CARB adds more California neighborhoods in disadvantaged communities to statewide Community Air Protection Program
Board also announces 29 projects to receive $5 million in Community Air Grants
SACRAMENTO – California’s fight against air pollution at the community level gained new momentum today as the California Air Resources Board added three new communities to the Community Air Protection Program and announced $5 million in Community Air Grants for 29 projects throughout the state.
The three communities – Eastern Coachella Valley, South East Los
Angeles and Southwest Stockton – will be added to the original 10 communities
selected last year during the first round of approvals under Assembly Bill 617,
which establishes the program to reduce exposure in the communities most
impacted by air pollution.
“California is turning the top-down air quality planning
approach on its head,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “We are committed to
taking more actions as well as serving as technical and operational consultants
for the communities that bear the brunt of air pollution.”
Under the Community Air
Protection Program, community members work with local air districts
to conduct air monitoring and prepare community emissions reduction programs.
These include a mix of strategies to reduce air pollution at the community
level, including new regulations, targeted incentive funding, enhanced
enforcement, and coordinating efforts with other agencies based on community
priorities.
The three communities chosen for the program this year were
selected from among 12 nominations. Communities are nominated for the program
by community members, local air districts, community based organizations and
other stakeholders. CARB staff performs a technical assessment of nominated
communities followed by public comment. The Board makes the final decision on
community selection.
This year, the Eastern Coachella Valley and the South East Los
Angeles communities, both in the South Coast Air Quality Management District,
and Southwest Stockton, in the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control
District, were selected for both community air monitoring and a community
emissions reduction program.
In addition, the Portside Environmental Justice Neighborhoods
Community selected last year in the San Diego Air Pollution Control District
was selected to transition from air pollution monitoring to development of a
community emissions reduction program.
Twenty-Nine Projects to Receive Community Air Grants
At today’s meeting, the Board also announced the recipients of
the second round of Community Air Grants. A total of 29 projects across seven air
districts will receive $5 million in funding for technical and educational
projects. The projects include:
- Coalition for a Safe Environment that will establish a low-cost, stationary air quality monitoring program in Wilmington and will also create a Community Advisory Committee; student and adult internship training programs; and a public website for displaying monitoring data.
- Blue Lake Rancheria will bring hands-on air quality monitoring and AB 617-focused curriculum to local elementary and high schools in the North Coast Air Basin.
- Valley Vision will engage the Norwood/Old North Sacramento and Oak Park communities through education and workshops on AB 617 and support community-led air monitoring efforts.
West Oakland Community Emissions Reduction Plan
Today’s Board action came on the heels of its approval last week
of the first community emissions reduction plan under AB 617: the Owning Our Air: West Oakland Community Action Plan.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District partnered with the
West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project to form a community steering
committee that developed the plan. The plan focuses on reducing exposure to
fine particulate matter, diesel particulate matter, and other toxic air
contaminants impacting the West Oakland community. It includes state, regional,
and local strategies to reduce air pollution emissions and exposure.
“The challenges many disadvantaged communities face due to the
harmful effects of air pollution are staggering, so we want to provide each and
every community member with the necessary tools to protect their health and
empower them to make science-based decisions,” said Veronica Eady, CARB
Assistant Executive Officer for Environmental Justice.
“We will work hand-in-hand to make sure the residents’ concerns
are heard and taken into account when new air pollution control strategies are
developed and deployed in the areas where they live and work.”
In the coming months, the Board will consider the emissions
reduction plans for communities in the Imperial County Air Pollution Control
District (January), the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
(February), and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (March).
Related Community Action Efforts
CARB continues its statewide efforts to achieve emissions
reductions in all communities, such that those communities not developing or
implementing a community emissions reduction program can benefit. These efforts
include:
Other statewide efforts such as Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation and Community Air Quality Portal