Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

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06/24/2022

DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for Connecticut This Weekend

 

(HARTFORD)—Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting several days of very warm weather, which will contribute to elevated ozone levels across much of Connecticut.  These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for parts of Connecticut on June 24, 2022 and June 25, 2022.

“With high temperatures expected this weekend, more people will be taking to the outdoors for all types of recreational activities, including visiting one of Connecticut’s many beautiful beaches or state parks,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “With warmer weather, we also unfortunately see the conditions for ozone production are in place and we are expecting elevated levels across coastal towns extending from Greenwich to Stonington on Saturday and in the western half of the state from Greenwich up to and through the Connecticut River Valley on Sunday.”

“Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly and those with respiratory diseases, and even healthy adults who spend prolonged periods outdoors working or exercising should take care to recognize the effects of air pollution and curtail strenuous activity when our air quality is impaired,” said Dykes.

Health Effects of Air Pollution

When air quality is forecasted to be USG, there is an increased likelihood individuals in sensitive groups will develop respiratory symptoms and may experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.  Children and people with asthma or other lung disease are most at risk for experiencing these symptoms. Active children and adults, and people with impaired lung function or cardiovascular disease should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.  Peak ozone levels generally occur between 2-8 PM EDT, so make sure you get your activity or exercise in before or after these times to minimize adverse health effects. 

Weather Summary

This weekend we will have a break from the cloudy, cool, and rainy weather with more summer-like conditions for Connecticut. Weather models predict high pressure over the Northeast for the weekend of June 24 – 25, 2022. Sunny skies will help temperatures rise well into the high 80s, low 90s. On Saturday, June 24, northwest winds will turn southwest during the late afternoon for inland areas with southwest winds turning south in the early afternoon for coastal areas. On Sunday, June 25, southwest winds will turn south in the afternoon. This weather pattern will potentially enable interstate air pollution to enter Connecticut from along the I-95 corridor to our southwest where it will mix with local emissions and, in the warm temperatures, oxidize to form the secondary pollutant, ozone. 

What You Can Do to Help

Connecticut suffers from poor air quality, given its location at the “tailpipe of the nation.” While ozone levels in the northeast have improved significantly over the last 30 years, Connecticut continues to struggle to meet both the 2008 and the 2015 EPA standards for ozone, which are necessary to protect families and children from unhealthy air pollution. This challenge is particularly acute in Fairfield, New Haven, and Middlesex counties, where EPA recently proposed to reclassify these counties as "severe nonattainment," due to our state’s prolonged inability to meet the 2008 ozone standards, a step that will lead to greater emission reduction requirements.

Our state is making great strides implementing control strategies to reduce air pollution, including recently passed legislation such as Public Act 22-25, which includes Gov. Lamont’s proposal to adopt California’s emissions standards for medium and heavy-duty vehicles, and establishes several new programs and initiatives concerning electric vehicle use and reduction of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. DEEP continues to pursue tools and strategies to address stationary and mobile sources of ozone, and will continue to demand that EPA and upwind states reduce regional air pollution transmitted into Connecticut.

Additionally, there are steps that we can all take to reduce our contribution to local air pollution.  DEEP recommends simple, common-sense steps to reduce air pollution and may even help save you some money at the same time!

  • Drive Clean –consider purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle. Learn more by visiting: www.driveelectricus.com and CHEAPR - Home (ct.gov);
  • Drive Less - consider carpooling, vanpooling, using public transit or even telecommuting;
  • Reduce or Shift Energy Demand – purchase energy efficient products like ENERGY STAR® LED lights and ENERGY STAR® air conditioning, use programmable thermostats set to 78o or higher when no one is home, and use energy intensive appliances like washing machines, dryers and dishwashers later in the day;
  • Be Aware of Your Air -Understand the Air Quality Index and sign up to receive alerts so you will know when air quality is predicted to be unhealthy; and
  • Small changes add up - When you know there will be an unhealthy air day-make small changes to your routine:
  1. Refuel your vehicle after dusk and stop refueling when the nozzle clicks off,
  2. Avoid idling your vehicle unnecessarily and keep tire pressures at their recommended level,
  3. Delay mowing your lawn or using other lawn and garden equipment,
  4. Limit your outdoor activity in the heat of the day,
  5. Refrain from recreational wood burning.
  • Remember that knowledge is power! Ask your school if they participate in the School Flag Program, EPA’s Air Quality awareness tool that uses colored flags based on the AQI to notify teachers, students, administrators and the local community of air quality conditions.

Stay connected and access the daily AQI forecast and real-time air quality data

  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Sign up to get Air-Quality alerts through Enviroflash
  • Visit DEEP’s AQI webpage or call 800-249-1234
  • Go to EPA’s AIRNow web page
  • Download EPA’s AIRnow app for your phone

Ozone Monitoring Season

DEEP monitors, tracks and forecasts daily air quality levels across Connecticut for ozone from May 1st through September 30th each year and for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) each day of the year. On April 30, 2022, DEEP began informing Connecticut’s regulated community and the general public of the ozone season via the State of Connecticut E-mail list serve and posting air quality forecasts on the DEEP web page, available here.

DEEP encourages daycare providers, summer camps and elder/senior centers to subscribe to the Air Quality Index (AQI).  Subscribing to the AQI is fast and easy and will provide you with important information each day about Connecticut’s air quality through the spring and summer.  The AQI link provides facts and information regarding ground-level ozone, its’ health effects, what today on high ozone day, and most importantly what you can do to help reduce ground level ozone in your backyard.

 

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Contact

DEEP Communications  
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110