Looking for Higher Ground and Infrastructure Investment while wrangling about clean air, Air Quality Board hearing make the news in the LA Times last week. It isn't easy being green, but facing Clean Air with integrity may be part of Los Angeles's worldwide legacy.
Socal air quality commissioners are hearing issues in curbing port pollutants and meeting federal air quality regs and looking for new proposals to address So Cal needs. "Clean air" has rallied many LA communities this week and the Air Board is considering how to reduce smog once again in a way to reach for solutions despite discouraging recent history. (Read the LA Times Feb 3, 2017 story)
LA Times Covered Air Quality (So Cal AQMD) hearing on February 3rd concerning federal regulations requirements that are going unmet by existing area conditions and leaving large swaths of our population living at risk due to leaky rules and gaps in infrastructure reform and oversight alignment to goals.
Science measurements show in real time in reports or online the present air quality. Obviously the management process has not done enough to adequately reduce harmful emissions impacting health conditions of millions across LA, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Because of this, the hearing was a popular town hall. But the state of the region and the state's goals of business and environmental justice, this is a really important watershed in responding to the Clean Air Act. Californians are serious and passionate. One mother held up an ER photo of her 4 year old.
Scientist and Sierra Club Specialist, Jim Stewart, spoke up for tougher action and voiced the reality that voluntary measures are not preventing a port and city 'sacrifice zone' (see map above).
The Times article summarizes this complex issue (see links below) and describes an overview of what a new plan for air quality must embrace….a commitment to the adventure of environmental stewardship that will secures and protect clean air for everyone now and in the future. The AQMD Board is charged with directing firm regulatory guarantees in its decisions and should decide for direct action now to mediate worsening conditions.That process can eliminate unnecessary pain and suffering. But the Plan must as well look to investment, cooperation, and required enforcement to stand with the entire community's needs for productivity with livability, commerce with less chemical waste or with better containment and clean up as we do business near homes and our waste blows down our mountain/inland corridors.
Businesses must align with the community and address the costs of nitrogen oxides by 55% by 2031 by law, but resist. They are not cooperating now up to the standards based on facts about emissions and human consequences resulting from these findings.
A good plan in the works must be asked deal with and prevent the thousands of asthma related ER visits, missed school days, and early deaths that result without an infrastructure building response to meet the Clean Air Acts deadlines of our basin.
"Costs to industry, taxpayers, and consumers are outweighed by the health benefits" says journalist Tony Barboza. His article presents the problems the Board must decide on: such as fixing a troubled pollution trading program with cap and trade, new infrastructure and equipment installation, cleaner vehicles, RECLAIM and other programs, and more.
Since existing program is "not delivering promised emissions cuts and allowing refineries to avoid installing controls" -families and advocates are asking for another direction. From Supervisor Kuehl and other state officials pressure is aligned with the pLAn of Mayor Garcetti and strong community requests for rule tightening AND job retention.
Studies and environmental findings suggest a model of leadership and action to lower particulate matter that threatens lives and creates chronic health problems.
Companies can mediate lost work days whether at the Port, Airport, or in the manufacturing or delivery of goods Industries. Whether Travel or Freight Management, Tourism, or Real Estate, the Board is taking input to keep the swath of areas impacted livable, viable and economically engaged.
You can look over the science of aerosols that are requiring an authentic and dutiful response to make our communities enviable and healthier.
As a background, California has made a commitment to protecting our natural resources and face elements of climate change, higher temperatures, and the drought. It's been advising other megacities as a consultant.
It's not whether we can respond in order to be resilient, but the weather and climate that are pointing to the measurements of parts per million that are informing us to act now. From irritated lungs to unnecessary human and environmental costs, cities, counties, and decision makers must hone anew an intelligent and immediate response to lower smog and save lives.
Resiliency also drives business and protects neighborhood. To prevent sanctions, and help air quality, smart cities like Long Beach are promoting responsive leaderships and action. As part of their plannng for a great Californian future and a strategic response to the Economy, they are mitigating the threats by responding to the Bionome and its foundation of all economic progress by responding to conditions and preventing a slide to worse conditions and higher costs.
Cleaner air has a part to play in our bigger plan for cooling the atmosphere, keeping commerce hopping, and taking care of our kids. Survival and options to thrive and for health, equity, and even education depend on it.
