Current Regulatory News

A round-up of Valley regulatory activities can be read here. 

Indirect Source Rule
California's San Joaquin Valley has become the first place in the nation to charge builders a fee on new developments intended to help mitigate the Valley's air pollution problems.
Read the District's ISR program information.
Read Environmental Defense's "Incentives for Healthy Communities" report about the ISR.
Another small step: Air district's approval of fees on new development is good news - Fresno Bee (12/17/05)
Pollution fees fall to builders - Fresno Bee (12/16/05)
Builders in Central Valley of California May Face Pollution Fees - New York Times (12/16/05)
Air quality fee causes furor - Modesto Bee (10/25/05)

Carolina Simunovic with her daughter Isabella testifying in front of a EPA panel about the proposed particulate matter rollback.

New Particulate Matter Regulations
In spite of the scientific evidence showing correlations between coarse particles and adverse health effects in both rural and urban settings, EPA is playing politics by proposing to designate air quality standards for coarse particles only in urban settings, benefiting industry at the expense of the health of rural citizens. 
 True Grit - Sacramento Bee (1/27/06)
EPA Panel Advises Agency Chief to Think Again - Los Angeles Times (2/4/06)
EPA panel blasts air-rule changes - Sacramento Bee (2/4/06)
New EPA Soot Limits Faulted by Scientists - Associated Press (2/3/06)
Dark Science - San Francisco Chronicle (3/2/06)
Critics dust off an EPA panel - Fresno Bee (3/9/06)
Link to EPA documents.
Read the SJUAPCD 2006 PM-10 Plan. 
Read American Lung Association's particulate matter briefing book [PDF].
Read Earthjustice's white paper on coarse particulate matter [pdf].
Read the EPA-sponsored Clean Air Science Advisory Committee's letter [PDF] to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson.
Read Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment's comment letter [PDF].
Read American Lung Association, Appalachian Mountain Club, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense, National Parks Conservation Association, and Natural Resources Defense Council's comment letter [PDF].     

Large Confined Animal Facility Rule
The San Joaquin Valley is the state's biggest source of livestock emissions - mostly from dairies - called reactive organic gases, or smog-forming ROG.
Read a Latino Issues Forum fact sheet: "The Impact of Dairies on Water and Air Quality in California."
Read a study on the effect of confined swine feeding operation (CAFO) air emissions on middle-school students.
In San Joaquin Valley, Cows Pass Cars as Polluters - Los Angeles Times (8/2/05)
A Malodorous Fog - The New York Times editorial (8/7/05)
In California, Agriculture Takes Center Stage in Pollution Debate - Washington Post (9/26/05)
Air rule for Valley dairies provokes sharp debate - Fresno Bee (3/15/06)
Dairies express pollution proposal worries - Modesto Bee (3/15/06)
New air rule targets dairies - Fresno Bee (3/13/06)
Air district rule doesn't attack ammonia from dairies - The Bakersfield Californian (3/12/06)
Air rule could force change at farms - Stockton Record (6/12/06)
Dairy pollution cleanup rules get sour review - The Bakersfield Californian (6/15/06)
Measure to reduce smog from cows OK'd - Modesto Bee (6/15/06)
Air board approves controls for dairies - The Hartford Sentinel (6/16/06)
Dairy air act too weak says one group - Bakersfield Online (6/16/06)
Dairy pollution rule passes; lawyer calls it an 'empty gesture' - Fresno Bee (6/16/06)

A smoke belching train pulling a few of the more than 80 million tons of freight which passes through Kern County by rail annually. Photo was taken in May 2006 between Shafter and Wasco on the BNSF rail line.

Ports, Goods Movement, and Diesel
CVAQ is committed to working to develop and enforce strong regulations as part of the Diesel Risk Reduction Plan.
Read a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that an estimated 3,000 premature deaths occur each year in California as a result of diesel exhaust.
Ships, Trucks, and Trains: Effects of Goods Movement on Environmental Health - Environmental Health Perspectives editorial (April 2006)
Ports in a Storm - Environmental Health Perspectives article (April 2006)  

Current Legislative News

Senate Bill 719, formerly SB 999, was introduced on February 22, 2005 by Senator Mike Machado. The bill is similar to prior legislation to restructure the San Joaquin Unified Air Pollution Control District Board by increasing city representation and adding seats for public members.

