FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2012 

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Coalition for Clean Air Sues Madera County Over Failure to Reduce Air Pollution and Traffic Impacts From Massive Development Project

Coalition for Clean Air filed a lawsuit against the County of Madera in Superior Court to reverse its approval of the Tesoro Viejo project without having fully assessed air pollution impacts or providing adequate mitigation efforts as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Fresno, CA —Coalition for Clean Air yesterday joined in an ongoing legal battle with the County of Madera over its failure to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act in its recent re-approval of the Tesoro Viejo development project- a 1,585-acre suburban sprawl development located in rural southeast Madera County. Left with no other recourse, Coalition for Clean Air - representing the interests of concerned residents in the San Joaquin Valley and across the state - brought the lawsuit as part of its efforts to improve air quality in California and to discourage governmental agencies from sidestepping environmental laws in the future. Developers are legally required to identify and mitigate environmental impacts; however, this project fails to do that. “It is unjust that the County is not playing by the rules and our residents’ health and wallets suffer as a result” said Elizabeth Jonasson, the Coalition’s San Joaquin Valley campaign associate. She further remarked, “If this project is developed as currently planned, our smoggy Valley skies will just get darker and those unsuspecting 16,000 estimated residents, believing they are getting fresh country air, will be hoodwinked into higher rates of asthma and cardiovascular disease.”

Originally intended to service the proposed University of California campus subsequently awarded to neighboring Merced, this massive mixed use development now stands to be a suburban hamlet for the neighboring fields of alfalfa, corn and grapes. Approximately 73% of the land in this area is categorized as important farmland by the United States Department of Agriculture. Without a thriving community nearby, most of the estimated 16,000 new residents will drive long distances each day to the suburban and urban centers of Madera and Fresno, 13 and nine miles respectively.

“A poor EIR doesn’t just mean bad air quality we’ll be paying for, Valley taxpayers will also be subsidizing the infrastructure costs associated with the traffic increases and lack of water resources, which the EIR grossly underestimates. How can the Board of Supervisors require the developers to pay for road improvements or mitigate the lack of water if they aren’t fully informed on the extent of the problem?”, added Jonasson.

As a result, this “dumb growth” development will severely worsen the entire region’s chronic air pollution problems and high rates of asthma hospitalization, particularly in children under age five. The San Joaquin Valley has been continually cited with the worst air in the nation and currently does not meet federal health standards for air quality; specifically in the pollution categories for ozone and PM2.5.

This is not the first legal challenge to this development project. The Madera Oversight Coalition, Revive the San Joaquin, and the Dumna Tribal Council, representing local residents, successfully challenged the County’s certification of the developer’s EIR for the Project in 2008. As a result, the Fifth District Court of Appeal’s ordered the County to prepare a new legally-adequate EIR for the Project.

While the County attempted to comply with the court order, the revised final EIR, certified by the Board in November 2012, misstates many of the Project’s impacts and fails to analyze others. Numerous state agencies, local agencies, environmental groups, and members of the public provided the Board of Supervisors with their expert assessment of the EIR and raised concerns about the Project’s suburban sprawl nature and its great impacts on local infrastructure, traffic, regional air quality, urban blight, and wildlife before the vote. Entities including Caltrans, State Water Resources Control Board, City of Fresno, Coalition for Clean Air, Sierra Club and other experts documented numerous flaws in the report such as a poorly conducted traffic impact assessment, nondisclosure of realistic air quality impacts, disregard of evidence of severe deficiencies in available water resources to support the proposed population, improper mitigation efforts, and failure to address deficiencies identified in the previous litigation. The legal inadequacies in the revised EIR are detailed in the Coalition’s filed Petition for Writ of Mandate with the Superior Court of California for the County of Madera.

The Coalition for Clean Air seeks for the County to set aside and vacate its certification of the EIR and any permits and approvals of the Project based on the flawed EIR. In addition, it seeks a court order for the County to prepare and certify a legally adequate EIR for the Project so the potential significant health and environmental impacts are reasonably identify for the decision-makers and the public, and enable the formulation of realistic and feasible alternatives and mitigation measures to avoid those impacts.

