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AQMD News |
 AQMD
releases results of air quality monitoring and health
assessment for odors from Upper Oso Reservoir
November 18, 2009
– In response to numerous complaints about sulfur type
odors in the Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita areas
of Orange County, AQMD launched an investigation to identify
the source of the odors, determined to be Upper Oso
Reservoir operated by Santa Margarita Water District. An
advisory provides background and a status update on AQMD’s
investigation.
More (PDF, 81.2 KB)
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Air Quality
Headlines |
 State
News: ‘Walkable neighborhoods’ could save California
millions
November 20, 2009
–
Californians could save $31 million and cut greenhouse
gas emissions by 34 percent by creating walkable
neighborhoods, says a new study. The “Windfall for All: How
Connected, Convenient Neighborhoods Can Protect Our Climate
and Safeguard California’s Economy” by Transform found that
people living near public transportation in some California
cities, including Los Angeles, on average emit fewer carbon
emissions.
More
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 State
News: Air board unveils new DriveClean website
November 20, 2009
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The California Air Resources Board has revamped its
DriveClean
website, which provides easy access to information to help
consumers choose the least polluting vehicles available. The
new website offers a practical system that ranks vehicles
according to their emission characteristics and provides
tools to compare models.
More
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 National
News: EPA accepting projects for President’s
Environmental Youth Awards
November 20, 2009
–
Young people across America with a passion for the
environment are encouraged to apply for the President’s
Environmental Youth Awards, which recognize youth projects
that demonstrate a commitment to the environment. The
program is held once a year and students grades K-12 are
eligible to apply. Application deadline is December 31.
More
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 Regional
News: Study finds high air pollution levels near Santa
Monica Airport
November 19, 2009
– Researchers at UCLA have found elevated levels of
ultrafine particle emissions near Santa Monica airport. The
study, published in the journal Environmental Science
and Technology, shows that emission levels were
significantly higher than normal about 300 feet downwind of
the runway’s east end. Findings are consistent with an AQMD
study to be released early next year.
More
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 National
News: Federal ship rules on their way to the White House
November 19, 2009 –
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has sent its draft
rules to limit emissions from ocean-going vessels to
President Obama for review. If approved, the rules are
estimated to cut about 1.2 million tons of nitrogen oxide
emissions and about 143,000 tons of particulate matter
emissions. EPA has a legal deadline of Dec. 17 to finalize
the rules.
More
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 Regional
News: 2008 Clean Air Award winner continues fight for
clean air
November 19, 2009 –
Otana Jakpor, a 15-year AQMD Clean Air Award winner for
Promotion of Good Environmental Stewardship, recently
interned at the Southern California Environmental Health
Sciences Center at USC. During her internship, Otana focused
on using U.S. Census Bureau information to map and study the
demographics of populations living near rail yards.
More
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 National
News: EPA proposes tightening of national sulfur dioxide
standard
November 18, 2009 –
U.S. EPA is taking comments on its proposal to establish a
new national 1-hour sulfur dioxide standard between 50 and
100 parts per billion. The new standard is designed to
better protect public health by reducing exposure to
short-term spikes in sulfur dioxide levels, which can cause
severe health problems.
More
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 National
News: New EPA website helps you “Green” your home!
November 18, 2009 – Whether you are a
homeowner or a renter, U.S. EPA’s new Green Homes website
suggests solutions that can add value to your home, reduce
energy use and costs, fight climate change and help protect
your health. Use the house graphic on the website to get
information on “greening” a particular room in the house.
More
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 International
News: Women bear higher risks from climate change,
report says
November 18, 2009 –
Climate change isn’t unisex, according to a new report
released by the United Nations Population Fund. The report
“The State of World Population 2009” urges governments and
aid workers to consider how global warming will affect women
across the world.
More
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 National
News: New coalition releases Electrification Roadmap
November 17, 2009 – The
Electrification Coalition has released “Electrification
Roadmap,” a report outlining how Congress can bring more
than 100 million electric cars to U.S. roads by 2030. The
report envisions a network of EVs and infrastructure in
select cities initially, expanding across the country to
make 75 percent of all vehicle-miles traveled powered by
electricity by 2040.
More
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 State
News: Computer model “STREET” previews a greener future!
November 17, 2009
– Researchers at UC Irvine have built the Spatially
& Temporally Resolved Energy and Environment Tool (STREET)
computer model that can foresee the effects of alternative
transportation fuels on air quality. Applying STREET in the
South Coast Basin, researchers found that a significant
increase in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and infrastructure
by 2060 would substantially improve air quality.
More
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Did you know... |
 that
on average each year, 35 Californians and 450 people
nationally die from accidental carbon monoxide (CO)
poisoning? You can’t see it or smell it but more than half
of CO poisoning deaths are from malfunctioning or improperly
vented combustion appliances. To protect yourself and your
family, have your fuel-burning appliances inspected by a
trained professional at the beginning of every heating
season. To learn more, view the California Air Resources
Board
video on CO poisoning. |
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