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Who Is Clean Air NY?
Sponsored by the New York
State Department of Transportation, Clean Air NY is an organization that seeks to improve air quality in the New York metro area.
Clean Air NY includes individuals and organizations working to improve the health and quality of life in the region. We encourage all New Yorkers to make smart travel choices part of their daily routine—choices that will lead to less driving and air pollution.
Why Does New York Need Clean Air NY?
Clean Air NY was developed because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rated the New York metro area as not meeting federal guidelines for ground-level ozone and particulate matter pollution. Clean Air NY is one of the many activities that New York State is undertaking to help the area meet these standards.
How Is Clean Air NY Funded?
Clean Air NY is sponsored by the New
York State Department of Transportation to improve the air quality in the New York City metropolitan area. Clean Air NY works in collaboration with three transportation management associations in support of regionwide air-quality efforts: CommuterLink,
Inc., Long Island Transportation
Management, Inc. and MetroPool, Inc.
Why Should Employers and Other Organizations Support Clean Air NY?
Employers and other organizations, both private and nonprofit, in New York should support Clean Air NY because clean air is good for everyone, including employees and our community. By joining Clean Air NY, you are helping all New Yorkers breathe and travel easier.
How Does My Organization Participate in Clean Air NY?
Joining Clean Air NY is free and easy. Click on Join
Us and fill out the simple form. You will receive information to distribute to employees and members of your organization on what they can do to help clear the air.
Can Individuals Join Clean Air NY?
Yes. Individuals can join by filling out this form. They will then receive information on what they can do to support our goals.
Are There Any Obligations Associated With Becoming Part of Clean Air NY?
For employers and other organizations that join Clean Air NY, we ask you to distribute information on how to reduce air pollution on Air Quality Action Days. Prior to or on these particular days, we'll send you an e-mail or fax to let you know that an Air Quality Action Day is forecast for the region. All you have to do is send that e-mail to all of your employees or print the associated flyer or fax and display it at your site in a public area.
For individuals who join Clean Air NY, we encourage you to make everyday choices to prevent air pollution and to pass along our information to family and friends.
Are There Membership Fees for Becoming Part of Clean Air NY?
There are no membership fees for becoming part of Clean Air NY. We just encourage your support and air-friendly actions.
What Are Transportation Management Associations (TMAs)?
TMAs are our local traffic and commuting experts. They are the organizations that you can rely on to help find easier, faster and often cheaper ways to commute in the New York metro area.
The TMAs are a critical part of our current efforts to help New Yorkers breathe easier, and they have been working with employers and commuters in the New York metro area for many years. Each TMA receives support from the New York State Department of Transportation to help reduce congestion and to improve travel. The TMAs in the area covered by Clean Air NY are:
What Is an Air Quality Action Day?
An Air Quality Action Day is announced when air quality is predicted to be in the unhealthy range for sensitive groups in part or all of the New York metropolitan area. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for analyzing air pollution data and forecasts whether air quality will approach or exceed unhealthy levels. Based on these forecasts, the New York State Department of Transportation issues an Air Quality Action Day notification. While Air Quality Action Days are still days when people can go about most of their normal activities, such as going to work, driving may be one of the most polluting activities that people do on that day. Therefore, we encourage everyone to leave their cars at home if possible.
For more information about air pollution levels in the New York metro area, please visit our Local Air Quality page.
As an Employee, How Can I Get My Employer on Board With Clean Air NY?
The first step is to talk to your boss, manager or whoever at your organization might make decisions about environmental issues, public relations, human resources or employee benefits. Let them know why you think the organization should participate in Clean Air NY. Be sure to learn about the incentives
for participating on our Web site.
Secondly, talk to your colleagues about Clean Air NY. Encourage them to take steps to improve air quality and to join Clean Air NY.
Finally, even if your employer doesn't want to participate or doesn't get involved immediately, remember that there are lots
of steps you can take on your own to improve air quality, like taking public transit, walking or biking to work or avoiding unnecessary driving.
Does Clean Air NY Focus on Indoor Air Pollution?
At Clean Air NY, we only address outdoor air pollution, with a specific focus on pollution from cars and trucks traveling in the New York metro area. The primary reason for that is we are a program funded exclusively by the New York State Department of Transportation.
Does Clean Air NY Regulate Vehicle Emissions or Inspect Vehicles?
No, we do not regulate vehicle emissions or inspect vehicles. That's a job that is jointly performed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Our goal is for all New Yorkers to drive less, thereby resulting in fewer vehicle emissions. We also encourage you to drive a car that emits fewer pollutants and is environmentally friendly.
Does Clean Air NY Include the Entire State of New York?
Clean Air NY focuses exclusively on the New York metro area so that we can find ways to improve air quality and health that are targeted at the way people live and work in the region. This includes people residing and employed in the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island and Westchester and Rockland counties.
Is There a Specific Time of the Year When Air Pollution Is a Problem?
Poor air quality can be a problem throughout the year. Clean Air NY encourages New Yorkers to make choices that improve air quality every day of the year. Particulate matter, which is especially harmful for those with lung problems, can be bad any time of the year. Ozone pollution occurs primarily in warmer weather.
Is Clean Air NY the Same as Ozone NY?
In the past, Clean Air NY was known as Ozone NY because it focused almost exclusively on ground-level ozone pollution during the warmer months. During 2006, we changed our name to Clean Air NY and broadened our mission from reducing ground-level ozone to improving air quality year-round.
If I Provide You With My E-Mail Address, Will You Share It With Anyone?
We will never share your e-mail address or other information with any other organization or group outside of Clean Air NY. We will use your information only to send you information related to Clean Air NY.
How Can I Find Someone With Whom to Carpool? How Can I Assist My Employees With Their Commute?
Clean Air NY works in collaboration with three organizations, known as transportation management associations (TMAs), that specialize in finding ways to help people get to and from work faster and easier. Each of the TMAs—CommuterLink, Long Island Transportation Management and MetroPool—focus on helping people who live and work in different parts of the New York metro area. Best of all, they each offer free carpool matching services.
Sign up now to become part of Clean Air NY. |
