Santa Barbara County Air Quality News • Issue 95 • Summer 2008 On the Air

Taking a Vacation from the Gas Pump

s gas prices rose in the past compared with May of 2007, a Coast Starlight (+ 28 percent), Ayear, more Americans took 3.7 percent drop. Caltrans the San Joaquins (+ 32 percent) a vacation from the gas pump, reported a 5 percent drop and the Pacific Surfliner driving fewer miles, and making in vehicle miles traveled in (+ 12 percent). Brian Hart, more car-free transportation California in June 2008 Director of Field Marketing-West choices. Cars and trucks are a as compared with June for Amtrak, noted that ridership major source of smog-forming of 2007 (see graph page on the Surfliner has been pollution, and of greenhouse gases two). The Santa Barbara increasing significantly every year that contribute to global climate County Association of for the last several years, making change; reduced vehicle miles and Governments reported a 12 percent increase for this past increased alternate-transportation that average weekday fiscal year even more impressive. miles help efforts for cleaner air traffic volumes decreased He remarked, “People are and a healthier planet. at the Santa Barbara discovering–or rediscovering–the County-Ventura pleasures of train travel. They’re National, state and local numbers County line for the forming new transportation reflected the trend towards first few months of habits.” Amtrak is a partner in the fewer car trips and more bus, 2008 as compared District’s Santa Barbara Car Free train, and bike trips. The U.S. with 2007 and 2006. Program, and a special discount Department of Transportation on the Pacific Surfliner and announced in August that since Ridership on Amtrak San Joaquins services is offered last November, Americans have trains was up 14 percent through the Car Free program’s driven 53.2 billion miles less than overall for Fiscal Year In June, the District’s Santa Barbara Car Free website. Project launched a “Take a Vacation from the Gas they did over the same period (FY) 2007-2008 compared Pump” promotion to encourage visitors to arrive in a year earlier. According to the to FY 2006-2007. Ridership the area car free. The Project, initiated and led by Commuter bus services in the the District, is a cooperative partnership of more Federal Highway Administration, increases were high for the than 100 businesses, agencies, organizations and county saw more riders during Americans drove nearly 10 billion three trains that stop in individuals — all encouraging car free travel to this period as well. In the first and around Santa Barbara for cleaner air and a healthier planet. fewer miles in May 2008 Santa Barbara County: the (continued on page two) Gap and Basin Fires Affect County’s Air Inside...

moke and ash from two Santa Maria and Santa Barbara be stirred back up into the air, New MarBorg Swildfires affected the monitoring stations in late June. causing localized areas of poor CNG Truck county’s air in June and July, and air quality. The District received the District issued several air During the Gap Fire, air quality calls from county residents Permit Updates quality advisories with the County was poor on several days due complaining about dust and ash Public Health Department urging to smoke and ash. While the in the air caused by use of leaf Green Business Program residents to stay indoors and Goleta area was the most directly blowers by gardening services. avoid outdoor exercise when air impacted, other areas of Southern New Division quality was poor. Smoke and ash Santa Barbara County were Last year, several weeks after Manager from the in also affected, as were areas in the was out, high Monterey County were impacting the Santa Ynez Valley and in winds brought dust and ash into New Staff air quality in the county even Northern Santa Barbara County. Southern Santa Barbara County, before the Gap Fire started July 1, Even after the most critical period, resulting in extremely poor air CEQA and Climate as shown by higher readings ash that had been deposited quality on days in October and Change for particle pollution at the on the ground continued to (continued on page two) Vacation from the Gas Pump (cont’d) three months of 2008, ridership FY 2007-2008 ridership, compared 2006 California Highway Travel 2007 on the Coastal Express from with the previous fiscal year. 2008 Ventura to Santa Barbara was up 20 percent over the same period The Santa Barbara Metropolitan 5 4 in 2007, and ridership on the Transit District (MTD) reported 3 Clean Air Express from Santa for the first time ever, more Maria and Lompoc to Santa than 8 million passengers rod e 2 Barbara was up 19 percent for MTD in a single fiscal year, 1 June of 2008 compared with FY 2007-2008, a 5 percent 0 June of 2007. In fact, for each of ridership increase over -1 the last three months the Clean FY 2006-2007. -2

