The Ozone season began in North Texas on March 1 and lasts through October. The height of the season typically begins in May, when temperatures begin rising, but now is a good time for North Texans to begin considering how their actions could improve the air during ozone season.

With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently lowering the eight-hour ozone standard from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb, the region will need to continue to work together to improve air quality. The design value for the 10-county North Texas region is currently at 83 ppb. The EPA anticipates announcing designations for the new eight-hour ozone standard in December 2017.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) maintains many policies and programs intended to help residents and businesses participate in clean air efforts. One is Air North Texas, which provides individuals, local governments and businesses lists of strategies they can implement when air quality is forecast to be poor.

Air North Texas will implement an annual regional clean air event, Clean Air Action Day, on June 24, and participants are asked to implement a clean air action that will help reduce ozone in the region. Individuals, businesses and local governments can participate by pledging to implement at least one clean air action not normally part of their schedules, such as carpooling, using mass transit, bicycling or walking.

For more information, visit AirNorthTexas.org.