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News Release

For immediate release
October 6, 2006

GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT WITH NORTHEAST STATES TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
Reducing Transboundary Air Pollution Will Protect Ontario’s Health and Environment

TORONTO – The government of Ontario has signed a letter of intent with the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), Environment Minister Laurel Broten announced today.

This letter of intent will enable Ontario and NESCAUM to coordinate scientific work in an effort to reduce and prevent transboundary air pollution in the Northeast airshed.  This work will include air quality issues such as smog, airborne toxics including mercury, acid deposition, emerging transboundary air quality concerns, and climate change.

“This agreement is an important step in the battle for cleaner air,” Broten said. “It shows the province’s commitment to work with our neighbours to reduce harmful transboundary air pollution and protect Ontario’s two most precious resources: our people and our environment.”

Under this agreement, Ontario and NESCAUM will work together to:

• Share information regarding air quality surveillance and monitoring, emission source inventories, air quality standards, and pollution control programs;
• Identify and work co-operatively on joint studies regarding air issues of mutual interest;
• Exchange information on new air pollution control technologies, environmental monitoring equipment and analysis, and related areas of expertise; and,
• Identify new and emerging transboundary air quality problems and develop and exchange policies and procedures for mitigation or control of the pollutants of concern.

“I am pleased to once again work with our friends in Ontario,” said Arthur Marin, Executive Director of NESCAUM. “We have a shared history on the acid rain problem and I know that by working together again, we will be able to continue pursuing effective solutions to the threats of air pollution and climate change.”

Transboundary air pollution is responsible for over 2,700 premature deaths, almost 14,000 emergency room visits and more than $5.2 billion in health and environmental damages in Ontario each year.  

Founded in 1967, NESCAUM is a nonprofit association of air quality agencies in the Northeast. Its Board of Directors consists of the air directors of the six New England States – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont – along with New Jersey and New York.  For more information on NESCAUM, please visit its website at www.nescaum.org.

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Contact information for media:
John Steele, (416) 314-6666 Ministry of the Environment Contact information for the general public: 416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923/ www.ene.gov.on.ca	Anne O’Hagan, (416) 325-5809 Minister’s Office