Dayton, OH – The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) will be celebrating National Air Quality Awareness Week, April 30 – May 4, 2018, with daily social media posts about air quality. This year’s theme, selected by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), is Air Quality Where You Are. The focus is to identify different locations such as your vehicle and your backyard where changing your behavior could reduce the negative impact on the air quality and its related health effects. “Poor air quality could impact your health no matter where you are,” stated MVRPC’s Executive Director, Brian O. Martin, AICP. “The social media posts will highlight simple actions in different areas of your life that you can take to help reduce air pollution and your exposure to it. Follow the hashtag #AQOhio and #AQAW2018 on MVRPC’s Facebook and Twitter pages to learn more,” Martin continued.

MVRPC partners with the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA) on air quality issues. RAPCA is responsible for monitoring and reporting air quality readings in Montgomery, Greene, Miami and Clark Counties. On days when air pollution levels are forecasted to be high, an Air Pollution Advisory (APA) is issued. It’s especially important on these days to modify your behavior to reduce air pollution. More information can be found at www.miamivalleyair.org.

Established in 1964, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission promotes collaboration among communities, stakeholders, and residents to advance regional priorities. MVRPC is a forum and resource where the Board of Directors identifies priorities and develops public policy and collaborative strategies to improve quality of life throughout the Miami Valley Region. MVRPC performs various regional planning activities, including air quality, water quality, transportation, land use, research and GIS. As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), MVRPC is responsible for transportation planning in Greene, Miami and Montgomery Counties and parts of northern Warren County. MVRPC's areawide water quality planning designation encompasses five (5) counties: Darke, Preble plus the three MPO counties.

For additional information, contact Laura A. Loges, MVRPC’s Director of Marketing and Public Affairs, at (937) 223-6323 or lloges@mvrpc.org.

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