Air Express service has set new Change Percent -3 ridership records. The San Luis More county residents were -4 Obispo Regional Transit Authority biking as well. A bike count in -5 reported a ridership increase June by the Santa Barbara Bicycle -6 of 29 percent for the service Coalition showed a 14 percent -7 -8 Jan Feb Mar between San Luis Obispo and increase in the number of Apr May Jun Santa Maria for FY 2007-2008 bicyclists at the six busiest Source: Caltrans Traffic Operations over the previous fiscal year. intersections in Santa Barbara The graph shows the percent change of vehicle miles traveled in California for the same time over the averages for those periods for 2006, 2007 and 2008. The numbers for 2008 to date show a negative percent change, or a drop in vehicle miles traveled, while the numbers for 2006 and 2007 show some Transit bus ridership was up all intersections since 2000. Bike positive increases in vehicle miles traveled. over the county too. Santa Maria counts are done on midweek Area Transit (SMAT) reported an days, 4:00-6:00 PM, to count more. Said Fertig, “It certainly high price of gas, and the effects 8 percent increase in ridership bicycle commuters in the seems clear that the cost of on valued workers. Many have on SMAT buses for May of 2008 numbers. gasoline is affecting behavior, used the Commute Challenge over May of 2007, and an but likely other factors—like to launch commuter benefits for 11 percent increase for May of Coalition President Ralph Fertig concern about fossil-fuel’s effect employees.“ 2008 over May of 2007 for noted that some local bike shops on our climate, and rising obesity the Breeze Bus service, which were reporting an increase in rates—are also contributing.” Will riders continue to make connects Santa Maria, Vandenberg business, with customers coming alternate-transportation choices as Air Force Base, and Lompoc. in to outfit their bikes for bike In August, SBCAG Traffic gas prices go down? Remarked Guadalupe Transit reported commuting, get their kids’ bikes Solutions launched the Commute Austin O’Dell, Transit Services a 15 percent increase in ready for riding to school, and Challenge program, sponsored Manager for the City of Santa by the District and several Maria, “Of course some of the other agencies. County teams, ridership increase is directly (cont’d) Fires Affect County’s Air including three District teams, are related to the increase in fuel logging alternate-transportation prices. But I think some riders December. Similar wind patterns seasons in the county have lasted miles in August and September, will stay. They are experiencing could occur this year, although into December in recent years, competing for prizes. Just two the benefits of bus transportation, air quality might not be impacted and residents should remain weeks after the program’s launch and have already made changes as significantly. The Gap Fire was prepared and vigilant. there were more than 340 in their commute choices.” He much smaller than the Zaca Fire, teams and more than 1,400 added, “Even when gas prices burning 9,400 acres, compared Call 961-8802 for recorded team members. Traffic Solutions were lower, we could make the to 240,000 for the Zaca Fire, and information on air quality Director Kent Epperson also case for saving money. We like the Basin Complex Fire, while it advisories in English and Spanish. reported that as of August 2008, to say, ‘Give yourself a raise by burned 163,000 acres, was much more than 7,000 commuters taking the bus!’” farther away. Check www.OurAir.org for additional have enrolled on Traffic Solutions information on air quality and our Online to access commuter For more information on Climate scientists project that health, and on how to minimize programs, a 75 percent Commute Challenge, and commute warmer temperatures, dry exposure during and after wildfires. increase since January. He options in the county, see conditions, and earlier snowmelt attributed much of this to the www.trafficsolutions.info. For more in California will produce longer Find out more about how to protect increase in gas prices, and added, information on the Santa Barbara fire seasons, and more wildfires your home on the “Employers have also grown Car Free Project, see in the state in coming years. Fire Department’s website at www.sbcfire.com. increasingly concerned over the www.SantaBarbaraCarFree.org.

