|
This page last reviewed April 3, 2009
 |
Air
Pollution Research: Planning
and Committees
|
| Background |
The
Legislature created the Board’s
research program in 1971 and identified it as an integral part of an
effective air pollution control program. With the mandate as its
foundation, theprogram
encompasses all aspects of air pollution. The program has and continues
to sponsor relevant
research of the highest scientific quality that accordingly serves as
the foundation for
effective regulatory decisions. Based on the complex nature of
California’s air pollution problem and
solutions and in order to make effective decisions, research requires a
comprehensive look at the
interrelationships among air pollution issues. To assist the Board in
managing a technically sound
research program, the Legislature created the Research Screening
Committee to oversee the
program. ARB’s scientific technical staff serve as contract managers
and closely monitor and manage the
work performed by outside contractors.
|
| Research
Plan |
The
Annual Research Plan describes the research projects the Board will
recommend funding for the following fiscal year. The latest
Annual Research Plan can be viewed
by following this link Planned
Air Pollution Research for Fiscal Year 2008/2009. Please view our additional information about the planning process.
ARB's
regulatory priorities for the next decade are detailed in the
Strategic Plan
for Research, April 2003 Update (1,511 KB PDF) The
objective of
the plan is to provide more focused direction for ARB's research
program, provide findings in a timely fashion, and better leverage
state funds. Implementing a Strategic Plan will help ensure that
limited resources are used efficiently and that the research efforts
will effectively serve the need of the ARB.
In addition to the Strategic and Annual Research Plans, ARB conducts
vulnerable populations research. The overall goal of the
Vulnerable Populations Research Program (VPRP) is to provide the
scientific support, through research efforts, for ARB's regulatory and
non-regulatory programs that aim to protect all California residents,
including those subpopulations considered especially vulnerable, from
the adverse effects of air pollution. The major objectives of
the VPRP are to identify susceptible subpopulations, to quantify the
degree to which their health is compromised, and to characterize their
exposure to air pollutants. The ARB has released the VPRP
2003 Progress Report and Research Plan
which presents ARB's past and current activities and priorities for
future activities in the implementation of this Program. For
more information about the VPRP, contact Dr. Alvaro Alvarado at (916)
445-4843.
The Board sponsors a program called the Innovative Clean Air
Technologies (ICAT) program that co-funds the demonstration of
innovative technologies that can reduce air pollution.
|
|
Committees |
The
Board-appointed Research Screening Committee (RSC) oversees the ARB’s
extramural research program.
The Scientific Review Panel (SRP) is charged with evaluating the risk
assessments of substances proposed for identification as toxic air
contaminants.
|
For more information
about Air Pollution Research, contact Dr. Susan Fischer at (916)
324-0627 or sfischer@arb.ca.gov.
|
