Oct. 1, 2004
Continuing its legacy as a national leader in environmental justice, the
Southland’s air quality agency today expanded its Environmental Justice
Initiatives to enhance community involvement and access to the agency.
“The AQMD has been a leader in identifying and addressing environmental
justice concerns,” said Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of the South
Coast Air Quality Management District.
“Today’s action illustrates our commitment to ensuring that residents are
provided every opportunity to be involved in the clean air effort.”
AQMD’s Governing Board today unanimously adopted several enhancements to
be implemented during the coming year. They include:
- Providing “smoke school” classes to local residents training them to
identify smoke opacity and possible violations of AQMD regulations;
- Providing the public with more information through AQMD’s Web site,
including emissions data for the AB 2588 toxic emissions reporting
program, and web-based air quality classes on industry-specific operations
ranging from gas stations to spray-painting operations. In addition, AQMD
staff will evaluate the feasibility of providing facility permits and
other documents on the Web site as well as the feasibility of web casting
monthly AQMD Board meetings;
- Developing a school siting guidance document and conducting a
comprehensive outreach program to educate and involve school personnel in
school siting decisions that protect children from toxic air emissions;
- Developing an Environmental Justice electronic “Action Alert” to be
sent to interested parties;
- Conducting community meetings to inform residents of toxic air
pollution monitoring in their neighborhoods as part of the AQMD’s Multiple
Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES) III;
- Creating an Air Quality Institute for newly elected or appointed
officials;
- Identifying opportunities for greater public participation in permit
decisions; and
- Continuing support of the state Community Health Air Pollution
Information System (CHAPIS), which gives communities the ability to locate
facilities in their community and obtain information on their emissions.
More than 500 residents throughout the four-county region provided input
on the program expansion through a series of workshops during this past
year. As part of enhancements accomplished last year, AQMD completed a
review of its Air Toxics Control Plan and adopted a new rule with more
stringent requirements for diesel stationary engines located on or near
school grounds.
AQMD first adopted its Environmental Justice program initiatives in
1997. Annual review of the program and continued enhancements are the
result of initiatives adopted by the Board in 2002.
In other action today, the Board:
- Conducted an informational hearing on a plan to further reduce
smog-forming emissions from AQMD’s RECLAIM program. The proposal would
reduce total nitrogen oxide (NOx) RECLAIM trading credit allocations by
7.8 tons per day. Four tons would be reduced in 2007 and the remainder
would be reduced in equal increments from 2008 to 2010. Sulfur oxide (SOx)
allocations would not change. Current trading restrictions on power plants
would continue until 2007;
- Set a public hearing for Dec. 3 to adopt Rule 1157 – PM10 Emission
Reductions from Aggregate and Related Operations – to reduce fugitive dust
PM10 emissions from various dust sources including loading and unloading
activities, process equipment, open storage piles, unpaved and paved roads
inside facilities and track-out dust; and
- Awarded $357,000 in funding to modify 27 stationary diesel backup
generators located at schools with equipment to reduce particulate matter
emissions and protect the health of school children.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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