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Organization

The South Coast AQMD is directed by a thirteen member Governing Board and staff are organized into eight offices that oversee regulatory, scientific, and business functions.

Governing Board

The South Coast AQMD Governing Board is made up of thirteen officials who meet monthly to establish policy and approve or reject new or amended rules. The Governing Board appoints the Executive Officer, General Counsel, and members of the Hearing Board

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Executive Office (EO)

The Executive Office is responsible for the management of the South Coast AQMD and the development and implementation of strategies to attain ambient air quality standards. This office translates goals and objectives into programs and enforceable regulations that meet federal and state statutory requirements, while being sensitive to potential socioeconomic and environmental justice impacts in the South Coast Air Basin. The office consists of the Executive Officer, a Chief Operating Officer, and the Clerk of the Boards, plus support staff. 

  • Wayne Nastri, Executive Officer

  • Susan Nakamura, Chief Operating Officer

  • Anissa Heard-Johnson, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer

  • Faye Thomas, Clerk of the Boards

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The Legal department provides legal advice to the Governing Board and staff on all issues relating to the operations of the South Coast AQMD, including enforcement and litigation, and represents the Executive Officer in variances, abatement orders, and permit appeals before the Hearing Board.

  • Bayron Gilchrist, General Counsel

  • Barbara Baird, Chief Deputy Counsel

  • Nicholas Sanchez, Assistant Chief Deputy Counsel-Major Prosecutions

  • Brian Tomasovic, Assistant Chief Deputy Counsel

  • Ruby Laity, Principal Deputy District Counsel

  • Sheri Hanizavareh, Principal Deputy District Counsel

  • Daphne Hsu, Principal Deputy District Counsel

  • Vacant, Principal Deputy District Counsel

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    Monitoring & Analysis (MAD)

    • Jason Low, Ph.D., Deputy Executive Officer

    • Andrea Polidori, Ph.D., Assistant Deputy Executive Officer

    Monitoring & Analysis (MAD)
    The Monitoring & Analysis Division operates and maintains the South Coast AQMD’s air monitoring network, performs chemical analyses in a state-of-the-art laboratory,  conducts source tests and evaluations, initiates local community monitoring in environmental justice communities, and implements quality assurance programs.  In addition, MAD evaluates low-cost sensors, implements advanced optical remote sensing (ORS) technologies and provides meteorological, sampling and analytical support as part of the South Coast AQMD's incident and wildfire response programs. 

    • Rene Bermudez, Manager, Monitoring Network 

    • Stephen Dutz, Manager, Laboratory

    • Payam Pakbin, Manager, Advanced Monitoring Technologies

    • Brandon Feenstra, Manager, Quality Assurance

    • Bill Welch, Manager, Source Test Engineering

    • Juan Garcia, Manager, Monitoring Operations

    • Olga Pikelnaya, Manager, OSR/Rule 1180

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    Technology Advancement (TAO)

    • Aaron Katzenstein, Ph.D., Deputy Executive Officer

    • Mei Wang, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer

    Technology Advancement Office (TAO)
    The Technology Advancement Office cosponsors low- and zero-emission and clean fuel technology development and demonstration projects in cooperation with private industry, technology developers, and local, State, and federal agencies.  Additionally, TAO implements a range of incentive funds available to local fleets to accelerate implementation of lower emitting technologies, and provides outreach to support cleaner technologies.  AB2766 created the MSRC, an independent agency, to make recommendations as to which projects and programs would be funded from motor vehicle registration fees received by the South Coast AQMD. TAO provides staff and other support to facilitate its activities.

    • Walter Shen, Manager, Off-Road Incentives, Inspections & Special Projects

    • Vasileios Papapostolou, Manager, Technology Demonstration

    • Daniel Garcia, Community Programs & Special Incentives

    • Cynthia Ravenstein, Program Supervisor, MSRC

    • Vacant, On-Road Incentives, Contracts & Outreach

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    Engineering & Permitting (E&P)

    • Jason Aspell, Deputy Executive Officer

    • Jillian Wong, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer

    This group has primary responsibility for South Coast AQMD’s permit system, including issuance and administration of RECLAIM (the REgional CLean Air Incentives Market) Facility Permits, Permits to Construct and Permits to Operate equipment at non-RECLAIM facilities, and the Federal Title V Operating Permit Program.

    • Mitch Haimov, Manager, Coatings/Printing/Plating

    • Bhaskar Chandan, Manager, Refinery/BACT

    • Vacant, Manager, Special Projects/Entertainment

    • Shannon Lee, Manager, Chemical/Mechanical/Energy/Terminals

    • Angela Shibata, Manager, Public Services/Waste Management

    • David Ono, Manager, RECLAIM/Registrations/NSR/Permit Streamlining/IM Coordination/Administrative

    • George Illes, Manager, General Commercial/Government/Military/Oil & Gas/Permit Services

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    Compliance & Enforcement (C&E)

    • Terrence Mann, Deputy Executive Officer

    • Victor Yip, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer

    This group ensures compliance with South Coast AQMD permit conditions, local air quality rules and regulations, and state and federal air quality mandates at permitted facilities. They also respond to air quality complaints received from the public.

