A new organization focused on monitoring air quality would like the City of Yorkton to join.
鈥淎ir Zones are part of the Canada-wide Air Quality Management System established by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment to ensure Canadians have good air quality. The Ministry of Environment in Saskatchewan has endorsed the Air Zone concept,鈥� explained a letter circulated to the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
Air Zones are geographic areas within jurisdictions that exhibit similar air quality profiles and challenges.
As a result The Great Plains Air Zone (GPAZ) was established in 2013, and began operating in early 2014 as the third Air Zone in Saskatchewan. The provincial ministry provided funding and support for the establishment of GPAZ.
鈥淕PAZ is a non-profit organization that is open to membership for those in industry, municipal government, environmental groups and the public that have concerns for the quality of air we breathe. One of the goals of GPAZ will be to monitor air quality to properly assess the factors that may contribute to the deterioration of air quality,鈥� detailed the letter.
鈥淚t will also provide municipalities, the province and industry with data to understand the contributing factors for poor air quality, trend evaluation and to provide direction for future air management programs. An air quality index will also be made available to residents of Yorkton via the internet on our dedicated website. Air zone management is an excellent strategy to inform residents of air issues and to involve stakeholders in developing a vision and goals for managing air quality.鈥�
The data is suggested to be useful for future City development.
鈥淐urrently the provincial government does not operate an air monitoring station in Yorkton. Little air quality data has been gathered in Yorkton area in the past. With the continued growth of the city, air quality data becomes a useful tool for planning and land use management. Recent study by our Science Committee has assessed the pollutant emissions and the current state of air quality in GPAZ to develop possible locations for air quality monitoring using a science based approach,鈥� detailed the letter from the GPAZ.
The cost for the City to join the GPAZ would be 10-cents per capita.
Council passed a motion to receive and file the material.