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Established in 1971, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) is California’s only statewide organization exclusively advocating for healthy air. CCA is known for spearheading innovative air quality policies, such as the Smog Check program, ban on toxic dry cleaning chemicals, and incentive funding for alt fuels; all of which serve as nationwide standards. With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, CCA reduces air pollution and improves public health through advocacy, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.ccair.org

Coalition for Clean Air is represented by the law firm of Chatten-Brown and Carstens in this case.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2012 

Contact:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 562-237-1433

Co‐Sponsor Statement on Governor Brown’s signing of bills to clean air and create jobs

Sacramento, CA — Governor Brown signed into law a two‐bill package to establish a landmark framework to help cleanup our air and create jobs through wise investments of cap‐and‐trade revenue.

“Our poorest, most polluted communities will breathe easier thanks to these bills,” said Nidia Bautista, policy director atthe Coalition for Clean Air. “With climate change on the rise and high unemployment rates, our Governor today sent apowerful message that all Californians’ health and welfare matters. Governor Brown, Speaker Perez, and Senator deLeon deserve a big thank you for honoring commitments made to strengthen and protect all Californians. Within thispolicy framework, Californians who breathe the dirtiest air will soon see tangible, on‐the‐ground, green investments intheir communities to clean the air, provide jobs, and revitalize their communities.”

About the bills:

Senator Kevin de León (D‐Los Angeles), the author of SB 535, and co‐sponsored by Coalition for Clean Air, teamed upwith Assembly Speaker John Perez (D‐Los Angeles), who authored related bill, AB 1532, to pass a package of legislationto facilitate AB32 investment decision‐making. Setting the investment strategy and framework is the crucial first steptowards ramping up California’s clean energy economy, air quality improvements and the revitalization of the state’smost underserved communities. Potential investments include improved energy efficiency, solar and wind projects,transit improvements, low‐carbon freight transportation and urban greening across California.

SB 535 resulted from more than four years of effort to ensure the realization of the requirements in California’s GlobalWarming Solutions Act (AB 32) to “direct investments to the most disadvantaged communities.” The bill requires aminimum of 10% of the investments from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund are located in the identifiedneighborhoods, with 25% of the investments required to demonstrate a benefit to these communities with the purposeto meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals.

AB 1532, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, authored by Assembly Speaker John Perez (D‐Los Angeles) establishesthe broad framework and process for investing AB 32 auction revenues. The measure ensures a public process,transparency, and accountability by requiring agencies to develop investment plans, host public hearings, provideannual reporting, and ensure active oversight roles by legislative budget committees.

SB 535 is co‐sponsored by Coalition for Clean Air, the State Conference of the NAACP, the Greenlining Institute, EllaBaker Center, NRDC and Asian Pacific Environmental Network. The joint bill package is supported by a long list ofsupporters representing business, labor, environmental, social justice, health and many others, including the CaliforniaBlack Chamber of Commerce and Latin Business Association.

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Established in 1971, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) is California’s only statewide organization exclusively advocating for healthy air.CCA is known for spearheading innovative air quality policies, such as the Smog Check program, ban on toxic dry cleaning chemicals, and incentivefunding for alt fuels; all of which serve as nationwide standards. With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, CCA reduces air pollution andimproves public health through advocacy, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.ccair.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2012 

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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 562-237-1433

On the cusp of state’s first carbon auction, policy package to ensure transparency, accountability and equity in investment decisions clears legislative hurdles, now headed to governor’s desk

Effort establishes a framework to help tackle climate crisis, facilitate clean energy economy, clean the air and establish landmark policy to ensure benefits to underserved communities

Sacramento, CA — As the clock ran out on the 2012 legislative session, the California Legislature passed a two-bill package, that if signed by the Governor, will establish a landmark framework to help California meet its climate change goals by addressing investment decisions related to cap-and-trade auction revenue.  With California scheduled to have its first carbon auction in November, Senator Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), the author of SB 535, and co-sponsored by Coalition for Clean Air, teamed up with Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles), who authored a related bill, AB 1532, to pass a package of legislation designed to help tackle the climate crisis, facilitate California's clean energy economy, improve air quality and benefit the state’s most underserved communities.  Both bills will need to be signed by the Governor before October 1 for either to take effect.

