Southeastern States Come Together in Major Cooperative Effort to Promote Clean Air; Regional Leaders From USEPA's Region 4 Offering a Custom `Toolkit' to Spur Involvement of Local Officials in Clean Air Initiatives.

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. -- In a cooperative effort to help improve air quality throughout the Southeastern United States, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) today unveiled a comprehensive Air Quality Toolkit for local government officials throughout the eight states of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4. Released at the ACCG's annual conference in Savannah, the Toolkit was developed with the help of public agencies, private sector corporations and the region's leading non-profit air quality advocacy organizations.

The states in the USEPA's Region 4 include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Presented on a custom designed CD set, this Toolkit is a virtual encyclopedia of information developed on a model similar to that of a successful Source Water Toolkit for Region 4 states released in 2004. The Air Quality Toolkit includes resources such as case studies, video clips, clean air program development and implementation materials, useful contact information and web links among numerous components that have been contributed from organizations and government agencies throughout the region.

Local officials can use the Air Quality Toolkit to identify sources of pollution in their communities, as well as to develop and implement programs to reduce air pollution and improve local air quality before pollution levels become unhealthy.

"Improving air quality is a regional challenge, not something that is limited to our larger urban areas," said Jimmy Palmer, USEPA Region 4 Administrator. "Many smaller local governments in the Southeast are working very hard to attain national air quality standards and we hope they will find this Toolkit to be a helpful resource that supports their efforts."

The Toolkit draws on the expertise of organizations and government agencies throughout Region 4 that have been working for years to combat air pollution in their respective states and regions. It includes information on how to implement dozens of programs such as, traffic reduction initiatives that help get cars off of roadways and reduce emissions that come from tailpipes; operations and maintenance changes that reduce harmful emissions from a broad variety of business activities; and at-home efforts individuals can implement to reduce or eliminate certain emissions that impact air quality. The Toolkit also provides local officials with projects they can undertake to reduce air pollution from their operations.

"We feel very strongly that if we can put a comprehensive 'how to' guide in the hands of the elected and appointed government officials throughout the Southeast, we can increase awareness of the air quality problem and encourage action on plans to address the issue," said Jerry Griffin, ACCG Executive Director. "We believe that when local officials see that they have support from the highest ranking state officials such as Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen among others that they'll become more involved in creating and expanding clean air initiatives."

The Toolkit was made possible by funding and technical support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Tennessee Valley Authority, The Clean Air Campaign, Georgia Power Company, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.