Page 2 New Manager of Engineering On the Air and Compliance Division

ichael Goldman was for the fifteen offshore platforms. Looking ahead, he noted, “Our APCD Board Mrecently promoted to He was centrally involved challenge will be to maintain a high Roundup the position of Manager of in permit streamlining and level of customer service while the District’s Engineering and automation, and in developing we take on new responsibilities, Compliance Division, replacing the District’s New Source implementing new rules for Following are the highlights Peter Cantle, who left in March. Review rules. He has also led boilers and engines, and new of the June and August the emissions reduction credits state air toxics control measures.“ Board meetings. Before starting at the District program since 1990, and helped He added, smiling, “I like the twenty-one years ago, Goldman implement programs to address challenges, and the varied nature June worked for an oilfield service new state requirements for of this work. Every ten minutes company drilling wells offshore diesel engines. In 2001, he was something new comes up.” Approved $660,000 in additional funding for the California and in Alaska’s North appointed as the supervisor of the Lower Emission School Bus Slope region, and worked for the general source permit program. Program. Naval Civil Engineering Lab in Adopted the Fiscal Year Port Hueneme. Goldman expressed pride in the 2008-2009 Budget. Engineering and Compliance At the District, his experience Division’s accomplishments, Adopted revisions to Rule 339, encompasses permitting every and singled out the complaint Motor Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Coating Operations, type of business that the agency response program: “Unlike many to incorporate the Suggested regulates—from gas stations and other agencies, we spend a lot Control Measures for dry cleaners to large oil and of time responding to air quality Automotive Coatings recently gas facilities. When the District complaints from residents. We adopted by the state. was successful in achieving local go out there and try to solve the Adopted revisions to Rules regulation of offshore oil and problems. That’s an important 102, (Definitions), 201 (Permits gas platforms through the 1990 part of our current program, and Required), 202 (Exemptions to Clean Air Act amendments, it will continue to be one of our Rule 201) and 333 (Control of Emissions from Reciprocating Goldman worked on the permits highest priorities.” Internal Combustion Engines). Revisions address concerns raised by the Environmental New Faces at the District Protection Agency and the Air Resources Board, incorporate the state requirements for Several people (pictured Reasonably Available Control Technology for spark ignition right) recently joined the internal combustion engines, District to fill vacated and incorporate changes positions. From left to right, recommended in the District’s Leticia Ortiz is an Office Clean Air Plans. Technician (Engineering Note: there was no APCD Board and Compliance Division), meeting in July. Molly Pearson is an Air Quality Specialist (land August use, business assistance Reappointed David Van and public outreach), Mullem, Jr. and Robert Daniela Melkonian is Saperstein, legal representative, the District’s Front Desk to the District Hearing Board. Receptionist, David Harris Adopted Memoranda of is an Air Quality Engineer Understanding and revised (boiler permits, and classification, salary and contaminated soil cleanup benefits documents for several and offshore platform employee and management groups. permit re-evaluations), and Tom Whitaker is an Air Received an update on the Quality Engineer (source status of marine vessel emission testing and minerals reduction efforts. processing permitting).