Assembly bill 1532, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, authored by Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) establishes the broad framework and process for decision-making related to investing AB 32 auction revenues.  The measure ensures a public process, transparency, and accountability by requiring agencies to develop investment plans, host public hearings, provide annual reporting, and ensure active oversight roles by legislative budget committees.

SB 535, authored by State Senator Kevin de Leon (D- Los Angeles) is a four plus years effort to ensure the requirement of California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) to “direct investments to the most disadvantaged communities” is realized. The bill is co-sponsored by Coalition for Clean Air, the State Conference of the NAACP, the Greenlining Institute, Ella Baker Center, NRDC and Asian Pacific Environmental Network. The bill requires the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) to identify the most impacted and disadvantaged communities via a public process.  SB 535 ensures that a minimum of 10% of the investments from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund are located in the identified neighborhoods, with 25% of the investments needing to demonstrate a benefit to these communities, all within the purposes of meeting our greenhouse gas reduction goals.

While neither bill prescribes specific expenditures of projects and programs, if signed into law, the two bill package will facilitate decision-making regarding investments for a range of possible projects and programs within the parameters of reducing greenhouse gases, including improved energy efficiency, transit improvements, low-carbon freight transportation and urban greening to improve water efficiency. Supporters hope to maximize improvements in local air quality conditions through projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also reducing smog and exposure to toxic air pollutants particularly in communities already burdened with some of the highest pollution levels.

With mounting evidence and science on the expected impacts of climate change on California, this policy framework is timely and necessary now.

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The Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) has been dedicated to making sure that every breath you take is a breath of clean air since 1971.  With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, CCA reduces air pollution and improves public health in California through advocacy, outreach and education.  For more information, visit www.ccair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2012 

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Renowned Environmentalist Bill Magavern Joins the Coalition for Clean Air
 

Sacramento, CA—The Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) announced today that longtime environmental advocate Bill Magavern will join its staff of air quality advocates. He will work on a part-time basis starting August 6.

Magavern will fill the position of Senior Policy Advocate and serve as the project manager for a new statewide effort to reduce pollution from the freight industry—the work of a large coalition of California-based environmental and environmental justice groups.

“I’ve worked with Bill since the early ‘90s, and he’s one of the most respected environmental advocates in Sacramento,” said Dr. Joseph K. Lyou, CCA’s president and CEO. “Our staff and friends agree that he is an ideal fit, and we proudly welcome him to our team.”

An environmental advocate since 1988, Magavern served in Washington, D.C., as a staff attorney for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and director of Public Citizen’s Critical Mass Energy Project. After moving to California, he worked as Sacramento director of the Committee to Bridge the Gap. He has authored many reports and articles on energy and environmental policy and testified frequently at hearings of Congress and the California state legislature, as well as at many public proceedings of federal and state administrative agencies.

In 2000, Magavern joined Sierra Club California, where he advocated for environmental causes before the state legislature and administrative agencies and ultimately became director. His issue areas included air quality, global warming, toxics, recycling/solid waste, pesticides, enforcement, environmental justice, and environmental health. He was named a Clean Air Champion in 2007 by the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, and he chairs the External Advisory Group for the Department of Toxic Substances Control.

“I am eager to return  to the work of protecting Californians’ health and environment,” said Magavern, “and I’m especially pleased to be doing that work with such an effective organization as the Coalition for Clean Air.”

Magavern received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, where he won the Faculty and Trial Technique awards. He earned his bachelor’s degree in American Civilization, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, at Brown University.

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With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air has worked to restore clean air to California since 1971. We are dedicated to reducing emissions and improving public health through advocacy, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.ccair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2012 

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562-858-5596 cell

SoCal Port Area to Develop Zero-Emission Truck Route

Pilot project to use electric power technology on high-volume freight corridor

Los Angeles, CA—The Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) celebrated today as the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)—the regional planning agency for the Los Angeles region—approved a plan that will significantly reduce air pollution at the San Pedro Bay ports and protect public health.

The plan calls for the deployment of zero-emission trucks along the Terminal Island Freeway and connecting routes at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The pilot project will begin in 2013 and, if successful, will form the basis for an ongoing zero-emission freight route, to roll out in 2015. CCA has spent much of the past 10 years supporting plans and policies that reduce port air pollution and protect the health of nearby community members.

