News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Beth Gorman (520) 740-3343
Tucson, Arizona (August 30, 2008) – The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Air Program is holding a Free Car Care Check-up at Pima Community College Downtown Campus west parking lot (near Speedway and Stone) on Saturday, October 13th. The Automotive Service Association is co-sponsoring the event along with Pima Community College, and volunteers from local automotive repair shops and other agencies will provide the check-ups. The purpose of the event is to encourage good car maintenance for a healthier environment. Qualified volunteers will perform safety, under-the-hood, tire, gas cap, and emissions checks on vehicles from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In addition, the Tucson/Pima County Household Hazardous Waste Program will provide a collection of unwanted household hazardous waste such as pool chemicals, pesticides, automotive fluids, paints, and solvents.
“Most of our air pollution is caused by motor vehicle use and leaking vehicular fluids cause the contamination of storm water,” said Beth Gorman, Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) Program Manager. “By keeping our vehicles well-maintained, we can reduce problems that cause unhealthy air and degrade our environment,” Gorman continued. Volunteers from the Automotive Service Association, Pima Community College Automotive Program, Jack Furrier’s Western Tire Centers, and others will staff the under-the-hood, tires, emission testing, gas cap, and safety stations.
Similar evaluations could cost about $60 if done by an auto repair shop. “The true savings come with preventive maintenance on your vehicle,” said Dave Shinkel, past President of the Tucson Chapter of the Automotive Services Association. “Preventive maintenance helps to reduce air pollution, increase fuel mileage, and reduces unexpected breakdowns that are inconvenient and sometimes dangerous,” said Shinkel. Participants in the Car Care Check-up will receive a status check sheet of many items on their vehicle to use for preventive maintenance, and will have a chance to win a free set of tires from Jack Furriers Western Tire. The Car Care Check-up will be held in the west parking lot at Pima Community College Downtown Campus, entering at Speedway and 11th Avenue, west of Stone Avenue. For more information please contact the PDEQ Clean Air Program at 740-3118 or visit www.deq.pima.gov.
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