East Texas

KILGORE — Northeast Texas Air Care leaders will mark the beginning of the summer ozone season at noon Thursday at Kilgore City Hall, NETAC announced.

Co-chairs, Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt and former Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber, will preside. Speakers will include Tom Diggs, an associate director at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6; Ramon Alvarez, environmental defense; and Jim Mathews, NETAC general counsel.

The event is designed to raise public awareness of air quality during the season that officially runs from May 1 through Sept. 30. Throughout this time, Ozone Action Day bulletins are posted when conditions are favorable for forming ground level ozone. On such days, all are encouraged to reduce activities that emit ozone-forming chemicals.