Comment Log Display

California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, California 95814

The United States Air Force (AF) Regional Environmental Coordinator
(REC) for Federal Region 9 has been monitoring the implementation
of California Senate Bill (SB) 375 and the pending adoption of
regional transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets by
the Board.  The AF REC recognizes the benefits of reductions in
vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and corresponding GHG reductions.  The
potential benefits could include opportunities to minimize future
impacts generated by urban sprawl on military testing and training
missions, retaining efficient transportation access to military
installations, and providing enhanced quality of life for military
families through transportation demand management (TDM) and
transportation system management (TSM) measures.  Some California
installations have initiated voluntary TDM and TSM projects in
cooperation with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs).

The AF REC supports the adoption of the staff recommendation for 
regional targets as reasonable goals which both comply with the
requirement of SB 375 and provide the potential for producing
benefits for continued military operations within the state. 
Executive Order 13514 requires Federal agencies to establish GHG
reduction strategies, including for Tier 3 emissions which include
employee commuting.  EO 13514 also directs Federal agencies to
engage in regional transportation planning processes.  As major
employers within selected areas of the state, we encourage CARB to
provide guidance to MPOs for engaging the military installations in
the preparation of Sustainable Community Strategies which
integrates Federal transportation GHG reduction activities and
provide ancillary benefits necessary for protection of the military
test and training missions within the state.  If you or your staff
has any questions concerning these comments, please contact Dr Baha
Zarah at baha.zarah@us.af.mil or 415 977 8843 or Mr Gary Munsterman
at gary.munsterman@us.af.mil or 415 977 8884.