Critical
Hearing
Board
Meeting
on
October
14
to
Decide
Future
of
SVRA Dust Control Work
On
October
14,
2022,
starting
at
9:00
a.m.,
there
will
be
a
SLO
Air
Pollution
Control
District
Hearing
Board
meeting
to
receive
public
comment
and
to
consider
dueling
applications
by
State
Parks
and
Gary
Willey,
the
Air
Pollution
Control
Officer
(APCO),
to
modify
the
existing
SVRA
Stipulated
Order
of
Abatement
(SOA).
State
Parks
is
expected
to
ask
the
Hearing
Board
to
reduce
the
SOA
PM10
mass
emissions
reduction
goal
from
a
50%
reduction
to
a
40.7%
reduction,
based
on
computer
modeled
estimates
of
dune
dust
emission
conditions
that
existed
before
significant
vehicle
recreation
began
on
the
dunes.
The
APCO
will
also
apply
for
a
change
to
the
SOA,
through
which
he
accepts
using
pre-disturbance
emission
levels
as
the
goal,
but
proposes
changes
in
how
the
modeling
is
to
be
done.
The
APCO
also
proposes
to
extend
the
terms
of
the
SOA
two
years
beyond
2023.
Concerned
Citizens
for
Clean
Air
opposes
any
changes
to
the
existing
SOA.
We
urge
our
supporters
to
send
written
comments
Hearing
Board
and/or
speak
at
the
Hearing
Board
Meeting
on
the
14th.
The
Hearing
Board’s
decisions
will
decide
the
future
of
the
SVRA
dust
reduction
work
in
the
coming
year
and for who knows how long thereafter.
Here are key points the Hearing Board needs to hear:
•
The
Stipulated
Order
of
Abatement
process
exists
for
one
fundamental
reason:
Particulate
matter
from
the
dunes
remains
a
critical
public
health
issue.
More
and
more studies demonstrate how detrimental exposure is to the human body.
•
Therefore,
any
change
that
reduces,
or
threatens
to
reduce
the
compliance
target
from a 50 percent emissions reduction should be rejected out of hand.
•
The
proposed
work
plan
includes
59
acres
of
dust
mitigation
in
the
WSP/CLT
(plover)
nesting
enclosure.
This,
too,
must
be
rejected.
State
Parks
has
already
taken
credit
for
the
nesting
area
closure.
Furthermore,
it
is
all
but
certain
that
the
proposal
will
not be approved since the area is an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area.
•
Any
proposed
extension
of
the
Stipulated
Order
of
Abatement
term
is
unacceptable,
since it would delay compliance with state air quality standards.
Again,
this
is
a
health
issue!
We
still
expect
compliance
with
state
air
quality
standards by the end of 2023.
The
Hearing
Board
meeting
will
be
conducted
virtually
by
Zoom.
Details
on
how
to
send
in
written
comments
and
to
participate
or
view
the
meeting
can
be
found
on
the
APCD
Hearing
Board
web
page
(
click here
).
================================================================================
COVID-19 Constrained Action - Showing Up While Staying at Home
Many
public
bodies
continue
to
hold
public
meeting
via
the
Internet.
We
continue
to
actively
monitor
the
situation.
We
monitor
the
air
quality
daily,
and
when
the
Air
Quality
Index
reaches
Unhealthy
for
Sensitive
Groups,
we
send
complaints
to
the
APCD.
This
lets
them
know
we
continue
to
be
impacted
by
this
public
health
hazard
and
remain
actively
engaged.
We
also
track
the
progress
of
the
PM
reduction
efforts
in
the
riding
areas,
and
provide
comments
to
State
Parks
whenever
it
seeks
public
input.
While
we may not be able to show up in person, there are still many ways for us to deliver our message.
Wear a Clean Air
button when you
attend public
meetings to show
your support for
ending SVRA dust
pollution. Make our
presence known to
officials who have the
authority and
responsibility to
ensure that the dune
dust problem is
solved. CCCA will
make buttons
available with this
Clean Air logo at
meetings.
What Can You Do?
•
Stay informed.
•
Educate
yourself
on
the
issues and facts.
•
Sign
up
for
CCCA
Updates.
Send
email
request
to
ccca3858@gmail.com
,
or
sign
up
at
meetings
where
CCCA
has
an
information table.
•
Monitor
the
air
quality
where
you
live
and
in
your
neighborhood;
see
Monitors and Alerts.
•
Complain
to
the
APCD
on
bad air days.
•
Attend
public
meetings
of
officials
who
have
a
responsibility
to
get
the
problem
solved.
Speak
out.
•
Support
candidates
and
elected
officials
who
support
protecting
public
health
by
fixing
the
SVRA
dust pollution problem.
Mesa Air Facts!