Page 3 APCD Board Calendar

Board of All meetings start at 1:30 p.m. For final meeting agendas, call the Directors APCD Board Clerk, 961-8853. CEQA and Climate Change In August, tri-county area planners and leaders attended a Supervisor Salud Carbajal workshop in Santa Barbara on including greenhouse gas First District October 16 emissions in reviews of new projects under the California Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. CEQA is the state law Supervisor Janet Wolf, Vice Chair Hearing Room that requires state and local agencies to identify and reduce, 105 East Anapamu Street if feasible, the significant negative environmental impacts of Second District Santa Barbara, California 93101 Santa Barbara County land use decisions. Supervisor Brooks Firestone December 18 The workshop was hosted by the Local Government Third District Board of Supervisors’ Commission and the California Attorney General’s Office, Santa Barbara County Hearing Room which has called on cities to include these emissions in Supervisor Joni Gray 105 East Anapamu Street CEQA assessments—filing numerous comment letters Santa Barbara, California 93101 Fourth District and some lawsuits. Greenhouse gases contribute to global climate change, and workshop speakers discussed potential Santa Barbara County impacts of climate change on the state, reviewed models for Supervisor Joe Centeno The calendar for 2009 will be quantifying emissions, and highlighted sustainable community Fifth District approved later this year. designs that can help reduce these emissions. Santa Barbara County Mayor Pro Tem Russ Hicks David Sargent with Moule & Polyzoides, which is preparing a plan for Paso Robles, referred to the need for “compact City of Buellton development,” citing this definition: “The term ‘compact Councilmember Al Clark development’ does not imply high-rise, or even uniformly City of Carpinteria high density, but rather higher average ‘blended’ densities.“ Mayor Lupe Alvarez, Chair (Growing Cooler: Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change, Urban Land Institute, 2008). Sargent said the concept City of Guadalupe was not new, and pointed to more walkable streets in Mayor Pro Tem Will Schuyler older cities, trolley systems that were later phased out, and City of Lompoc Community older houses designed with eaves and porches that ensured Mayor Marty Blum cool air came in when a window was opened—before the City of Santa Barbara Advisory Council era of air conditioning. He noted these designs were more economical and sustainable than more recent sprawling Mayor Larry Lavagnino development designs and remarked, “Old houses were built City of Santa Maria The APCD Community Advisory before people had the wherewithal to be stupid.” Mayor Pro Tem Edwin Skytt Council meets the fourth Wednesday City of Solvang of every month at the Days Motor Inn For more information, see www.climatechange.ca.gov and the Councilmember Eric Onnen in Buellton. The public is welcome. “Land Use & CEQA” link at www.OurAir.org. For more information, call Linda Beard, City of Goleta 961-8853.

Office On the Air is a quarterly 260 N. San Antonio Rd. Suite A newsletter written by Mary Byrd, Santa Barbara, CA 93110-1315 published by the Community Business Assistance Programs Section of the Santa (805) 961-8868 Barbara County Air Pollution Daily Air Quality Report Control District. www.sbcapcd.org Complaints/Public Information For further information on items in this newsletter, or to be added (805) 961-8800 to our subscription list, please call Air Quality Advisory Information Bobbie Bratz, 961-8890 or Email (805) 961-8802 [email protected]. World Wide Web www.OurAir.org E-Mail [email protected] Printed on 100% recycled paper. Business Oriented Air Quality News • Summer 2008 Business Focus Clean Trash: MarBorg Welcomes New CNG Truck

n July, business and MarBorg fleet. Goleta Mayor of the company’s extensive Igovernment leaders gathered Michael Bennett emphasized, environmental efforts, which to welcome MarBorg Industries’ “MarBorg has not been required include diverting 500 tons of new compressed natural gas or forced to do this. They really waste daily from landfills and (CNG) trash truck, purchased are innovative and willing to take recycling 70 percent of all the with the help of funding from risks. This shows their sense of waste collected. The company’s the District. Said MarBorg owner corporate responsibility. Taking state-of-the-art recycling center also Mario Borgatello, “We are at the initiative to show how in fact it recycles hundreds of thousands of forefront of efforts to improve can be done.” tons of construction waste every our air quality and protect our year, retrieving hazardous materials environment. …In collaboration Santa Barbara County First and disposing of them properly, with the Air Pollution Control District Supervisor Salud Carbajal, and operations are powered District, purchase of this truck a District Board Member, by a $450,000 solar array that was another step in our quest to praised MarBorg for leadership produces enough electricity to reach zero emissions.” in innovative environmental power 40 homes daily. Mario Borgatello, owner of MarBorg Industries, practices and commitment to spoke at the gathering to welcome the new CNG burns much more cleanly truck that runs on compressed natural gas. the community, and remarked, The truck will refuel at the than diesel fuel, and the District’s “We need to take these steps to Southern California Gas Jim Fredrickson projects that cleaner than similar older diesel improve air quality—for every Company’s CNG station in over a five-year period the truck vehicles. individual who breathes the air, downtown Santa Barbara, the will reduce more than one ton but more importantly for all those only public CNG refueling station of emissions of nitrogen oxides Purchase of the new truck, which people with conditions that make in the county. over a comparable new diesel meets 2010 emission standards, them particularly sensitive to the vehicle, and will run significantly was part of an expansion of the quality of the air.” For more information on the District’s programs for cleaner MarBorg has won the Green engines, see “Funding Programs” on State Issues Draft Scoping Plan Award twice in recognition our website at www.OurAir.org. for Climate Change Bill

