Sep. 5, 2003
First
in the Nation
In a major expansion of its groundbreaking
environmental justice program, the Southland’s clean air agency today adopted
the nation’s first 25-point strategy for reducing the cumulative impacts of air
pollution in the region.
“Many residents are concerned about the combined
impact of air pollution in their communities from a number of individual
sources, from business and industry to vehicle traffic, that comply with all air
pollution regulations,” said Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of the South
Coast Air Quality Management District.
“This program will seek to reduce toxic air
pollution including diesel soot, particulate pollution and nuisance odors to
improve public health for all Southern Californians.”
AQMD’s Governing Board unanimously adopted the
Cumulative Impacts Reduction Strategy today following public testimony. The
cumulative impacts strategy grew out of an expansion to AQMD’s Environmental
Justice program adopted in September 2002.
Using existing databases, including the agency’s
landmark Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study II completed in 2000, the strategy
will focus on reducing air pollution, cancer risk and nuisance odors throughout
the Los Angeles Basin.
Some of the strategies will focus on the most
impacted areas, defined as 100 individual square kilometers with the highest
cancer risk from mobile sources, including cars, trucks, trains, ships and
airplanes, and the 100 individual square kilometers with the highest cancer risk
from businesses and industries. One kilometer equals 0.62 miles.
“In many cases, areas with the highest cancer risk
are low-income communities and communities of color,” Wallerstein said.
Of the 25 strategies, 10 are identified for
development and implementation in the next three years. Among the 10:
- More stringent requirements for cancer risk limits from toxic
emissions from new facilities near schools, and possibly daycare centers,
hospitals and nursing homes;
- Additional requirements for diesel backup generators, used to
provide electric power, such as installation of particulate filters;
- Clean fleet regulations for private fleets of diesel-powered
trucks and other vehicles;
- A requirement for trucks known as “yard hostlers” at ports, rail
yards and distribution centers to install particulate traps or use alternative
fuels to reduce emissions;
- An enhanced compliance program requiring minimum penalties and
inspections for repeat emission violations; and
- A rule for one or two industries aimed at reducing nuisance odors.
In addition, the plan contains 15 other strategies
for reducing emissions from truck and train idling, marine and airport
operations, and other sources. One measure would consider reducing the maximum
allowable cancer risk in AQMD’s Rule 1402 (currently 25 in one million) for
facilities near schools, and possibly day care centers, hospitals and nursing
homes.
“The cumulative impacts program will be carefully
crafted to not interfere with local land use authority and decisions, and not
bar future growth in specific areas,” Wallerstein said.
AQMD staff will report its progress on the
cumulative impacts strategy each year to the full Board.
“Since first adopting its Environmental Justice
program in 1997, AQMD has been a nationwide leader in developing such programs,”
Wallerstein said. “This cumulative impacts strategy represents another first in
creating innovative air pollution control measures to protect the public health
of all residents.”
In other action today, the Board approved an
Environmental Justice work plan for the coming year.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for
Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside
counties.
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