What's New List Serve Post Display

California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 2, 2010.  


This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office
of Communications.  You may need to sign in or register with
individual websites to view some of the following news articles.


AB 32

Opinion: AB32 Will Improve Lives of Low Income and Minority
Californians. This November, California voters have a clear
choice: Accept our continued dependence on foreign oil or embrace
the opportunity to lead the worldwide clean-energy revolution.
Texas oil companies have taken advantage of our initiative system
to place Proposition 23 on the ballot in an attempt to undo
California's Global Warming Solutions Act, which requires the
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_15649900

Senate's Energy Bill: What a Disappointment. The following
editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Thursday, July 29:
After Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., unveiled an
energy bill Tuesday that was so watered down from earlier
versions that it was practically leaking on the carpet; President
Obama insisted that he was still committed to meaningful action
on climate change. Posted.
http://www.modbee.com/2010/08/02/1276528/senates-energy-bill-what-a-disappointment.html#ixzz0vSmoA2iG

ARB Sees REDD in AB32 Future. With the fall of the US federal
climate bill, eyes are shifting west to California's Air
Resources Board (ARB) as it nears the November release of its
cap-and-trade regulations under AB32. On Friday, the Board met
with stakeholders about inclusion of reduced emission from
deforestation and degradation (REDD). And as far as updates on
the latest REDD developments are concerned, ARB and its
stakeholders delivered the goods. Posted.
http://eko-eco.com/archive/arb-sees-redd-in-ab32-future.php

CLIMATE CHANGE/GHG’S

Cutting Soot Emissions May Slow Climate Change In Arctic –
Study. A new study confirms that black carbon -- more commonly
known as soot -- is a significant player in global warming. The
work by Mark Jacobson, director of Stanford University's
Atmosphere/Energy program and a fellow at the university's Woods
Institute, argues that cutting emissions of black carbon may be
the fastest method to limit the ongoing loss of ice in the
Arctic, which is warming twice as fast as the global average.
Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/08/02/2

Study Claims Conventional Ag Limits Greenhouse Gas. Advances in
conventional agriculture have dramatically slowed the flow of
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, in part by allowing farmers
to grow more food to meet world demand without plowing up vast
tracts of land, a study by three Stanford University researchers
has found. Posted.
http://www.modbee.com/2010/08/02/1276307/study-claims-conventional-ag-limits.html#ixzz0vSnuKBhx

The Truth About Global Warming. IN A DEPRESSING case of irony by
juxtaposition, the death of climate change legislation in the
Senate has been followed by the appearance of two government
reports in the past week that underscore the overwhelming
scientific case for global warming -- and go out of the way to
repudiate skeptics. Posted.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/01/AR2010080102850.html

EPA Developing Tool to Assist in Enviro Justice Initiative. U.S.
EPA is working on a coarse screening tool as part of its
"environmental justice" initiative to help its employees spot
pockets of people whose health has suffered disproportionally
over the years. The Environmental Justice Strategic Enforcement
Assessment Tool uses a complex combination of census data, a
respiratory hazard index, poverty levels, toxic emissions, infant
mortality, an index of documented pollution events and other such
numbers to assign a score to a geographical area. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/07/30/30greenwire-epa-developing-tool-to-assist-in-enviro-justic-11341.html

Calif. Gives Guidance On Offsets' Eligibility. Offset providers
rejoiced last week at California regulators' announcement that
they would accept offsets from existing projects and use existing
protocols for at least four arenas of emissions reductions. Air
Resources Board staff members released a white paper last week
outlining their thinking. The paper marks an official embrace of
offsets registered through the Climate Action Reserve, an
offshoot of a nonprofit set up by California in 2001 to oversee
voluntary emissions reporting. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/08/02/5

AIR QUALITY

Cleaner Air In '09: County Met Federal Clean Air Standard For
First Time In Five Years. Regulators are crediting Chico-area
residents for helping curb air pollution in 2009 so successfully
that Butte County met a key federal clean air standard for the
first time in years. The decrease in so-called particulate matter
— microscopic grains that can harm the lungs and heart — may be
the result of local residents reducing their use of wood-burning
stoves and fireplaces, said Sylvia Zulawnick, manager of the
particulate matter analysis section at the California Air
Resources Board in Sacramento. Posted.
http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_15645536

Air District Guidelines Cloud Issue. New guidelines by the Bay
Area Air Quality Management District on greenhouse gas emissions
relating to construction projects have the potential to set forth
clearer standards, but concerns have been raised that some
provisions could increase the time and cost for the
already-complex process of environmental impact reviews. Posted.
http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/23513/air-district-guidelines-cloud-issue/

Farm Burning Takes Center Stage In Sacramento. The debate over
the burning of agricultural waste is heating up once again.
During an informational hearing Wednesday in Sacramento, Sen.
Dean Florez (D-Shafter) called into question how some farmers
have been able to continue to set ablaze uprooted trees and
clippings. Florez wrote a law in 2003 to phase out farm burning
for good. The three-phase legislation, which took effect in 2005,
eliminated some burning the year it was put into practice, more
in 2007 and was scheduled to ban all burning this year. Posted.
http://www.recorderonline.com/common/printer/view.php?db=porterville&id=46078

Eye on The Environment: Ozone Spikes In Summer; Here Are Ways To
Help. Ozone season is in full swing. Smog season, usually May
through October, is when weather conditions are most conducive to
ozone production. At ground level, ozone can be harmful to your
health. High levels are usually recorded in summer months when
temperatures are high and wind is stagnant or light. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jul/31/ozone-spikes-in-summer-here-are-ways-to-help/#ixzz0vSlIPn5o


