To get the facts and learn more about SVRA dust emissions, click these FAQ links.

CLEARING THE AIR

The   following   facts   address   false   claims   by   some   who   oppose   the   SVRA   particulate   matter reduction   efforts   ordered   by   the   APCD   Hearing   Board’s   Stipulated   Order   of   Abatement (SOA). A preliminary Scripps Institute Study report is being cited to discredit the scientific basis for the Stipulated Order of Abatement. Why is this wrong? To begin with, the Scripps study report implies conclusions that are inconsistent with the wealth of information gathered over the last 20 years by experts in the field of study. That includes studies initiated by State Parks from the Desert Research Institute and by other independent researchers using proven techniques. In addition, the Scripps report focuses on particulate matter PM 2.5 instead of particulate matter PM10, which is the regulated pollutant that most affects the Nipomo Mesa and is the pollutant that most often violates air quality standards and is targeted for improvement by dust control measures on the Oceano Dunes off-road vehicle park. Finally, publicly available documentation prepared by the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) explains how the measurement methods used by the Scripps researchers for collecting the PM 2.5 samples were unconventional and unproven. The SAG is not aware of any other studies using these methods. The off-road community has been promoting a WeatherSolve wind fence as a viable alternative to resolve the air pollution problem in lieu of the dust control measures currently being implemented. Why is WeatherSolve not being tried? The Scientific Advisory Group, working with State Parks and the Air Pollution Control District to resolve the dunes dust issue, contends that the proposed wind fence would be completely ineffective at reducing airborne particulate dust generated within ODSVRA. As proposed, the wind fence would be installed on the downwind edge of the ODSVRA. Thus, the vast majority of emissive surfaces within ODSVRA would experience no change in surface wind speed or shearing stress and, therefore, no change in particulate dust emissions. Similar to the sand fence arrays deployed to reduce coarser sand transport (saltation), multiple lines of wind fencing would need to be placed across vast expanses of the dune surfaces for this technology to be effective. The costs to install and maintain such an array of wind fencing would be immense and probably prohibitive. An additional and very important limitation of this type of fence is that it is designed to release the mesh during high wind events, which is when dust emissions on the dunes are typically of greatest concern, further reducing any effectiveness in modulating sand transport and dust emissions. Therefore, the Scientific Advisory Group’s evaluation is based on the recognition that the use of such a wind fence, as proposed, will be ineffective .

Mesa Air Facts!

Concerned Citizens for Clean Air
OCEANO DUNES SVRA DUST EMISSIONS FACTS