FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 30, 2003

Greater Triangle Regional Council launches clean air initiative

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - The Greater Triangle Regional Council (GTRC) has formed an air quality task force to coordinate regional strategies to improve the quality of the Triangle region's air.

The Triangle will fall under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) umbrella of "clean air non-attainment" in 2004 and be required to meet EPA air quality standards. The task force aims to rally a broad range of local organizations to help the region meet the EPA standards.

"We've made great progress reducing air pollution," says Air Quality Task Force Chair Jim Roberson, chairman of the Research Triangle Foundation. "However, the quality of our air continues to affect the health and quality of life of sensitive populations and the public-at-large. Persistent non-attainment may affect our economic bottom line as well."

The Triangle is the only region in the state without a regional plan to clean the air. There is no inventory of clean air initiatives in the region. Until now, no organization has had the sole responsibility of coordinating regional collaboration on air quality.

The GTRC task force of business, academic and public-sector representatives seeks to focus the region's resources on cleaning the air. It will promote and initiate regional involvement and participation in voluntary and mandatory air pollution control measures and share best practices in air quality management.

Joining Roberson on the task force are:

• Crystal Bunch, executive director, SmartCommute
• Kortni Campbell, policy and issues analyst, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
• Scott Gardner, vice president, Business and Community Relations, Duke Power,representing Clean Cities Coalition
• Sheila Holman, planner, N.C. Division of Air Quality
• Sig Hutchinson, chair, Wake County Air Quality Task Force
• Dr. Harvey Jeffries, School of Public Health and Education, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Howard Johnson, president, Cary Chamber of Commerce
• Bill Lane, environmental attorney, Kilpatrick Stockton
• Bill Laxton, director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Administration and Resources Management in Research Triangle Park
• Joe Milazzo, executive director, Regional Transportation Alliance
• Beau Mills, director of intergovernmental relations, N.C. Metropolitan Coalition League of Municipalities
• Virginia Knapp, associate director, Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce
• John O'Neil, chair, board of directors, American Lung Association
• Anne Peele, vice president of government relations, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce
• Ben Taylor, chair, Greater Triangle Regional Council
• Chuck Wakild, director, Environmental Health and Safety Department, Progress Energy
• Pam Wall, executive director, GTRC

The GRTC is an independent membership organization that brings together regional leaders to examine issues that impact the Triangle's future; highlights and advances strategies to achieve success; and partners with others to implement change.

For more information on GTRC's air quality initiative, contact Executive Director Pam Wall at 840-7372, extension 16, or gtrc@researchtriangle.org.