AQMD is the air pollution control agency for all of Orange
County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San
Bernardino counties, the smoggiest region of the U.S. We are
committed to protecting the health of residents, while remaining
sensitive to businesses.
AQMD On The Air
August 31, 2010
–
This special episode showcases AQMD's
student intern program and projects that interns at the AQMD
work on to develop professional skills and help improve the quality of the air we
breathe. More
AQMD News
State
court ruling allows AQMD to continue issuing air quality
permits July 15, 2010 – A state
superior court judge has ruled in favor of the AQMD in a
lawsuit that would have blocked the construction or
expansion of thousands of small businesses and public
facilities in the Southland.
More
Air Quality Headlines
State
News: Thousands of premature deaths
linked to fine particulate pollution,
report shows September 3,
2010 – A new
report
(PDF 345.65KB) released by the
California Air Resources Board estimates
approximately 9,200 premature deaths
each year in California result from
exposure to fine particle pollution. In
the South Coast Air Basin alone, about
4,900 premature deaths are linked to
fine particulate exposure. More
State
News: A different kind of Cash for
Clunkers September 3,
2010 – Your old vehicle may be
worth more than you think! California’s
Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) will
give you $1,000 to retire your old
vehicle, even if the vehicle hasn’t
failed a Smog Check test. New program
rules now allow you to retire your
vehicle at any time, for any reason
under BAR’s Consumer Assistance Program.
More
(PDF, 128.74KB)
Regional
News: Programs help residents
‘green’ low-income communities September 3,
2010 – Local groups are helping
residents in low-income communities take
a more active role in making their
communities more environmentally
friendly. From recycling to tree
planting to learning how to install
solar panels, local residents are
getting involved in ‘greening’ their
neighborhoods.
More
International
News: Global warming contrarian
proposes carbon tax Sept. 1, 2010
– Danish economist Bjorn Lomborg, who
has long opposed spending money to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the
basis that the money could be better
spent on other social welfare programs,
now advocates a global tax on CO2
emissions. In his new book Lomborg
advocates spending $150 billion annually
on clean energy, climate change
mitigation and geoengineering.
More
National
News: Nuclear giant buys wind
energy firm Sept. 1, 2010
- Exelon, a major nuclear energy
corporation, has announced plans to move
into wind energy. Exelon, which recently
dropped plans to build a new nuclear
power plant in Texas, has purchased John
Deere Renewables for $860 million.
More
National
News: Letter grades proposed to
rate vehicle fuel economy August 31, 2010 – The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the Department of
Transportation are proposing changes to
the current fuel economy label found on
new vehicles. The changes would include
new information on fuel consumption,
tailpipe CO2 emissions and smog-related
emissions. The public is invited to
comment on proposed changes and
label designs.
More
Local Clean Air Events
No Impact Week
– beginning August 29, 2010
The Sierra Club is hosting No Impact
Week, an experiment designed to
encourage people to pledge to reduce
their carbon footprint for one week. No
Impact Week begins Sunday, August 29 and
coincides with Planet Green’s premiere
of No Impact Man, a documentary film
about one family’s vow to reduce their
environmental impact for one year. To
sign up to take the pledge, click
here
Did you know...
that increased use of air conditioners can
lead to more greenhouse gas emissions? Instead of turning up
the air conditioning, learn ways to conserve energy and
operate your air conditioner more efficiently. More