n late June, the California an inventory of historic emissions, IAir Resources Board issued and established the 2020 the Draft Scoping Plan for AB emissions limit. 32, the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, signed into law in The Draft Scoping Plan will be September of 2006. The Plan revised to address comments, outlines actions the state needs and taken back to the Board to take in order to meet the law’s in November of this year for requirement to reduce the state’s consideration. Measures in the greenhouse gas emissions down Plan will be developed over the to 1990 levels by 2020. next three years and must be in place by 2012. The Air Resources Board is the lead agency for implementation For more information, see the Air of AB 32, and as required by the Resources Board’s website at law, in 2007 adopted a list of www.arb.ca.gov. early action measures, assembled The new CNG truck makes its maiden voyage. Business Oriented Air Quality News • Summer 2008 • Page Two Business Focus

New County Green Business Program

To be certified as a Green v Inform customers and other Business, businesses must: businesses about SANTA BARBARA COUNTY environmental efforts. v Observe all environmental eptember will mark the will be added on an ongoing laws and regulations. Green Businesses will be certified Slaunch of a new Green basis. The Green Awards for three years, and can be Business Program for Santa Program, which has recognized v Adopt resource conservation recertified after that. There is no Barbara County. Businesses that more than 70 county businesses and pollution prevention charge to the business for the meet certain requirements will with Green Awards since 1994, measures. certification process. be certified as Green Businesses is being phased out with the using criteria developed for development of the Green v Allow the Program to verify For more information, particular industry groups. In the Business Program. The new the measures adopted. see www.greenbizsbc.org, first phase of the Program Program, modeled after similar or contact Frances Gilliland, office/retail and restaurant successful programs throughout v Pledge to continue these efforts. the Green Business Program businesses can apply to be California, is sponsored by Coordinator, at certified. In the coming months, more than twenty governmental v Encourage management and [email protected]. hotels and automotive shops will agencies and organizations around employee participation in the be eligible, and new industries the county, including the District. program.

Permit and Regulation Updates

Portable construction engines Section K of revised District Owners and operators of District rated 50 brake horsepower (bhp) Rule 333. Internal combustion new and existing agricultural Grants and above that are operated engine Inspection and diesel engines rated at 50 bhp for Local in the county must be either Maintenance Plans will need or greater that are not permitted $ registered in the statewide to be updated by December, with the District are required to Businesses portable equipment registration 2008. register their engines with the program (PERP) or included in a District. Funds for permit application submitted to All new boiler and large Cleaner Engines the District by September 18, water heater units (including District rules also apply to 2008. burner replacements) rated over many types of equipment and Equipment that may be 2.0 MMBtu/hr are required to processes used by wineries in the eligible for grants to repower Also required to be have a District permit. Multiple county. See “Winery” link on or retrofit includes: included in permit applications units used in the same process District home page for details. On-Road and Off-Road to the District by September 18: with a combined rating over Vehicles/ Equipment, spark-ignited engines (natural 2.0 MMbtu/hr may also need a New limits for the allowable Agricultural Water gas, gasoline, propane) rated permit. All existing boiler units amount of volatile organic Pumps, School Buses, at 50 bhp and greater; and rated between 2.0 MMBtu/ compounds (VOCs) in coatings Marine Engines, and Other. unpermitted or unregistered hr and 5.0 MMBtu/hr were for motor vehicles and mobile engines that have been derated required to be included in equipment will take effect in the For applications & more info visit: under 50 bhp. permit applications submitted county January 1, 2009. www.sbcapcd.org/itg/itg.htm. to the District as of April of this Contact Information: Compliance deadlines for year. Note: Units of any size For more information on these and Al Ronyecz at 961-8877 operators of internal combustion require permits if not fired on other requirements, see the District engines are identified in natural gas or propane. website at www.OurAir.org.