PVAC is a coalition of health professionals and institutions, community groups and residents, public health organizations, municipal and state agencies, academic institutions, schools, day care, housing and environmental groups committed to improving asthma and environmental conditions that affect health in Western Mass.
Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition
127 State St., PO Box 4895
Springfield, MA 01101-4895
United States
ph: 413.794.7600
pioneerv
PVAC advocates on issues that relate to outdoor and indoor air quality and impact the lives of people and communities with asthma.
The Department of Public Health held a public hearing on proposed amendments to State Sanitary Code regulating Housing on October 4, 2017 in Northampton, MA. Proposed changes addressing asthma triggers include requiring mechanical ventilation for bathrooms to prevent moisture and mold as well as integrated pest management requirements for buildings with 4 or more units.
PVAC sanitary code revision 105 CMR 410.000 Oct 2017
More information on the Sanitary Code Revision from the Springfield Healthy Homes website.
Climate Justice
PVAC is a member of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition and Manager Sarita Hudson is involved in the city's planning process. Learn more about PVAC's involvement in the Springfield Climate Action & Resilience Planning process.
The Springfield Public Health Council held a hearing on Oct 18th on raising the age for tobacco sales to 21 years old. Please join us to advocate for this important ordinance.
Raising the minimum legal sales age to 21 has been shown to reduce youth initiation of tobacco use, particularly in adolescents aged 15-17. Among adults who become daily smokers, 90 percent started before age 19 and almost 100 percent before age 26. For more information, please see links below:
Tobacco smoke causes asthma onset and exacerbation. Efforts to reduce smoking will improve health.
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) held a public hearing in Holyoke on Monday, August 7 on rule changes that would provide clean energy subsidies to thermal biomass technologies, such as wood boilers, under the State’s Alternate Energy Portfolio Standard (APS). Over 30 advocated against biomass, including PVAC Manager Sarita Hudson.
Biomass Plant
Palmer Renewable Energy has announced plans to break ground on the biomass incinerator this spring. In response, City Council President Orlando Ramos has set a meeting on October 15th at 6 pm to hear from city departments about the plans.
https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/10/springfield_city_council_seeks_9.html
PVAC and chair Dr. Matthew Sadof presented testimony against the plant at the hearing on January 16 and additional testimony was provided on February 2. Below is the testimony collected by PVAC:
For background on the biomass plant, please visit the Stop Toxic Incineration in Springfield:
http://www.springfieldincinerator.info/
INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN SPRINGFIELD SCHOOLS
PVAC is working with the Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management on developing an ordinance on Indoor Air Quality and Environmental Health in schools and municipal buildings.
On May 28th, PVAC joined with a UMass researcher and Arise for Social Justice to present to the Springfield School Committee about the impact of traffic based air pollution on asthma rates. UMass Professor Sylvia Brandt reported on her research on the costs families face when their children have asthma and how air pollution at schools has been linked to causing asthma. Dr. Matthew Sadof and Parent Asthma Champion Tonya Hayes talked about the impact to families and kids. Learn more about asthma and air pollution at schools.
Other PVAC Advocacy Efforts
PVAC SUBMITS COMMENTS ON EXECUTIVE ORDER
Sarita Hudson, on behalf of the PVAC, submits Comments on President Trump's Executive Order 13777 on Enforcing the Regulatory Agenda. Key takeaways include:
Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition
127 State St., PO Box 4895
Springfield, MA 01101-4895
United States
ph: 413.794.7600
pioneerv