Comment Log Display

Dear Sirs,
I have lived in sense 1950. I am a pilot and fly in and out of the
Imperial County.  When the source of wind is from the west or north
and the wind is not very strong we generally have every good air
quality.
We get air pollution from four sourcres.  The break down of the
desert batina by the off road vehicles in San Diego county on the
boarder with Imperial County. (this is not a problem unless there
are strong winds. In the pre off road days the infrequent rain
created a seal on the desert which made the dust from the strong
western winds much less. In the "old days" it was always possible
to leave the valley on Highway 78 with out getting sand blasted. 
Now that is not now the case.
Two: Smog coming down wind from the LA basin.  This is very
visible in the Niland area as the air will get dirty and then clean
with about 6 to 8 hours lags on the snarl on the big city.
Three: The prevailing winds ,in total time, from the South bring
the pollution from Mexicali and its miles of dirt roads.  Its old
cars with little smog control. and the natural gas power plants to
the west of Mexicali.  
The validity of this is very visible and our air quality goes down
remarkably whe we get their air.
4: The off roaders to the East in the area east of the sand dunes.
They are generally down wind from the valley. 
In the Imperial Valley forty or fifty years ago we had very clean
air day after day. From that base line we have improved.  On my
farm we run a full time water truck on the roads to keep the dust
down.  We work up the ground on fields that has land the moves in
with wind so when it sits idle there is no dust.
In the valley the acreage of perment crops has increased over
time. With the addition of Alfala acres, and the introduction of
long lived grasses like Bermuda grass.
Wind events have always caused blowing dust and it still does.  If
our current condition exceeds pre human conditions I doubt it. 
When you look at the pristine desert in a wind event you see
blowing dust.
Sugestions:
Pave the streets of Mexacili,  Outlaw the off road vehicles on
lands what have a component pm10 particles.  Have the mexicans
clean up there generating plants.  Pave more county roads in
Imperial county.
Thank you,
John R. Jordan