Augusta, Maine - Long known for its healthy environment, the State of Maine experienced an unprecedented ozone season this year with absolutely no unhealthy ozone days or exceedances of the federal ozone standard.
Since 1980, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has tracked ozone, an indicator of climate change. This is the first time that ozone levels have not reached the unhealthy for sensitive groups level.
"2014 has been the an unprecedented year for Maine's air quality," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "Long known as end of the tailpipe of the nation, the reality in Maine is quite different. The people of Maine can be proud of our air quality - some of the best in the country."
Overall, 2014 has been the cleanest ozone season. Ozone was at the lowest seasonal average and had the lowest number of moderate ozone days. Prior to the 2014 season, 2009 was the cleanest season when Maine had three unhealthy days for people with sensitivities.
"Go ahead and take a deep breath, Maine's air is clean," said Maine DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho. "We are fortunate in Maine to have some of the cleanest air in the country. Not only is it good for our environment, it's good for our health and our economy."
On Thursday, September 4, 2014, the department advised of a predicted unhealthy ozone day for sensitive groups in the Southern Coast for the following day but the actual air quality never went above the moderate level.
DEP measures ozone at five levels: Good, Moderate, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy and Very Unhealthy.
For more information about Maine's air monitoring program, please visit: http://maine.gov/dep/air/ozone/index.html
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