by PegNews wire

New air quality campaign emphasizes regional coordination and seeks additional partners.

ARLINGTON — A new partnership underway in North Texas will help give the region a breath of fresh air—in more ways than one. Partners from 20 area and statewide agencies will ink agreements in the coming months pledging to improve air quality and ask others to join the effort and educate residents about improving the air we breathe.

The new Air North Texas campaign is a regional partnership and outreach effort that will:

• Offer the public a comprehensive resource with air quality information and education.
• Promote a consistent air quality message across the region.
• Leverage existing resources and program strengths in a collaborative effort.
• Increase public awareness of specific opportunities for residents to reduce emissions.
• Motivate residents to make choices that reduce emissions.

Charter partners will help recruit other public, private and nonprofit organizations to sign additional Air North Texas partner agreements and help reduce harmful emissions, protect public health and welfare, and preserve the economic vitality in the region. The recruitment effort kickoff coincides with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s National Air Quality Week, April 28 – May 2.

Air North Texas partners will officially launch the integrated public awareness campaign this summer and combine print, Internet and non-traditional communication with outreach efforts to encourage residents to make clean-air choices. The Web site launches this summer and will feature sections for partners, the general public, and children.

The nine counties of Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant have been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as moderate nonattainment for 8-hour ozone levels. North Texas must meet the ozone emissions standards set by the EPA or face federal sanctions.

Air North Texas is a voluntary, regional effort to encourage residents to Go Green, Breathe Clean.

Source: North Central Texas Council of Governments