“SCAG acted boldly today,” said Luis Cabrales, CCA’s deputy director of campaigns. “We’re encouraged that SCAG shares our vision of a zero-emission future in Southern California.”

The Near-Term Zero-Emission Technology Demonstration and Initial Deployment project will demonstrate and initially deploy “wayside” technology, providing power to the scores of heavy-duty vehicles transporting goods around the area. This proven technology has already been used for decades to power electric buses, mining trucks and rail systems. In combination with other zero-emission technologies, wayside power can provide flexibility, range and compatibility with current operations.

The Terminal Island Freeway is an important and ideal venue to demonstrate this technology.  It serves as a transport corridor for high volumes of freight, causing a substantial air pollution impact on nearby communities. With shipping volumes increasing and new infrastructure being developed, CCA views this is as a timely opportunity to invest responsibly. 

“We can’t afford to wait. The economy is rebounding, and port traffic is growing,” added Cabrales. “We must protect local neighborhoods and transition to cleaner technologies now.”

CCA worked side-by-side with NRDC, the South Coast Air Quality Management District and SCAG to bolster the RTP.  CCA focused on the freight transport plan to lock in more aggressive air pollution reduction strategies. The plan language negotiated by CCA calls for cleaning up existing freight corridors, adopting efficiency strategies, and using lower-emission technology that is already available.

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With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air has worked to restore clean air to California since 1971. We are dedicated to reducing emissions and improving public health through advocacy, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.ccair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2012 

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San Pedro Community Protests Railyard Project

Environmental, health and economy experts join port-area residents to testify against plans

San Pedro, CA—Community members and environment and health advocates gathered this morning to officially voice their concerns about the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project. If built as proposed by the Port of Los Angeles (POLA), the 153-acre railyard will be the largest of its kind in the country. Officials at POLA and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway have touted the project as a path to improving air quality while creating jobs; but experts predict the opposite effect.

The railyard’s opponents—including the Coalition for Clean Air, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, and Coalition for a Safe Environment—argue that the draft environmental impact report (EIR) ignores more than 30 studies showing lung cancer in workers exposed to diesel exhaust. The Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education opposed the EIR, saying that the port has failed to analyze the railyard’s impacts on the public schools situated just a few hundred yards away.

“As the proposal stands now, this railyard is going to increase pollution, noise and traffic in multiple areas, including Long Beach, Carson and Wilmington,” said Luis Cabrales, deputy director of campaigns at the Coalition for Clean Air. “Many of those who will be impacted live in low-income communities that already bear those heavy burdens.”

“If this project is built, the residents…will suffer negative health and quality-of-life impacts for decades," said Long Beach resident and environmental justice advocate Elena Rodriguez.

Long Beach City Council has asked POLA to clarify various concerns, including inaccuracies, the lack of plans for zero-emission technologies, and a disregard for the potential job loss from relocating businesses.

“We are concerned that the SCIG will cost more jobs to the local economy than the project will ever create,” said Dwight Robinson, vice president of the Los Angeles Harbor Grain Terminal, which ships agricultural products from California to consumers all over Asia. “Our company provides a service that only one or two other companies in the West Coast provide, yet SCIG plans do not include us in the picture,” he added.

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With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air has worked to restore clean air to California since 1971. We are dedicated to reducing emissions and improving public health through advocacy, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.ccair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2012

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562-237-1433 cell

California in the Driver’s Seat with New Clean Car Standards

Los Angeles, CA—Boosting California’s leadership role in setting the bar for cleaner  vehicles, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) today adopted a strong suite of new regulations for vehicles model years 2017 and beyond.

The ARB developed California vehicle greenhouse gas (GHGs) and smog-forming pollution standards that would harmonize with federal ones, which they are simultaneously working with federal agencies to develop. The state has also been updating its pioneering Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program and a rule to ensure ZEV fueling infrastructure. These standards are expected to help clean up the air, reduce GHGs, and save consumers about $4,000 over the life of the vehicle.

