Thursday, April 5, 2018

Meet the AB 617 Consultation Group



As part of CARB’s implementation of AB 617, CARB established a consultation group to serve as an additional forum to discuss the development of the Community Air Protection Program. Dr. John Balmes, a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and member of the California Air Resources Board, chairs the group.

“I am excited to be working to guide the implementation of AB 617 with the Consultation Group. AB 617 is a ground-breaking law with the goal of improving the health of communities that have been most impacted by air pollution through identification of local “hot spots” and the development of plans to reduce emissions from those hot spots. The members of the Consultation Group include community-based organizations representing disadvantaged communities, public health advocates, leaders of large air quality management districts, industry representatives, and several members from academic institutions. I look forward to working with the members of the Consultation Group to help California realize the environmental justice promise of this ground-breaking law.”
 – Dr. John Balmes

Consultation Group meetings provide opportunities for stakeholders to come together and share their ideas about the development of the Community Air Protection Program with CARB and each other. This open dialogue amongst diverse perspectives is an important part of the development of the Community Air Protection Program.

CARB hosted the first Consultation Group meeting on January 30, 2018. The Consultation Group will continue to meet throughout the AB 617 process. There will be a teleconference line for Consultation Group members and members of the public who wish to participate but cannot attend in person. Each Consultation Group meeting will provide an opportunity for public comment. More information about the date and time of those meetings will be posted on the Community Air Protection Program website at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/community-air-protection-program-ab617/.

The current roster of AB 617 Consultation Group members is listed below, and can also be found here:

·         Alan Abbs, Executive Director, California Air Pollution Control Officers Association
·         Gustavo Aguirre Jr, Project Coordinator, Central California Environmental Justice Network
·         Martha Dina Arguello, Executive Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles (PSR-LA)
·         Dr. John Balmes (Chair), UCSF and UC Berkeley/Member, California Air Resources Board
·         Jack Broadbent, Air Pollution Control Officer, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
·         Dr. Paul English, California Department of Public Health/California Environmental Health Tracking Program
·         Nidia Erceg, Air Quality and Health Specialist, C40 Cities/Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti
·         David Flores, Community Development Director, Casa Familiar
·         Jana Ganion, Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe
·         Ms. Margaret Gordon, Co-Director, West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project
·         Kevin Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer, Central California Asthma Collaborative
·         Bonnie Holmes-Gen, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, American Lung Association
·         Roger Isom, President/CEO, California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association
·         Dr. Michael Jerrett, UCLA
·         Dr. Michael Kleinman, UC Irvine/Chair, Scientific Review Panel
·         Jesse Marquez, Executive Director, Los Angeles Community Environmental Enforcement Network/Coalition for a Safe Environment
·         Kate Meis, Executive Director, Local Government Commission
·         Wayne Nastri, Air Pollution Control Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District
·         Luis Olmedo, Executive Director, Comité Cívico del Valle
·         Dr. Penelope (Jenny) Quintana, SDSU
·         Cathy Reheis-Boyd, President, Western States Petroleum Association
·         Seyed Sadredin, Air Pollution Control Officer, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
·         Deidre Sanders, East Bay Community Energy
·         Janet Whittick, Director of Policy & Communications, California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB)
·         Dr. Mike Wilson, Blue Green Alliance


Please share any thoughts, questions, or concerns by emailing communityair@arb.ca.gov or airecomunitario@arb.ca.gov

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