Comment Log Display

November 15, 2021
Members, California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
VIA EMAIL: harborcraft@arb.ca.gov

RE: Proposed Amendments to the Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation 

Dear Members of the Board:
I am a resident of Catalina Island that has lived here for since
1975. My husband is a third-generation islander and we have raised
three children on the island. In the past, we owned a business that
was sold in 2011. We both still work and all jobs on the inland
(except rock quarry) are tourism related.
We are very concerned about your proposed rules requiring ferries
to be powered by Tier 4 classified engines. Ferry service is
critical for those of us who live here, and these rules could
devastate our lives and our livelihoods. The costs associated to
comply with the proposed amendment will have a devastating impact
on the lives of all residents. Visitors will also be impacted and
many will choose to not visit. Businesses will struggle and fail,
residents will be forced to move and the island population will
shrivel. Workers will not be able to live here and support the
current economy. Wealthy homeowners that wish a 'deserted island'
feeling may stay, but services will be extremely limited as the
work force will be gone! 
I travel the ferry every three weeks taking a friend to chemo. This
cost will add to the burden but the treatments are not an option.
Living here I have traveled to the mainland for orthodontic work,
health care, surgeries, etc. and all these were not optional.
Necessary travel for locals will become too expensive. We also
travel for pleasure as do the visitors to our island. We need the
visitors to survive!
I urge you to reject the new rules or to modify them so they do not
have a negative impact on me, my fellow residents, and our island
community on Catalina.
Thank you,
Victoria and Patrick Johnson
13 Canyon Terrace, PO Box 103, Avalon, CA 90704
424.264.9318
islewoman@yahoo.com