“Today is the kind of day we envisioned in 2002 when we co-sponsored AB 1493, the Pavley bill, which established the nation’s first clean car standards,” said Dr. Joseph K. Lyou, president and CEO of Coalition for Clean Air. That bill, known as California’s Clean Cars Law, led the way for the Obama administration’s 2010 fuel standards for cars and trucks from 2012 to 2016.

“We applaud the Air Board for developing regulations that will put California—and the rest of the country—on a path to achieve clean air and help prevent climate change,” added Lyou. “While the proposed regulations aren’t perfect, they still merit a ‘bravo.’” Today’s historic action sets the course for creation of advanced vehicle technology, cut air pollution and save consumer dollars.

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With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air has worked to restore clean air to California since 1971. We are dedicated to reducing emissions and improving public health through advocacy, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.ccair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2011

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(559) 448-6134 Cell

Valley doctor appointed to regional, state air boards
Environmental, health advocates laud appointment of Dr. Sherriffs, physician and air quality advocate

Fresno, CA—Governor Brown and California Air Resources Board (ARB) Chairman Mary Nichols have officially announced the appointment of Alexander Sherriffs, M.D., as a board member of both the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) and the ARB.

A longtime family physician and Valley resident since 1978, Dr. Sherriffs serves the small, primarily Hispanic community of Fowler. And as a founding member of the Fresno-Madera Medical Society’s air quality group, he has been actively engaged in promoting healthy air.

“Dr. Sherriffs has seen first-hand the effects of air pollution on his patients’ health,” said Elizabeth Jonasson, campaign/outreach associate in the Fresno office of the Coalition for Clean Air. “His knowledge and experience will be a valuable asset on both air boards, which are crucial in ensuring public health in the Valley and throughout California.”

This appointment is the culmination of months of work by a diverse group of stakeholders. Dr. Sherriffs will start serving immediately at the monthly meetings of each board. His responsibilities include reviewing draft regulation, consulting with staff and the community, and ensuring proposed rules meet the requirements to clean the air of the Valley and the state. State senate confirmation is pending.

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With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air has worked to restore clean air to California since 1971. We are dedicated to reducing emissions and improving public health through advocacy, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.coalitionforcleanair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2011

Contact:
Luis Cabrales (English and Spanish), (562) 858- 5596 Cell
Jesse Marquez, (310) 704-1265 Cell

Hundreds of port workers, residents speak out against rail project
Environmental, health experts join port-area workers and residents to rally and testify against new railyard plans

Wilmington, CA—Hundreds of workers, community members, and environment and health advocates gathered last night to protest plans to build an intermodal railyard next to homes, schools and parks in west Long Beach.

Proposed by the Port of Los Angeles (POLA), the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project.

the 153-acre Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project
would increase pollution, noise and traffic, further impacting heavily polluted communities in Long Beach, Carson and Wilmington.

“It’s a disastrous choice of location—just a few hundred feet from where families live and kids go to school,” said Luis Cabrales, deputy director of campaigns at the Coalition for Clean Air. “Moreover, the project does not include plans for on-dock rail, emerging zero-emission technologies, or other modernizations that would help reduce emissions and create green tech jobs.”

“If this project is built, the community will suffer negative health and quality-of-life impacts for decades," said Long Beach resident and transportation advocate Ryan Wiggins. "With the economic slowdown, this project won't be needed for many years. We can take this opportunity to avoid the mistakes of the past and make a plan to invest in technologies that will improve our health, create jobs, and ensure our ability to compete in the 21st-century economy."

Touted as a “path to create jobs while improving air quality” by POLA, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway, and union officials, this project will in fact eliminate more jobs, emit more air pollution, and create more truck and vehicle traffic than already exists in the area.

“In order to create jobs, the SCIG will first put several thousand people, including several hundred local residents, out of work,” said Dwight Robinson, vice president of Los Angeles Harbor Grain Terminal. “Our company provides a service that only one or two other companies in the West Coast provide, yet SCIG plans do not include us in the picture.”

BNSF, the corporation that will operate the SCIG, argues it will clean up the air by replacing an existing truck yard, eliminating truck trips on the I-710 freeway and investing in green technology. But local residents, experts and health advocates disagree with the company’s claims and the assessments in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared by POLA staff.

