Por Crystal Navarro/ Kern Sol News
On August 8, the California Strategic Growth Council and Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) invited the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to provide an update on the Valley Air Quality efforts being made in Shafter. In 2017, Assembly Bill (AB) 617 was passed to address air quality issues and air toxins and to help identify impacted communities. The city of Shafter was selected as an AB 617 community in 2018, when the Valley Air Pollution Control District worked alongside its residents to develop a community air monitoring plan and an emissions reduction program.
Through this initiative, community members who live within the Shafter AB 617 boundary are providing resources to implement clean air strategies and reduce air toxins within the city.
“For things that the district does not regulate, we offer incentives that are voluntary for folks to switch to newer and cleaner equipment to reduce emissions,” said Calderon.
Some of the equipment that residents within the AB 617 boundary can be eligible to receive includes passenger vehicle repairs, electric lawnmowers, fireplaces, wood stoves, and air purifiers.
Today, the Valley Air District is a regional agency responsible for air quality in the following eight counties: Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin. The agency provides grant funding to these communities, regulates stationary sources, and is ultimately responsible for emissions standards.
Rocío Calderón, air quality specialist, led the presentation and shared the many ways that the district is attempting to do community outreach and educate residents on the resources made available to them free of cost. She mentioned examples of how horrible air quality can be detrimental to one’s health.
“There is a high operation in the valley; there are the two transportation arteries, the I-5 and Highway 99, so because of that there’s a lot of mobile forces that run through here that also contribute to poor air quality,” said Calderon.
According to Calderon, due to both of these factors, it has made it difficult to meet the s federal health-based standards for ozone and PM 2.5. Additionally, Calderon shared that scientific research shows that the inhalation of smoke has a significant health impact, creating lung disease and decreasing the overall function of these organs in children. Pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary heart diseases caused by smoke inhalation could ultimately result in cancer or heart failure.
Various government agencies ultimately regulate air pollution; each, however, has jurisdiction over certain types of pollutant sources. At the national level, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)oversees pollution released from trains, ships, and planes. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) oversees the State’s pollution regarding cars, semis, buses, and more. At the local level, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District oversees gas, smoke, dust, fires, etc.
Calderon mentioned that the Valley Air District has a monitoring team that addresses and educates the public on air quality. The monitoring team regularly posts air quality levels so communities know it is safe to be outside.
Through the Valley Air District, communities can also apply for grants or incentives to improve overall air quality.
To check if you live within the AB 617 boundary, interested individuals can click here: Shafter AB 617 Map, and to monitor air quality within certain communities, Air Monitoring Shafter.
