Governor's Pollution Prevention Award Recipient - Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission

  The Governor's Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention have been presented since 1986. Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission was one of eight recipients to receive the Award in 1996. These awards recognize outstanding commitment to improve Ohio's environment through pollution prevention. Evaluation criteria for the awards include: the reduction of waste at the source, recycling or recovery of materials, cost-effectiveness, ability of the program to serve as a model for others, and effectiveness in promoting prevention as the preferred long-term approach.

What is Pollution Prevention?

Pollution prevention is the use of source reduction techniques to reduce risk to public health, safety, welfare and the environment and, as a second preference, the use of environmentally sound recycling to achieve these same goals. Pollution prevention avoids cross media transfer (of wastes and/or pollutants) and is multi-media in scope, addressing all waste and environmental releases to the air, water and land.

Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission

Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) is a voluntary association of representatives from 52 local governments and various non-governmental organizations interested in understanding and addressing needs of the region. Six counties, including Clinton, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montogomery and Preble, are served by MVRPC.

Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission is recognized for the Regional Ozone Action Program. The Program is a public education/behavior modification program developed in 1994 to inform Dayton/Springfield residents about ground-level ozone issues and how the general public's behavior can impact not only air quality, but also the region's economy. The activities included issuing "Ozone Action Day" notice when high ozone levels are likely. On Ozone Action Days, citizens are encouraged to take steps to reduce the amount of ozone-causing pollution they emit. The MVRPC initiated the "Park it Here!" program to encourage ride sharing and they arranged with RTA to allow for free rides on downtown circular San Francisco-style street cars, known as the "Wright Flyers," during the month of June. The MVRPC arranged with RTA to provide reduced fares (25 cents one way) on fixed routes during "Ozone Action Days." The "Smoginator" mascot was created to promote awareness of air quality issues, particularly ground-level ozone.

Pollution Prevention Activities

MVRPC has demonstrated its environmental commitment through a successful, strategic approach to pollution prevention. This section briefly describes the major projects and initiatives that have been instrumental in the MVRPC's pollution prevention success.

Regional Ozone Action Program

The Program includes the following agencies: The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC); The Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee (CCSTCC); The Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA); The Miami Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA); Springfield City Area Transit (SCAT); and Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP).

Ozone Action Days

On days when high concentrations of ground-level ozone are likely, the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency issues "Ozone Action Day" notices. Broadcast faxes are distributed to all the media. These faxes outline the actions residents and businesses should take in an effort to reduce ground-level ozone and avoid exceeding air quality thresholds .

Informational Components and Media Placement

Two 30-second TV commercials were developed. One ad features a local meteorologist explaining ground-level ozone and highlighting some of the actions that can be taken to reduce it. The other featured the Smoginator reminding the residents that their help is needed in the fight for clean air. All the radio spots feature the Smoginator speaking to various people about actions to reduce smog.

Park-It-Here! Program

The downtown Dayton workforce was targeted for a special incentive program that offered free parking for carpoolers and vanpoolers.

Free Rides on RTA "Wright Flyer"

During the month of June, rides on the RTA's San Francisco-style street cars, which run a circular route through downtown Dayton, free. Advertising encourages people to use the trolley to get around downtown instead of driving.

School Program

In an effort to reach younger residents, a school program was developed for students in grades 2-5. Children completed activity booklets, viewed a 12-minute video and enjoyed on-site visits from the Smoginator. Twenty-five schools were visited and more than 110,000 students participated in the program.

Vehicle Owner Guideline Cards

Vehicle owner guideline handout cards were developed. The cards were distributed to customers at gasoline stations and auto service centers throughout the region.

Direct Mail

The MVPRC purchased advertising in Reach Magazine, a regional direct mail circular. The advertising, in the form of information booklets placed inside the magazine, was distributed to more than 210,000 households in the Miami Valley.

"CinemAd" Media

The MVPRC obtained space on 18 movie screens at various movie theaters in Montogomery, Greene and Miami counties. These slides are shown on the movie screen beginning 15 minutes before the featured film. Estimated viewers based on past spring/summer movie attendance was 47,000 people.

Billboard Ad Campaign

During June, July and August, 1996, a series of billboards was displayed the Smoginator asking a question of the community. Over the course of the three months, six different boards were displayed.

Informational Letter and Poster Packet

The information packet included a letter explaining what ozone is, and the actions businesses can take and encourage their employees to take. The packet also included posters, brochures and an order form for additional copies of materials. A 20-minute video titled "Eye on Environment", which was shot in a "news shot" format, also was was also available to order. The packet was sent to more than 4,500 businesses in the three-county region.

Environmental and Economical Benefits

The information packet included a letter explaining what ozone is, and the actions businesses can take and encourage their employees to take. The packet also included posters, brochures and an order form for additional copies of materials. A 20-minute video titled "Eye on Environment", which was shot in a "news shot" format, also was was also available to order. The packet was sent to more than 4,500 businesses in the three-county region.

Health and Safety Benefits

The reduction of ground-level ozone will certainly benefit every resident of the Miami Valley. Ozone is an extremely reactive gas that can cause health problems because it breaks down biological tissues and cells. Children are potentially at risk for developing breathing disorders, such as asthma, caused by ozone air pollution. The Regional Ozone Action Program focuses on all residents, young and old, and encourages everyone to modify their actions to reduce smog.

Transferability

Other regions that suffer from high ozone levels could benefit from initiating a program similar to the Regional Ozone Action Program. Other agencies across the country have requested and received packets of information to help them begin their own programs.

For More Information

Laura Loges
Marketing Coordinator
Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
40 West Fourth Street
400 Miami Valley Tower
Dayton, Ohio 45402
(513) 223-6323

This is the 42nd in a series of of fact sheets Ohio EPA has prepared on pollution prevention. For more information, call the Office of Pollution Prevention at (614) 644-3469.