Comment Log Display

Memebers of the CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD:

I am extremely concerned about our air quality. I have lived in
the San Joaquin Valley of California my entire life and am amazed
at the slow pace in which the Air Resources Board has moved on
this critical issue. It is my understanding that since the
establishment of the ARB in 1967, it should have been monitoring
and subsequently moving toward sollutions to ceaning up the air
quality in the Valley. Research should have been done on the
causes, a big part of which we already know is motor vehicles.
What research has been done to control their emissions or
alternatives to them?
Looking at the rise in asthma cases among residents of all ages
but especially children the San Joaquin Valley, why has the Air
Resources Board been so negligent in one of its primary goals to
"attain and maintain healthy air quality"? 
Knowing that Highway 99 is a majory artery in the State highway
system running the entire length of the San Joaquin Valley and
knowing that motor vehicles are a major cause of air pollution,
what have you done to "systematically attack" this problem?
The Central Valley is basically an agricultural valley. We used to
be known as the "Bread basket of the World". The only restictions
and regulations I hear about are aimed at ag-related businesses
and farmers.  While that may be appropriate and timely, what
happens when all the farmers are gone because they can't make a
living  farming but instead can make millions selling their land
to developers who will build over the land with more houses, more
roads, which will then invite more motor vehicles, which will
compound the problem of our air quality further?  And you still
haven't addressed the largest polluter--motor vehicles!

"In July 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
promulgated a new 8-hour NAAQS for ozone. U.S. EPA classified the
San Joaquin Valley Air Basin as a 'serious' nonattainment area
with an attainment date of June 2013." The San Joaquin Valley Air
Pollution Control District (District) developed an attainment plan
in 2007.   The District's analysis of the Ozone Plan showed that
the local, State, and federal controls already in place will be
insufficient to  allow the San Joaquin Valley to attain the ozone
standard by the 2013 deadline thus targeting a June 15, 2024
 as the "extreme" attainment date.   Has our District been asleep
at the wheel since 1997?  What I see is that by putting off
attainment of the ozone standard until 2024, the District is just
allowing the problem to expand.   We need strong leadership from
those who aren't afraid to do something about our air quality NOW!

 Pollution-causing businesses should not be approved without tight
restrictions. City and County officials should not be able to
approve them. Everyone who lives in the San Joaquin Valley needs
to take responsibilty for our air quality. But those who
govern us, those who make decisions for us need to be held
accountable. 
We depend on you to make the right decisions for our healthy
future.

Sincerely,
Marilynne Pereira