Today: Code Orange Air Quality Action Day in Effect in Montgomery County

Today's a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day, indicating unhealthy air quality. As part of the region’s Air Quality Action Day program, Montgomery County takes voluntary actions to reduce its emissions of smog-forming chemicals, including ozone, and particulate matter. These voluntary actions include refueling County vehicles after dusk and curtailing median strip spraying, mowing and most asphalt paving.

Residents are also urged to take the following steps to reduce harmful air emissions:

• Carpool, telecommute, or take mass transit to work;
• Limit driving and combine errands;
• Refuel after dark;
• Avoid using gasoline-powered lawn equipment, including mowers;
• Wait for a cooler day to use oil-based paints or switch to non-solvent or low VOC-based paints;
• Avoid using aerosols and household products that contain solvents;
• Avoid mid-day driving; or
• Conserve energy at home and work to reduce power demand.

Ozone is a major element of urban smog, and its presence can limit one’s ability to take a deep breath, or cause coughing, throat irritation, and breathing discomfort. There is also evidence that ozone can lower resistance to respiratory disease (such as pneumonia), damage lung tissue, and aggravate chronic lung disease (such as bronchitis). Children and those with pre-existing lung problems (such as asthma) are sensitive to the health effects of ozone. Even healthy adults involved in moderate or strenuous outdoor activities can experience the unhealthy effects of ozone.

Another air pollutant of concern in the Washington Metropolitan area is particulate matter. Particles in the air can cause or aggravate a number of health problems and have been linked with illnesses and deaths from heart or lung disease. At highest risk from particle pollution are people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children whose lungs are still developing, and adults and children who are active outdoors. Particles of concern include both very small, “fine” particles (that can only be seen through an electron microscope) and somewhat larger “coarse” dust particles. Fine particles have been more definitively linked to the most serious health problems.

Unhealthy levels of ground level ozone occur in the summer as intense sunlight interacts with oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) volatile organic compounds. Ozone forming pollutants originate from vehicles, lawn-mowers and boats; emissions from power plants and other fuel burning equipment; and vapors from gasoline, paints and industrial processes. Particulate matter can either be directly emitted into the air or formed in the atmosphere by reactions of fuel combustion gases. Any measures taken to reduce ozone forming emissions will also reduce particulate matter.

Vehicles account for 30 to 40 percent of the pollutants that cause ozone in the Baltimore/Washington area and every summer day, gas-powered lawn and garden equipment release more than 100 times the VOC’s of a typical large industrial plant. For every person who postpones lawn mowing on Air Quality Action Days, potential VOC reductions equal the amount generated by a car driving from Montgomery County to Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Washington region is in violation of Federal air quality standards established under the Clean Air Act for ozone. In addition to concerns about public health effects caused by poor air quality, the region could also lose federal funds for highway projects if Federal standards are not met. This could ultimately lead to even worse levels of congestion and air quality.

The region has successfully lowered overall pollution and reduced the number of Code Red days each summer. However, adding to the region’s challenge, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recognizing the serious health impacts from ozone and particulate matter, established tougher air quality standards. While an air quality forecast of Code Red historically indicated poor air quality that did not meet Federal health based standards, now a Code Orange air quality forecast indicates air quality that fails to meet the strengthened Federal standards.

For more information visit the County’s Department of Environmental Protection’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dep, or call 240-777-7700. For information on Ride On bus schedules, call the Transit Information Center at 311 (within Montgomery County) or 240-777-0311, or check the County’s web site at http://www.rideonbus.com/.

The Trachtenberg Office Observes Bike to Work Day!

The Trachtenberg Office joins the rest of the region and the nation in celebrating “Bike to Work Day”—an annual event that encourages residents and employees to choose bicycle commuting as an effective means to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and noise, and to conserve energy. Bike to Work Day events celebrate healthy and fun transportation, and include free food, beverages and giveaways.

To celebrate Bike to Work Day, residents and employees were invited to one of the County’s Bike to Work Day Pit Stops. The Montgomery County Pit Stops were located at Downtown Silver Spring, Downtown Bethesda, North Bethesda, Downtown Rockville, Falls Grove, NIH’s main campus, FDA’s campus at White Oak, and Bethesda National Naval Medical Center.

Biking and walking to work are healthy ways to make your daily commute. These cost even less than driving or taking transit and get you in shape! They also reduce pollution and congestion, enhancing our quality of life. And remember - Ride On and Metrobus have bike racks, so you can bike or walk part way and transit the rest.

For more information, contact 240-773-BWTW (2989) or email at mcdot.CommuterServices@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Trachtenberg Office Salutes Earth Day and 30th Anniversary of Agricultural Reserve

Representatives of the Trachtenberg Office joined Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and the 30th Anniversary of the Agricultural Reserve. The event was held at the County’s Agricultural History Farm Park, located at 18400 Muncaster Road, Derwood in the County’s 93,000 acre Agricultural Reserve. The Reserve is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and has been recognized as the country’s most successful farmland and open space preservation program, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council and the American Farmland Trust. Also in attendance were Dr. Royce Hanson, chairman of the Montgomery County Planning Board, who is considered the architect of the Agricultural Reserve; DEP Director Robert Hoyt; Barbara Ashe, executive vice president of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce; and representatives from certified green businesses.

County Executive Leggett announced that eight new businesses were certified under the County’s Green Business Certification Program in response to a challenge to become a ‘green’ business by Earth Day. The newly certified companies joined 11 others already certified as green by demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship, conservation of energy and water, carbon footprint reduction, and waste reduction and recycling. The Green Business Program was launched in December by DEP, in partnership with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery College to recognize voluntary efforts to protect, preserve and improve the environment. The newly certified businesses are: All Eco Center, Wheaton; Greenavise, Silver Spring; Innovative Business Interiors, Inc., Silver Spring; The Maven Group, Bethesda; The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Rockville; Radius Technology Group, Inc., Silver Spring; Reznick Group, Bethesda; and Solid Waste Association of North America, Silver Spring.

The 11 businesses previously certified are: Bethesda Green, Bethesda; Building Maintenance Systems, Inc., Rockville; Calvert Group, Ltd., Bethesda; The Center for a New American Dream, Takoma Park; Clean Currents, LLC, Rockville; Hallman Orthodontics, Chevy Chase; Honest Tea, Bethesda; Marriott International, Inc., Bethesda; Pepco Customer Service Center, Rockville; Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A., Potomac; and Social and Scientific Systems, Inc., Silver Spring.

A description of what the certified green businesses have done to earn their certification is available on the County’s website at http://mcgreenbiz.org/directory.

Naomi Bloch and Emily Hoopes represented Councilmember Trachtenberg at the event.

Councilmember Trachtenberg Congratulates our Montgomery County “Environmental Leaders”

The Montgomery County Council today recognized 40 environmentalists that have made a difference in Montgomery County over the past 40 years as the County celebrates the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

"I congratulate these outstanding individuals for their hard work to make Montgomery County a greener and more environmentally-friendly place to live in," said Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg today after the recognition ceremony in Rockville. "Their efforts over the past 40 years have undoubtedly contributed to the quality of life that this County is known for."

Recipients of the award were selected based on significant impacts they have made on climate policies, energy efficiency, renewable energy or other environmental goals in Montgomery County in the last 40 years. The winners will represent a wide range of issues and accomplishments spanning four decades. The names and biographies of the awardees will be released at the ceremony.

Thursday, April 22, marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a worldwide celebration day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the earth’s environment. Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970.

For a complete list of the recipients, please read the Council press release.

Trachtenberg Office “Sweeps-the-Creek” in Silver Spring!

The Tracthenberg Office was proudly represented at the annual Sweep the Creek event in Sligo Creek Park in the Park Hills neighborhood of Silver Spring. The event was sponsored by Friends of Sligo Creek and led by neighborhood environmentalist Jennifer Kefer. Dozens of people turned out to help clean the Sligo Creek streambed and Sligo Creek Parkway between Wayne Avenue and Piney Branch Road. Among the items recovered from the creek were an 8x10 rug, a bicycle and an electric typewriter. Our Chief of Staff, Alan Bowser, a Park Hills resident, represented the Trachtenberg Office.

Visit the Friends of Sligo Creek website. For other pictures from the weekend clean up, click here.

Trachtenberg Office Attends African American Advisory Group Meeting

The Trachtenberg Office was represented at the annual budget meeting of the County Executive’s African American Advisory Group in Rockville, Maryland.

At the meeting, County Executive Isiah Leggett received the AAAG’s recommendations regarding the FY11 Operating Budget to be submitted to the County Council in March 2010. The Group’s recommendations addressed issues of spending reductions; new revenue sources; efficient, effective operations; collaboration on state budget cut mitigation; critical services prioritization; and strategic management of the financial crisis.

The County Executive was accompanied by Bruce Adams, Director of the Office of Community Partnerships, Reverend Timothy Warner, Staff Liaison, Office of Community Partnerships, and Joe Beach, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The AAAG is co-chaired by Dr. Sheryl Brissett-Chapman and Julian Norment. Our Chief of Staff Alan Bowser, who is a member of the Executive’s African American Advisory Group, represented Councilmember Trachtenberg.

County Council To Receive Briefing on County's Snow Removal Operations

The Montgomery County Council will be briefed on the County’s snow removal operations at a meeting of the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:30 pm.

The Committee meeting will be held in the seventh floor conference in the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland.

Montgomery Green Democrats!

The Trachtenberg Office was present at the December meeting of the Montgomery Green Democrats. The holiday celebration was held at the residence of Rose Czarnecki in the Layhill neighborhood of Silver Spring. Chief of Staff Alan Bowser represented Councilmember Trachtenberg.

The Montgomery Green Democrats are a chartered club within Montgomery County's Democratic Party. It seeks to enhance awareness of environmental issues for elected officials, candidates, voters, and the public.

The website for the Montgomery Green Democrats is located at http://greendemocrats.blogspot.com/.

"Thinking Green" in the Trachtenberg Office

The Trachtenberg Office is "Thinking Green!" We give high priority in our office to recycling and conservation. One of the County programs that we support is the WeCar/MC Car Share program.

The Division of Fleet Management Services in the County's Department of General Services (DGS) encourages employees to take advantage of the WeCar/MC CarShare program. This innovative program reduces the County’s transportation expenses and helps the environment while providing a convenient method of business transportation for County employees. All of the CarShare vehicles are hybrids with greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions which lessen the impact on the environment.

“Montgomery County is committed to piloting this program for its environmental benefit, but also because we believe that, in the long run, we can save money by reducing the total number of fleet vehicles the County owns, which will cut fuel, maintenance, insurance and liability costs,” said DGS Director David Dise. “Since the program was implemented in January, the County has saved more than half a million dollars.”

The County currently has 20 hybrid and sub-compact vehicles available at five locations for shared use by employees. Users can reserve a car online, mainly for hourly use, and return it to an assigned parking space. The County currently has a more cost-effective rental program for day-long vehicle use.