    • Jack Cheng, Manager, Administrative Unit

    • Crystal Villanueva, Manager, Industrial/Commercial/Governmental Operations

    • Kevin Orellana, Manager, Energy/Refinery/Retail Gasoline Dispensing

    • David DeBoer, Manager, Area Sources Compliance

    • Devorlyn Celestine, Manager, Toxics & Waste Management

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    Planning, Rule Development & Implementation (PRDI)

    The Office of Planning, Rule Development and Implementation is responsible for the majority of the South Coast AQMD’s air quality planning functions, and developing proposals for new rules and amendments to existing rules. Programs administered by this office include: Annual Emissions Reporting, Toxics Hot Spots (AB 2588), Air Quality Modeling and Emissions Inventory, Health Effects, Air Quality Management Plans and State Implementation Plans, Meteorology, Air Quality Evaluation, CEQA, Socioeconomic Analysis, Transportation Programs, Rulemaking, and Implementation. The Mobile Source unit participates in state and federal mobile source rulemaking, and oversees development of new South Coast AQMD mobile source rules.

    • Sarah Rees, Deputy Executive Officer

    • Michael Krause, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer 

    • Ian MacMillan, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer

    • Vacant, Health Effects Officer, Health Effects

    • Vicki White, Manager, Transportation Programs

    • Eugene Kang, Manager, AB2588, Annual Emissions Reports, Rules 1

    • Heather Farr, Manager, NOx, SOx, RECLAIM, Rules 3

    • Elaine Shen, Manager, ISR Rules & Socioeconomic Analysis

    • Michael Morris, Manager, Rules 4, Admin, NSR, PM Control Strategies

    • Sang-Mi Lee, Manager, AQMD & SIP/AQ Analysis & Forecasting/Climate & Energy

    • Kalam Cheung, Manager, Rules 2, Rules 5

    • Vacant, Manager, CEQA, CEQA-IGR

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    Legislative, Public Affairs & Media (LPAM)

    The Office of Legislative, Public Affairs & Media includes the Public Advisor, Legislative Affairs, Government Relations, Community Outreach, Small Business Assistance and Media Relations units. The mission of Legislative, Public Affairs & Media is to promote public participation in, and understanding of, air quality issues, legislation and policies. The office provides information regarding South Coast AQMD regulatory, planning and legislative activities to the general public, businesses, local governments, ethnic communities, and environmental organizations.

    • Derrick Alatorre, Deputy Executive Officer

    • Lisa Tanaka O'Malley, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer/Public Advisor

    • Nahal Mogharabi, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer

    • Alicia Lizarraga, Manager, Legislative/Communications

    • Philip Crabbe III, Manager, State/Federal Legislation

    • Denise Peralta Gailey, Manager, State/Federal Legislation/Communications Center/SBA

    • Danielle Soto, Manager, Local Government/Community Outreach

    • Vacant, Manager, Media Office

    • Monika Kim, Manager, Education Outreach

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    Administrative & Human Resources

    Performs all administrative/human resources functions, including administering and interpreting human resources-related laws, rules, and regulations, administering personnel and employee relations programs to maximize hiring, retention, and development of highly-qualified employees, ensuring a healthful and safe work environment, controlling risk and accident-related costs, performing maintenance and repairs of the South Coast AQMD headquarters buildings, building equipment, cafeteria, grounds, childcare center, field offices, air monitoring stations, meteorological stations, and landscape maintenance, and administering leases, custodial services, and automotive services.

    • John Olvera, Deputy Executive Officer

    • Raquel Arciniega, Manager, Employee & Labor Relations/Benefits & Records

    • Terri Steele, Manager, Recruitment & Selection/Classification & Pay

    • Scott Gallegos, Manager, Risk Management

    • Brian Roberts, Manager, Building Services

    • Victoria Leung, Manager, Business Services

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    Finance

    Performs all financial functions, including processing payroll, preparation and printing of budgets, financial reports, and work programs, invoicing, revenue posting and depositing, payment of bills, responding to customer questions, financial planning, cash management, treasury management, grant administration, general ledger maintenance, administering audits mandated by state law, and administration of contracts and purchasing functions.

    • Sujata Jain, Deputy Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer

    • Anish Pathak, Manager, Procurement

    • John Kampa, Manager, Financial Services

    • Susanna Leung, Controller, Accounting, Cash Management & Payroll

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    Information Management

    Performs all information management functions, including desktop support, network services, public records requests, systems and programming, records management, website maintenance and improvement, and technology planning.

    • Ron Moskowitz, Deputy Executive Officer/Chief Information Officer

    • Xin Chen, Manager, Application Development

    • Howard Lee, Manager, Information Technology/Hardware & Network

    • Charlene Wang, Manager, Cyber Security

    • Dinesh Dorairaj, Manager, Special Projects

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    For more details on the South Coast AQMD's Goals and Mission consult the current budget.

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    South Coast Air Quality Management District

    21865 Copley Dr, Diamond Bar, CA 91765

    909-396-2000

     

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