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.
Mesa Air Facts!