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Air-quality regulators seek input

BY SARAH RUBY, Californian staff writer
e-mail: sruby@bakersfield.com, Source: Seyed Sadredin, air pollution control officer at the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District | Friday, Jul 21 2006 8:30 PM

Last Updated: Friday, Jul 21 2006 8:34 PM

Locals are invited to talk air quality with those whose job it is to clean it up.

Seyed Sadredin, the San Joaquin Valley's top air regulator, and others will convene in Delano and Bakersfield next Wednesday to discuss air problems and strategies to solve them.

Here's a rundown, frequently-asked-question style, of a few things that might come up on Wednesday.

We hear so much bad news about the valley's air. Is there any good news?

Yes. Some 500 pollution regulations have cut emissions from stationary sources -- factories, refineries and other non-moving polluters -- by at least half since the early 1990s. Also, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking measures to recognize the valley for having gone three years without a violation of the federal standard for dust and other coarse particles.

Are we going to meet the 2013 deadline for reducing ozone pollution, also known as smog?

If we do, it's not going to be easy. We'll need to reduce ozone emissions by 60 percent, the district says. With its powers limited to regulating pollution from stationary sources, the district only controls 40 percent of the valley's emissions, according to district figures. The other 60 percent -- cars, trucks, ships, planes and anything else that moves -- is regulated by state and federal agencies.

Can we get an extension on the ozone rule?

Yes. The district could push its deadline to 2020 by accepting that its pollution is "severe," and it could have until 2024 if it goes to "extreme."

Can the district achieve the ozone standard by only cutting emissions from stationary sources?

No. The district could shut down all businesses in the valley and still not meet this standard. By the same token, we could eliminate all diesel trucks and still not make it. These aren't serious proposals, but they show we'll need to be creative and hope new technology rescues us from dire measures.

The district will revisit its existing controls on businesses, but regulators doubt cuts from industry will account for half the reductions we need. The cuts have to come from everywhere, the district says -- from businesses, trucks, cars and individuals.