Comment Log Display

Dear Chairman Sawyer and board members,

I would like to urge you to consider the health impacts of the
decision before you today regarding the San Joaquin Valley's
8-hour ozone plan.  This plan is of great concern to our asthma
coalition's members and friends given the 11-year extension to
reach this health-based standard.  With 1 in 5 children in the San
Joaquin Valley suffering from asthma and limited availability of
health insurance coverage, our local communities are heavily
impacted with the care of over 500,000 Valley residents suffering
from this and other respiratory diseases. Economnic and emotional
distress is felt everyday by our families that must purchase
medication to help them catch their breath. We know by way of much
scientific research that ozone pollution triggers asthma attacks,
leads to the development of new onset asthma, as well breathing
difficulties in the general population.  

Valley residents including healthcare professionals such as
respiratory therapists, nurses, and physicians as well as farmers,
business owners, engineers, and parents all came together on April
30th to ask the Valley Air District Board for a better plan that
would clean our air sooner.  

Those that attended that day were highly disturbed that what
seemed like such clear consensus of the public was so
overwhelmingly and decisively discounted and ignored by their own
leaders.  

We now look to CARB for help and hope. Thank you for keeping the
needs of the people that live in the San Joaquin Valley foremost
in your minds as you consider this plan that will affect them and
their livelihoods for the next 17 years.

Sincerely,

Mary-Michal Rawling
Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition