SALT LAKE CITY — Residents have the opportunity to win some cool cash if they come up with a winning video that details how to reduce ozone during the hot summer days ahead.
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality and the Division of Air Quality are asking for the public's health to improve Utah's primary air pollution problem during the summer — ozone.
To that end, the agencies hope residents will creatively generate a 30-second public service announcement showing simple steps people can take to shave ozone levels.
First place grabs a $500 prize, second place earns $300 and third place gets the winner $200. There are also gift cards and other prizes available for other entrants.
The agency said the goal of the contest is to educate Utahns about the individual role played in the summertime problem of ozone — caused by a combination of vehicle and industrial emissions that mix in the atmosphere on hot, sunny days.
Suggestions for possible video topics include replacing older metal gas cans with new ones, using water-based paints and filling up gas tanks in the morning or at night. Residents can also wait for cloudy days to mow or paint fences.
The deadline for entries is May 28.
More information about the video requirements, as well as instructions and guidelines are available at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's website.
The air quality division is now monitoring for ozone pollution and posting a three-day forecast at airquality.utah.gov.
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