“The report does not take into account the millions of truck trips through these streets,” said Jesse Marquez, founder and executive director of Coalition for a Safe Environment, and a lifetime Wilmington resident. “And by its own reports, BNSF’s abandoned railroad operations have left more than 250 alleged contaminated sites around the country; this company cannot be trusted.”

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With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air has worked to restore clean air to California since 1971. We are dedicated to reducing emissions and improving public health through advocacy, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.coalitionforcleanair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2011

Contact:
Martin Schlageter: Cell (323) 807-2505
Monica Howe: (213) 223-6870

Metro Board Votes for Renewable Energy Policy

Los Angeles, CA—The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) board today voted unanimously to establish a landmark renewable energy policy for the agency. The policy calls for:

1. Pilot projects to integrate renewable energy on transit facilities, including solar panels on the Silver Line Station in El Monte
2. Investigation of the energy generation potential on Metro properties
3. The incorporation of renewable energy into new construction of transit projects

Metro uses approximately $26 million in electricity each year.

“With this policy, Metro is on a clean and smart road to renewable energy. It will be good for the environment and the bottom line,” said Martin Schlageter, campaign director for the Coalition for Clean Air (CCA). CCA worked closely with Move LA and the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, among others, to help shape this policy.

The policy was initiated by a motion made earlier this year by Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro board member Mark Ridley-Thomas, who said:

Metro provides improved mobility to our community, and we can do so cleanly and sustainably. It is only natural, then, for Metro to lead in developing renewable energy sources. Metro can maximize the use of its many tracks, stations and facility locations and make the most of its dollars by exploring solar, wind and even train and bus braking energy as new sources of electric power.

With the cost of electricity rising, Metro has developed a plan for energy conservation on its facilities. Now it can explore the potential for renewable energy on some of its 2,000 properties.

View the policy (1.1 Mb PDF)

At the 2011 California Air Quality Awards, CCA honored Metro for successfully becoming the first major transit agency in the world to operate entirely on clean-fuel buses. For more on Metro’s sustainability efforts, visit http://www.metro.net/projects/metro-environmental

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With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) has worked to restore clean air to California since 1971. CCA is dedicated to reducing emissions and improving public health through advocacy, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.coalitionforcleanair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2011

Contact:
Dr. Joseph K. Lyou: Cell (310) 493-8111 
Monica Howe: Cell (213) 223-6870

Obama Decision to Abandon the Adoption of New National Smog Standards Is Bad for Public Health and the Green Economy

Los Angeles, CA—The Coalition for Clean Air today challenged President Barack Obama to reconsider his decision to abandon the adoption of new, more protective national smog standards.  Obama, who made the announcement today, officially reneged on a promise by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to have the new standards adopted by July 2011.

The following is a statement from Dr. Joseph Lyou, President and CEO of the Coalition for Clean Air, a public interest group fighting for clean air in California. 

Bad decision, Mr. President.

We must not let the fear mongering of polluters triumph over science and the law. The Administration’s own economic analysis shows that new smog standards will save lives, clean our air and save billions more than they cost.¹ It comes down to a question of who pays—our children, grandparents, asthmatics and those living in our most polluted communities, or those responsible for creating the pollution in the first place.

Driven in large part by the demand for clean air, clean energy and green technology are among the fastest growing segments of our economy. The delay in adopting new smog standards creates enormous uncertainty for those who invest in our green economy. Punting a decision until 2013 extends the unemployment line instead of expanding green jobs, just as we begin shifting to a healthier and more environmentally and economically sustainable future.

The US EPA recently found that the Clean Air Act will save nearly $2 trillion between 1990 and 2020.² President Obama should stop flaunting the Clean Air Act, reverse course and issue the new smog standards as promised.

>  Download our 2010 comment letter to the U.S. EPA 656.27 Kb

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With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air has worked to restore clean air to California since 1971. CCA is dedicated to reducing emissions and improving public health through advocacy, outreach and education.

1. See http://www.epa.gov/ttnecas1/regdata/RIAs/s1-supplemental_analysis_full.pdf
2. See http://www.epa.gov/air/sect812/prospective2.html