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The Ozone Alert Season in Tulsa

By John Durkee

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwgs/local-kwgs-836985.mp3

Tulsa, OK – Topping off the tank in time for that summer trip!

With Gas prices almost 50-percent less than this time last summer, the AAA Auto Club of Oklahoma is expecting more people to get out and travel this summer, despite the recession. That might not be good news for our environment. Here in Tulsa, the Ozone Season got underway with a rainy start. The Tulsa Drillers hosted a rain delayed afternoon game with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals as part of the annual ozone awareness campaign. Nancy Graham with the Indian Nations Council of Governments heads up the program.

We have been told for years that if Tulsa should fall out of the EPA air quality attainment, bad things will happen.

What things?

According to Graham, it will cost industry more to stay in compliance and it could push up our gasoline prices with a special blend for the Tulsa area. But, Graham says the biggest problems will be health related.

Graham says you need to think now about how you can lower emissions on ozone alert days. Don't mow, avoid topping off your tank and letting your car idle.
Car pooling is also an option, but then so is taking the bus. Graham says Tulsa Transit rides will be discounted again this summer. But unlike past years, the discounts will only be on Fridays, ozone alert or not.