PVAC advocates on issues that relate to outdoor and indoor air quality and impact the lives of people and communities with asthma. 

Housing- Sanitary Code

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.

TOBACCO 21

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:

• PVAC Testimony on Tobacco 21
• Respiratory Health Assn Fact Sheet
• Tobacco21.org
• Make Smoking History
• Masslive article: Springfield to consider raising minimum age for tobacco purchases to 21

Tobacco smoke causes asthma onset and exacerbation. Efforts to reduce smoking will improve health. 

Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard

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

https://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2018/10/palmer_renewable_energy_looks_to_spring.html

Palmer Renewable Energy won its appeal to build a biomass incinerator in Springfield. The Springfield Public Health Council voted for a Site Assignment Hearing for the proposed Palmer Renewable Energy Biomass Plant.  However, the Health & Human Services Commissioner, Helen Caulton Harris, decided against ordering the site assignment process.

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:

• Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition/Partners for a Healthier Community; Additional testimony- Feb 2, 2016
• Dr. Matthew Sadof, PVAC chair
• Hampshire Medical Society
• American Lung Association of the Northeast

For background on the biomass plant, please visit the Stop Toxic Incineration in Springfield:  

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/09/springfield_city_council_votes_2.html

 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.

• Talking points 
• PVAC testimony

Other PVAC Advocacy Efforts

• Idle-free Schools
• Healthy Air
• Tobacco Prevention
• Western Massachusetts Casino Health Impact Assessment (WMCHIA)
• Epinephrine Stocking in Schools