Mild Valley Weather Brews Record Clean-Air Year. If the San
Joaquin Valley violated the federal ozone standard every day for
the rest of the summer, this still would be the cleanest season
on record. Cool weather in spring and early summer is the most
obvious reason, but there is more to it than pleasant
temperatures, say air quality experts. Posted. 
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/07/30/2024901/mild-valley-weather-brews-record.html#ixzz0vSneZvhk

Mild Weather, Summer Breezes Keep Ozone Low. No sweat. Breathe
easy. Mild temperatures in the Sacramento region this summer have
meant something more than freedom from perspiration. Cool weather
has brought better air quality, and fewer respiratory problems
for those who suffer when ozone levels rise. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/31/2927152/mild-weather-summer-breeze-keep.html#ixzz0vT3pI1yj

Fears Of Pervasive Air Pollution Stir Up Politics In Texas Shale
Gas Country. Fort Worth, Texas -- For nearly a year Christine and
Tim Ruggiero have battled the powerful Texas oil and gas industry
and the inertia of regulators responsible for protecting air
quality and public health. Aruba Petroleum Inc. started moving
dirt on the horse pasture of the couple's 10-acre lot north of
Fort Worth in September. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/08/02/1

PORTS

California Ports Recognize Clean Air Award Winners. Five
California maritime and cargo companies that have taken steps to
improve air quality collected honors last week at the third
annual San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan Air Quality
Awards presented by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The
recipients include a wide array of port businesses: a trucking
firm, a scrap metal recycler, a marine terminal operator, a
tugboat company and a port-pilot service. All voluntarily went
above and beyond required air quality measures, the ports say.
Posted.
http://www.ccjdigital.com/california-ports-recognize-clean-air-award-winners/

‘Clean Ports Act’ Introduced; Could Have Impact On Trucking
Beyond Ports. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the senior
Northeastern Democrat on the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, introduced the Clean Ports Act of 2010
on Thursday, according to a statement on his website.  The bill,
which has 57 original co-sponsors, would amend the Federal Motor
Carrier Act to allow ports to enact and enforce clean truck
programs and implement environmental programs “above the current
federal requirements.” Posted.
http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2010/7/30/CleanPortsActintroducedcouldhaveimpactontruckingbeyondports.aspx

Bill Introduced to Empower Ports in Clean-Truck Fight. A bill
just introduced in Congress would give federal approval to local
cities and ports to enact their own clean-truck programs, similar
to what the Port of Los Angeles has done. The idea of regulating
the air around ports, though, has the port community split. 
“[The American Assn. of Port Authorities (AAPA)] supports port
activities to improve the environment and reduce the
environmental impacts of port operations,” Aaron Ellis, spokesman
for  AAPA told Fleet Owner. “ Posted.
http://fleetowner.com/news/topstory/bill-introduced-empower-ports-0730/

Bill Would Allow Stricter Clean Trucking Regulations For Ports.
“Unsustainable” is how officials at the Port of Los Angeles
describe their Clean Truck Program.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and 57 congressional co-sponsors
want to fix that with a new bill. On Thursday, Nadler introduced
the "Clean Ports Act of 2010" that would amend the Federal Motor
Carrier Act to allow ports to enact and enforce clean truck
programs that exceed current federal requirements.  Posted.
http://www.californiawatch.org/watchblog/23-legislation-could-5-let-port-cities-enforce-stricter-clean-trucking-programs

VEHICLES

Tesla Subsidy Vanishing Amid Electric Vehicle Boom. Twenty years
ago the California Air Resources Board established the zero
emissions vehicle mandate requiring the largest automakers to
build and sell electric vehicles. Twelve states adopted the same
aggressive targets, creating what remains the strongest
regulatory force driving the development of battery electric and
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Posted.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/08/tesla-subsidy-vanishing-amid-electric-vehicle-boom/#ixzz0vT3FXtEk

RECYCLE

Calif. E-Waste Program Beset By Fraud. California's
groundbreaking program to recycle electronic waste has been
hounded by fraud, and smuggling from out of state has become
rampant. A McClatchy Newspapers investigation found that
recyclers and collectors may have submitted $30 million worth of
ineligible claims that were paid out by the state, on top of $23
million that were weeded out. More than 24 e-waste firms have
been investigated for fraud, but none were fined or prosecuted.
Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2010/08/02/8

BLOGS

Going Green: Is It About Jobs or the Environment? The latest
hickup over Proposition 23, which its backers call the California
Jobs Initiative, is about the nature of the law it seeks to
suspend, AB 32, known as Global Warming Solutions Act. AB 32 was
enacted in 2006, and the heart of the law puts California on a
path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 by 2020. The
Schwarzenegger administration has said that the law would create
100,000 "green" jobs in new industries, thereby making the law a
jobs-creation effort, which is supposed to be phased in beginning
next year. Posted.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/blogs/prop-zero/Proposition-23-Is-It-About-Jobs-or-the-Environment-99719424.html

Villaraigosa's Harbor Clean Air Fight Shifts to Washington.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s fight to clean up the air in the
heavily polluted Los Angeles harbor—stymied in the courts---has
shifted to Congress where his labor and environmental allies have
more clout. At stake is the air quality in the harbor communities
of San Pedro and Wilmington as well as in the small cities of
Southeastern Los Angeles County, where the predominantly Latino
low income residents are afflicted with bad air as well as—in
many cases—bad government. Posted.
http://www.laobserved.com/boyarsky/2010/07/mayor_antonio_villaraigosas_fi.php