Release 07-50
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2007

    Patricia Rey
(916) 322-2990 
www.arb.ca.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY
San Joaquin Valley air quality task force and community meetings
November 7 in Merced


MERCED - The ARB will host a task force and a community meeting this Wednesday in Merced to hear from task force members and residents about local air quality concerns in the San Joaquin Valley. Based on input received from prior meetings, ARB will introduce to the attendees a report containing an evaluation of additional local control measures for accelerating 8-hour ozone attainment in the San Joaquin Valley.

The task force will continue to explore ideas to accelerate air quality progress for the region through additional programs and specific strategies. The group is comprised of members of environmental/community groups, local businesses/industries and government. General public is welcome.

Details on the task force meeting are as follows:

Wednesday, November 7, 2007
1-4 pm
Merced County Administration Building, Room 310
222 M Street
Merced, CA

At the community meeting, residents will have the opportunity to ask questions about current ARB efforts and share ideas on additional measures to be considered to accomplish cleaner air. To serve the San Joaquin Valley population, ARB held two previous meetings to cover the southern (in Arvin) and central (in Parlier) portions of the Valley. This upcoming gathering in Merced will serve the northern part of the air district.

The community meeting is scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, November 7, 2007
6-8 pm
Tenaya Middle School
760 West 8th Street
(corner of 8th and N Streets)
Merced, CA

This is the final gathering of a series of task force and community meetings in the San Joaquin Valley.
The report introduced at these two meetings will then be presented to the ARB in Sacramento during the November 15, 2007 hearing.

Spanish language translation will be available at the community meeting.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

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