fleet. CNG produces fewer ozone-forming emissions
than gasoline, and maintenance costs are lower.
To enlist the support of the local business community, the County wrote
to more than 800 government agencies, corporations and commercial operations,
representing approximately 134,000 employees. The letter, signed by the
County Executive, asked the firms to promote Code red Ride free, to refuel
after 7 p.m. on Code Red days, to delay mowing activities until the Code Red
ban has been lifted, and to help publicize the benefits of voluntary
activities that individuals can take.
Other speakers at the news conference included County Councilmember
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COUNTY ANNOUNCERS OZONE ACTION PROGRAM 3-3-3-3
Isiah Leggett, chair of the Council's Transportation & Environment Committee
and Dr. Tom Walsh, director of the County's TB Control Program and a lung
specialist.
Victor Collins, Safety and Security Operations manager at Suburban
Hospital, spoke about the comprehensive emission-reduction program instituted
by the hospital.
The Code Red Action Day plan is part of the County's participation in a
public-private partnership between the Baltimore and Washington regions to end
ground-level ozone pollution called ENDZONE.
The Code Red Ride Free program is a cooperative effort between the
Montgomery County departments of Public Works and Transportation and
Environmental Protection. For more information, call 301-217-7433.
# # #
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