As a preventive measure, the Presidential Delegation of O’Higgins declared an Environmental Alert for this Saturday again in the 17 communes that make up the Saturated Zone of the Atmospheric Decontamination Plan (PDA) of the central valley of O’Higgins. Action that establishes the second day of consecutive environmental alert so far in this Critical Episode Management 2024, which began on May 1.
The Presidential Delegate of the O’Higgins Region, Fabio López, said that “we are experiencing this second alert of the current year and we want to make the call to be part of the solution, we must take care of ourselves and follow all the measures that the competent authority recommends. Today we have low temperatures and families need heating and we hope that the one used is the one that pollutes the least.”
For her part, the Seremi del Medio Ambiente, Giovanna Amaya, emphasized that “the Management of Critical Episodes, since the entry into force of the new Atmospheric Decontamination Plan by MP 2.5, is even more restrictive regarding the use of wood heaters. , establishing that wood-burning stoves cannot be used whether or not they are SEC certified, this because we know that residential combustion of wood is the main source of air pollution in the central valley of the region, causing particulate matter and complications. respiratory in risk groups. For this reason, we call on citizens to respect the measures and prefer less polluting means of heating.”
The measures to be implemented on days when a critical episode is declared underwent modifications with the implementation of the new Plan by MP 2.5, since this new instrument contains differentiated measures by episode. In the case of Environmental Alert, the following measures are established:
- It is prohibited to light wood stoves, whether or not they have SEC certification. Only SEC-certified pellet stoves are allowed to light.
- Educational establishments may carry out moderate intensity sports activities only in closed areas.
- The SEREMI of Sports and/or the National Sports Institute indicate that the measure in case of alert will be the performance of physical activity of moderate intensity, avoiding prolonged or very intense physical efforts. The activities linked to the National System of Sports Competitions (SNCD) are carried out at all events.
- Prohibition of the operation of wood or coal-fired boilers, unless they demonstrate PM emissions of less than 30 mg/m³N
The measures apply for the duration of the environmental episode, that is, for 24 hours in the 17 communes that make up the Saturated Zone for respirable particulate matter MP 10: Rancagua, Graneros, Doñihue, El Olivar, Coltauco, Coinco, Quinta de Tilcoco, San Vicente, Placilla, Mostazal, Codegua, Machalí, Malloa, Rengo, Requínoa, San Fernando and Chimbarongo.
To make complaints about the use of wood-burning devices on an environmental episode day, you must call or write via WhatsApp to the number +56989036974 of the Seremi de Salud O’Higgins.
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