The Environmental Protection Agency and STAR (Serving the American Rinks), a program of USA Hockey and U.S. Figure Skating, issued statements regarding ice rink safety in response to a report that aired on TODAY Thursday.
Statement from Environmental Protection Agency:
“EPA's priorities include protecting human health and the environment, including children's health. Public places, such as schools and recreational facilities, should take measures to protect children's health by ensuring good indoor air quality. These measures include removing or reducing indoor air pollutants, improving ventilation to provide outside air and exhaust pollutants, improving air filtration to clean air from outside and inside the building, and scheduling maintenance activities that could generate pollutants while the building is unoccupied. Over the past five years, new EPA standards took effect for most ice resurfacers to reduce emissions under the Clean Air Act. These standards are expected to reduce hydrocarbon emissions by 71 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by 80 percent, and carbon monoxide emissions by about 57 percent from these sources. The standards are expected to help avoid respiratory ailments, including asthma attacks. Equipment owners should regularly maintain ice resurfacers to ensure proper operation. EPA has also conducted extensive outreach efforts to ice rink owners on controlling the indoor air quality within ice arenas.”
Statement from Serving The American Rinks (STAR):
“Since its inception in 2000, Serving The American Rinks (STAR), a program of USA Hockey and U.S. Figure Skating, has been addressing the issue of Indoor Air Quality in ice rinks within the United States. STAR conducts industry specific training courses around the country on various topics for ice rink operators, including information and best practices concerning Indoor Air Quality. STAR has run several articles about Indoor Air Quality in RINK magazine, a bi-monthly trade publication that is distributed free of charge to every indoor ice rink in the United States. STAR with support from USA Hockey and U.S. Figure Skating, will continue to strive to be a leader and advocate for acceptable Indoor Air Quality in ice rinks in the United States by providing the latest information and resources to ice rink operators.”— Jeff Theiler, Chief Operating Officer