SB 719:  

Increases representation for Valley cities. The cities of Fresno, Bakersfield, and Stockton will each gain a permanent seat on the Air Board. Membership will be more proportional to the population of each jurisdiction.

Adds two non-elected (public) members to the SJVAPCD. Requirements for public membership would include residency within the board's jurisdiction and specialty in each one of two areas of expertise: medical health and air quality science. Public members will be appointed by the State Air Resources Board.

Read the SB 719 Fact Sheet.
Read the bill here.
See a sample support letter here. 

Update:
After being passed by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, SB 999 passed through the Senate on a 24-15 vote. The Assembly Committees on Local Government, Natural Resources, and Appropriations all passed SB 999 in their respective committee hearings in 2005. The bill was taken up on the Assembly floor during the last week of session and was defeated on a  marginal 38-41 vote.

EDITORIALS ABOUT SB 719:
No vote for Parra - Bakersfield Californian (9/18/06)
Machado trying to shake up pollution board - The Stockton Record (9/6/05)
A better air board - Fresno Bee (8/28/06)
Changing air board is worth a try - The Bakersfield Californian (8/25/05)
San Joaquin Valley needs cleaner air - San Jose Mercury News (8/21/05)
Follow-up: A cleaner smog board - San Francisco Chronicle (8/17/05)
Bill seeks to shake up valley air board: Plan's author insists current panel hasn't done enough to clean up smog - The Bakersfield Californian (8/13/05)
Where are the smog police? - San Francisco Chronicle (8/7/05)
Better representation - Fresno Bee (5/21/05)
More local control - Fresno Bee (5/21/05)
The public interest: Expanding air district's board will limit special interests' power - Fresno Bee (5/3/05)
Air Board needs to embrace the truth - Fresno Bee (5/1/05)
Small step forward - Fresno Bee (4/3/05)

CVAQ Regulatory and Legislative Priorities

Below is a list that includes some of the regulatory and legislative priorities for CVAQ.

• Reform the structure of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District board to include public members with medical expertise and give more representation to the region's urban population centers. Read more.
• Guarantee that Environmental Justice themes and voices are infused into all CVAQ activities and efforts.
• Develop and enforce strong regulations as part of the Diesel Risk Reduction Plan. Read more.
• Ensure that the Statewide Implementation Plan (SIP) for 8-hour Ozone and PM 2.5 is aggressive in addressing the Valley's air quality problems.
• Secure additional and stable funding for the Carl Moyer and Low-emission School Bus incentive programs.
• Pass legislation to require reductions in toxic diesel emissions from locomotives.
• Implement a comprehensive and stringent indirect source mitigation program. Read more (PDF).
• Enact regulations to restrict emissions from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) near sensitive sites such as schools.
• Develop and implement strong regulations and make smart planning decisions to limit the emissions of heat-trapping gases into our atmosphere.
• ... and much more!

The Beginnings of Reform

Below is a list of state bills enacted in past years that affect the Valley

SB 700 (Florez) - Repealed the law that exempted agricultural operations from air quality regulations. Requires the use of best available control technology (BACT) and management practices for agricultural sources of air pollution. Requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to provide information to agricultural entities about pollution control measures available to reduce air pollution from stationary sources in the Valley.

SB 709 (Florez) - Established an Air District approved fee for indirect or area sources of air pollution in the Valley. Monies from this fee will be used for programs to mitigate the air quality impacts of these sources. Encourages ride-sharing in the most congested areas of the region. Establishes a streamlined permitting process for clean vehicle technologies. Requires the District to provide information to farmers and small businesses on clean-burning fuels and low- cost financing for pollution control equipment.

SB 704/705 (Florez) - SB 705 phases out most agricultural burning in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV). SB 704 provides financial incentives for using agricultural waste in energy production.

SB 656 (Sher) - Directs CARB to work with air districts to develop a list of available, feasible and cost-effective measures to reduce emissions of toxic particulate matter (PM). Requires air districts to implement priority measures and to make progress toward meeting PM standards.

AB 923 (Firebaugh/Pavley) - Increases District imposed vehicle registration fees and the fee on new tire sales for the purpose of funding emission reduction projects through the Carl Moyer Air Quality Attainment and the Low-emission School Bus programs.

AB 170 (Reyes) - Requires each city and county in the San Joaquin Valley to amend its general plan to include analyses, goals, policies and implementation strategies for improving air quality in the region. Requires review by the SJV Air Pollution Control District.