San Joaquin Valley Today

September 12, 2012 5:36 pm Published by

Businesses, farmers and residents put a lot of effort to get substantial improvements in air quality in the past 20 years. The below fact is result of all of that impressive work that people did in the Valley:  

  • “Air pollution from Valley businesses and farms has been reduced by over 80 percent.

  • The Valley has seen the cleanest winters and summers on record over the past four years.

  • In 2011, the air basin had just three days of one-hour ozone violations, compared to 56 days in 1996.

  • We have reached federal attainment of standards for coarse particulate matter (PM10) .

  • The northern counties of the air basin are very close to attaining the current eight-hour ozone sta ndard”.

  • Valley-wide, the number of days with Unhealthy air quality has dropped significantly and the number of days with Good air quality has increased”.

According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), san joauin valley still has a long ways to reach the air quality standard and need more stringent work to meet EPA standard.

In addition, all virtually available control technology and strategies are already used to reach the latest air quality level, therefore, we need the other tools for attaining the latest federal standard for to for fine particles (PM2.5) and we must input from all businesses, residents, and the best science to deploy a good dose of common sense.

 Seyed Sadredin, the executive director and air pollution control officer of the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District,  noted that “ the latest science indicates that reducing Volatile Organic Compounds or ammonia will do little to help reduce particulate or ozone concentrations in the Valley. This is due to the Valley’s characteristics relating to chemistry and speciation of the pollutants, and our meteorology. These are the key pollutants that are emitted from large dairies in the Valley. Therefore, suggesting new controls on dairies as the “silver bullet” for air pollution problems is analogous to suggesting that we treat a patient who is having cardiac arrest with a perfumed acne medicine. Getting rid of the dairies will make some parts of the Valley look better and smell better. But it will do little to reduce particulates and ozone that have deadly health impacts”.

He added that “Valley businesses and farmers (including dairies) are already subject to the toughest air regulations in the nation. We cannot meet the federal standards on the back of businesses alone. Further reductions in emissions require significant advancement in technology and active participation by Valley residents in reducing pollution from our day-to-day activities. Over 80 percent of our particulate and ozone problems in the Valley come from mobile sources of emissions. Trucks are the largest source of air pollution in the Valley and 50 percent to 60 percent of truck traffic in the Valley is pass-through with no business stops in the Valley”.

He continued that “we should pursue a multi-faceted strategy as follows:

  • ” Investment in research and development of new and cost-effective clean air technologies.

  • Prioritize measures that reduce pollutants with greatest impact on public health.

  • Consider episodic measures that reduce key pollutants in locations with greatest impact on public health.

  • Hold our neighboring regions accountable for their contribution to the Valley’s air pollution.

  • Pursue land-use approaches that minimize growth in vehicle miles traveled.

  • Public investment in partnership with the private sector to expedite deployment of cleaner trucks, vehicles and technologies.

  •  Public participation in reducing pollution from daily activities”

In summary, “we have to follow the science and be strategic with our limited resources. We have great faith in this course, and in our mutual efforts, to take us the rest of the way”. Sadredin, the executive director and air pollution control officer of the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, in statement.

• Seyed Sadredin, (2012), retrieved from https://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/opinion/todays_opinions/guest-commentary-valley-is-winning-the-clean-air-war/article_273a8766-f78a-11e1-9189-0019bb2963f4.html
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