Isn’t the dust issue just a way for opponents of the SVRA to shut down OHV

activity on the dunes?

The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been monitoring the pollution levels and have confirmed that the SVRA has been in violation of state and federal health standards and the APCD’s Rule 1001 . State Parks management has acknowledged that the dust levels are unacceptable and pledged to correct the problem. The California Air Resources Board has developed a computer model showing where in the SVRA excessive levels of PM are emitted. The problem is real and must be corrected.

How will dust mitigation affect off-highway vehicle recreation at Oceano

Dunes?

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) has studied the SVRA dune dust emissions and determined the most effective mitigation measures would involve restoration of the natural vegetation in places where the PM emissions would be reduced the most. Less effective measures include wind fences and hay bales. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has developed a computer model that shows where mitigation measures would have the greatest effect and still minimize the impact on riding. As a member of the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) formed as part of the Stipulated Order of Abatement (SOA), the DRI also developed a computer model that has informed SAG recommendations. This modeling has indicated it may be necessary to close and plant vegetation on up to 500 acres of riding area. State Parks has proposed an incremental approach, where each year the effect of dust controls are evaluated. The CARB and SAG modeling can be used to indicate the areas where controls would be most effective.

THE QUESTIONS:  What is the dune dust and what causes it?  What are the health risks from breathing dune dust?  What level of dust emission is considered excessive?  What can Nipomo Mesa residents do to protect themselves?  From where is excessive dust being emitted?  Isn’t dune dust emission a natural phenomenon?  How do we determine how much of the dust emission is caused by OHV activity versus natural background emission?  Since the dune dust is from sand, is there a PM10 silica pollution problem elsewhere along the California coast?  Who is responsible for mitigating the excessive emissions?  What mitigation measures would be most effective?  Why not plant trees to trap the dust and keep it from getting into residential areas?  Why has effective mitigation not been done already?  Isn’t the dust issue just a way for opponents of the SVRA to shut down OHV activity on the dunes?  How will dust mitigation effect OHV recreation on Oceano Dunes?