- Great Plains Air Zone Annual Report January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 Prepared by: Environmental Performance & Climate Business Unit Environment and Biotech Division Saskatchewan Research Council 125 – 15 Innovation Blvd. Saskatoon, SK S7N 2X8 Tel: 306-933-5400 Fax: 306-933-7817 For more information, please contact: Murray Hilderman Executive Director Great Plains Air Zone Phone: 306-551-6334 Email:
[email protected] Photo Credit: Virginia Wittrock MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2019 was a year of success, and transition for the Great Plains Air Zone (GPAZ). The GPAZ is a non-profit organization with members from industry, provincial and municipal governments, environmental groups and the general public from within the region. The support from its members and dedication of its Board continue to make the GPAZ and the data it produces of the highest quality. GPAZ thanks former Executive Director Stephen Weiss for his excellent work in leading several major accomplishments including the successful commissioning of new monitoring stations and significant improvements in the Board Bylaws. I am honoured to be the new Executive Director and will strive to continue the success that GPAZ has come to expect. The Board also saw transition with a new Chair, Kendi Young (CCRL Refinery Complex) and new Secretary/Treasurer Jim Elliot (Saskatchewan Econetwork) being elected to work along with Robert Schutzman (Evraz) continuing to serve as Vice-Chair. Each year there is more understanding and awareness of the health risks related to poor air quality in contributing to a variety of illnesses, especially those related to heart and lungs. Pollutants with the strongest evidence for public health concern include particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2).