Background links:
Resiliency and Planning for business, health, goods, and recreation:
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/downloads/AOPs_2015_Report_on_Resiliency_(1-7-16).pdf
https://www.portoflosangeles.org/planning/masterplan.asp
http://laedc.org/strategicplan/about-la-county-strategic-plan/
Studies/Articles:
http://articles.latimes.com/1998/mar/18/local/me-30166
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/41k4z2kv
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856412000808
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46438126_An_Analysis_of_PM_and_NOx_Train_Emissions_in_the_Alameda_Corridor_CA
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/8vc6636r
http://www.acta.org/newsroom/Releases/Alameda_Corridor_AQ_Benefits_Report_061005.pdf
https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/env_factors/env_fact_app_e7.htm
What is Ozone?
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OzoneWeBreathe/ozone_we_breathe2.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone
https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection
What's up (conditions):
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-summer-smog-20160805-snap-story.html
Could SNAP make a difference?
https://www.epa.gov/snap
Doctor explains susceptibility:
http://slideplayer.com/slide/5756516/
Asthma Worksheet (LA County Stats):
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/docs/HealthNews/Child_Asthma_2014.pdf
Education Program, Breathe CA:
http://breathela.org/programs/#1475597912027-05e5aabd-39fa
Learning Science and Agency through Citizen Science:
https://science-edu.larc.nasa.gov/skycolor/
Cost to Children, Schools, and Families:
http://c-hit.org/2014/09/14/er-visits-and-hospitalizations-for-asthma-on-the-rise/
http://www.statisticbrain.com/asthma-statistics/
http://www.consumerhealthratings.com/index.php?action=showSubCats&cat_id=274
https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/asthmadata.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/asthma_stats/default.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/asthma_stats/usualplaceforcare.htm
http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/content/asthma/art3665.html
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2008.141671
LAUSD handbook, sports, other documents (63,000 sufferers):
http://notebook.lausd.net/portal/page?_pageid=33,715604&_dad=ptl
http://notebook.lausd.net/pls/ptl/docs/PAGE/CA_LAUSD/FLDR_ORGANIZATIONS/STUDENT_HEALTH_HUMAN_SERVICES/ATTENDANCE%20MANUAL%20POLICY%20AND%20PROCEDURES%20REV,%2010.24.13.PDF
http://achieve.lausd.net/cms/lib08/CA01000043/Centricity/Domain/161/Orange%20Book.pdf
http://home.lausd.net/pdf/Families_Forms/2013-2014_Parent_Student_Handbook.pdf
Measuring it or air purifiers may not handle it?
https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/ozone.htm
Environmental Justice issue for children, seniors, workers, parents, teachers and families:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/children/children.htm
https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/asthma/asthma.htm
Air Quality Now:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/ARBaqmap.php
https://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/aqmis2.p
https://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/aqdselect.php
Ozone Air Quality Standards:
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43092.pdf
https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/health/health.htm
State Videos and Fact Sheets:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/videos/videos.htm
For Teachers and Kids:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/knowzone/knowzone.htm
Commercial View:
https://www.air-zone.com/what-is-ozone/
https://www.achooallergy.com/learning/ozone-a-powerful-lung-irritant
What you can do:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/html/cando.htm
Unique to California:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/drdb/dismap.htm
Air board hears proposals to toughen smog-reduction plan but delays action - LA Times
Big Cities may be places we like to live but air quality…still a major problem:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/15/nearly-9500-people-die-each-year-in-london-because-of-air-pollution-study''
http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/070109air.html
http://www.scmp.com/topics/beijing-air-pollution
http://www.stateair.net/web/post/1/1.html
Parks get an F:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-parks-air-quality-20150727-story.html
Working with STEM and STEAM:
http://www.teachertube.com/video/jazzing-up-science-elementary-students-harmonizing-with-globe-426228
Townhall:
http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/EH/docs/PH_RelHexChrom_THMtg-en.pdf
History:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-southern-california-air-board-20160304-story.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pollution-makes-air-in-parts-of-california-dangerous-to-breathe/
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-0423-pollution-neighborhoods-20140423-story.html
Agency:
http://www.aqmd.gov/
AirNow:
https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state&stateid=5
EPA:
https://www3.epa.gov/airquality/greenbook/ancl.html
County:
http://www.lacounty.gov/residents/environment/
State:
https://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
P2:
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/PollutionPrevention/index.cfm