Air Quality Planning

Working Together for Clean Air ...

The Miami Valley region, as required by the Clean Air Act, has a plan to keep the air clean. Air pollution comes from many kinds of sources and MVRPC incorporates air quality issues into planning through several programs and initiatives.

Cars, Trucks and Buses

Transportation planning is at the core of the MVRPC mission. Transportation (or “mobile”) sources are significant contributors to the overall air pollution situation in the Dayton and Springfield area, and MVRPC approaches this issue from a number of directions.

  • The Long Range Transportation Plan and the Transportation Improvement Plan must each “conform” to the regional air quality plan. This means the plan may not cause or contribute to a violation of a national air quality standard. MVRPC regularly evaluates the emissions effect of our transportation plans in a process commonly known as “conformity analysis” or simply “conformity.”
  • MVRPC encourages commuters in the region to reduce their automobile usage, and consider RideSharing, or biking or walking to work.
  • MVRPC has approved funding for projects to retrofit pollution reduction devices on the school buses of two regional school districts. AS many as 100 buses will receive new oxidation catalysts, reducing emissions and improving children’s health.
  • MVRPC has conducted over 15 Walkable Community Workshops throughout our region to assist jurisdictions in incorporating the needs of non-automobile travellers into development plans.

Businesses and Utilities

Power plants and factories also factor in the overall air quality situation in the Miami Valley. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency develops specific regulations for these stationary (or “point”) sources, which ar directly regulated by the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA). MVRPC participates in the development and monitors the implementation of the State Implementation Plan (SIP).

  • •MVRPC is responsible for recommending elements for the Dayton/Springfield area portion of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for air quality attainment. MVRPC has formed an Air Quality Advisory Committee (AQAC) to receive local ideas and comments about how the Dayton and Springfield areas should reduce air pollution.
  • MVRPC has issued recommendations for elements of the 8-hour ozone SIP.
  • The Air Quality Advisory Committee is in the process of developing recommended strategies for the fine particulate (PM2.5) SIP.

What about Public Health?

The quality of the air we breathe has direct effects on our health. MVRPC has developed a comprehensive suite of public information services to assist citizens seeking to monitor real time air quality

  • MVRPC coordinates the Miami Valley Air Quality Program, a cooperative effort among several agencies.
  • A comprehensive air quality web site was developed in 2003 and advertised region-wide. Go to www.miamivalleyair.org for the latest air quality readings.
  • Air Pollution Advisories are issued when levels of ozone or fine particulates are forecasted to be high enough to affect sensitive persons.
  • Interested citizens can sign up for e-mailed air quality forecasts (the same ones used by the Weather Channel) through US EPA’s EnviroFlash service.
  • The Smoginator is a clean air ambassador, teaching kids about air pollution and how they can help reduce smog.