Comment Log Display

Dear Ms. Nichols and California Air Pollution Control District
Board Members:

I have lived in Southern Santa Barbara County for the past 28
years. I have witnessed many times the plume of exhaust that
lingers like a pall over the channel during days of heavy ship
traffic.  The cargo ships traveling off our coast produce
significant GHG and toxic air emissions that impact our coastal
communities, not only visually, but as a health risk.

As a small boat operator, I have also witnessed first hand the
large whales that congregate to fed in the productive Santa Barbara
Channel. Santa Barbara Channel has become a destination to see
Endangered Blue and Fin whales, among others, and the
whale-watching industry has been doing well.

Large cargo ships traveling at high speeds pose a threat to whales.
Slowing down cargo ships meets multiple objectives in your Draft
Cap-and-Trade Investment Plan including: reducing GHG emissions and
other air pollutants, improving public health, and better
protecting whales. 

I support including vessel speed reduction in your Final Plan as a
priority for funding and request Cap-and-Trade money be directed to
the Vessel Speed Reduction Initiative. 

I appreciate the opportunity to comment on this critical issue.

Thank you, Jessica Altstatt