Valley Air News
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Valley Air News A publication of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District January 2000 Big Problems Come in Small Packages In November, the Valley Air District can hurt you,” and the goal is to educate Valley residents about the big health launched a campaign to raise public impact of these tiny airborne particles. awareness about the health risks from To begin educating the public on reducing particulate matter pollution, the Valley particulate matter air pollution. The Air District ran public information ads in a number of publications. The newspa- theme of the campaign is “Little things per advertisement, seen below, is only the beginning of a comprehensive outreach campaign that will include production and placement of new" educational materials in physicians’ offices throughout the Valley. Through this outreach campaign, the District will continue its mission to improve the health and quality of life for all Valley residents. Often invisible, these particles can be natural materi- als like soot, dust and ash, or man-made, toxic com- pounds such as benzene, ammonia, or formaldehyde. In addition to the composition of the particle, the size is important. The filtering mechanisms of the mouth will stop coarse particles larger than ten microns. This is smaller than a single strand of human hair. The better filtration system of the nose, however, will protect from breathing fine particles as small as 2.5 microns. Once inhaled, these particles may be trapped in the deep recesses of the lungs, causing or aggravating respiratory conditions, including infections and asthma. Additionally, exposure to particulate matter has been linked with heart and lung disease, decreased lung function, and even premature death. See BIG PROBLEMS, page 2 INSIDE THIS EDITION Governing Board 2 Review Partners in Progress 2 In the Spotlight 3 What's Ahead 4 2 !" " Valley Air News January 2000 GOVERNING Gottschalks and BOARD REVIEW Partners I In Progress Media One Following is a summary of actions ottschalks department stores and Media One broadband cable provider taken at the December 9 Governing G have teamed up with the Valley Air District to ring in a cleaner new year. For Board Meeting: the second year in a row, selected Gottschalks stores throughout the Valley will $ Jerry O’Banion was elected be distributing the District’s Clean Air Kids calendar in the children’s apparel Chair and Judith Case was departments while supplies last. The calendars feature colorful children’s elected Vice Chair of the artwork and monthly clean air tips and will be available in the following stores Governing Board for 2000. beginning the first week of January: $ Adopted proposed admend- ments to Rule 4661 #"Fashion Fair Mall, Fresno #"Hanford Mall, Hanford (Organic Solvents). #"Manchester Center, Fresno #"Sierra Vista Mall, Clovis $ Adopted proposed Clean ##Visalia Mall, Visalia "Weberstown Mall, Stockton Governmental Fleet Resolution. Media One produced and will air a thirty-second television spot to promote Citizens Advisory Committee the calendar distribution. The spot will run for the first two weeks of January Report to the Governing Board: on cable networks. Media One Account Executive Jim Davis developed the $ Tom Stearns was elected Chair promotion last year as a public service. Davis is responsible for recruiting and Wade Broughton was Gottschalks to assist the District with outreach. “I was happy to bring two elected Vice Chair of the great organizations together,” Davis said. “The calendars are a cute gift for Citizens Advisory Committee for Gottschalks customers and it’s really important to get the clean air message the 2000-2001 term. out. It is an excellent opportunity for everyone.” This year, Davis worked hard to expand the promotion to other areas of the The Board also approved a number District and was successful in getting the Hanford and Stockton Gottschalks of items on the consent calendar, stores to join in. including: The Valley Air District thanks Gottschalks, Media One and Jim Davis for $ Contract with Sonoma being proactive clean air partners. Technology, Inc. for the assess- ment of PM10 reductions from selected agricultural practices. BIG PROBLEMS District Planning Director Robert $ Application to ARB for Carl Continued from page 1 Dowell explained that particulate Moyer Memorial Air Quality matter comes from a variety of Standards Attainment Program According to the USEPA, sensitive sources. “Fine particles are the result Funds. groups that appear to be most vulner- of fuel combustion from motor ve- hicles, industrial facilities, residential $ Changes to Heavy-Duty Engine able to the effects of particulate Emission Reduction Incentive matter are the elderly, individuals with fireplaces, and wood stoves. Crushing Program adding three new cardiopulmonary disease, and children. and grinding operations, traveling on components. The delicate tissue in children’s lungs unpaved roads, and windblown dust will produce coarse particles,” he said. $ Lease agreement with Fresno is more susceptible to chronic infec- Pacific University for a tions and asthmatic reactions when Some particles are emitted directly PM-2.5 monitoring station on exposed to these irritants. Charles from their sources, such as smoke- campus. Sant’Agata, executive director of the stacks and cars, while in other cases, Central California affiliate of the gases interact with other components "$""$""$ American Lung Association, points to to form particles. “Their chemical and asthma as the primary disease-related physical composition may vary depend- The next Governing Board meeting cause of school absenteeism and ing on location and weather,” Dowell will be held on Thursday, January emergency room visits. “In the stated. 20, at 9:00 a.m. in the District’s Central San Joaquin Valley, 167,000 For more information on particulate Central Office in Fresno, and via videoteleconference in the people suffer from lung disease. Of matter pollution, contact Public Educa- Modesto and Bakersfield offices. those, 48,000 are children,” tion at (559) 230-5800. Sant’Agata said. January 2000 Valley Air News !" " 3 Permit Engineers Complete Training The California Cotton Ginners Association held the most recent in a series of training sessions on the operation of cotton gins for Air District permit engineers. The day-long training, conducted by Roger Isom from the Association and Donavon Heslep of Dale Brisco, Inc., included an overview of the internal Altamont Commuter operations of a cotton gin, a view of the type of air pollution control equipment used on-site, followed by a tour of several gins. The tour gave permit engineers Express an opportunity to view various types of gins and the different types of air 1999 Air District pollution control equipment used at each gin. Roger Isom explained that the success of the annual training program has Award of Distinction proven to be advantageous in many ways. “It has provided permit engineers with for valuable information about cotton gins and their internal operations. As a result, Pollution Prevention the processing time of cotton gin applications has dramatically decreased. It’s a win-win situation,” Isom said. Projects The Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) is California’s newest commuter rail Millennium Kids Club Calendars Hot Off the Press service, which provides two week-day Get ready for the new year with a Anyone who knows of elementary trains from Stockton to San Jose with 2000 calendar courtesy of the Valley school children who would like to join stops in Manteca, Tracy, Vasco Road, Air District. the Clean Air Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont, and The colorful 12- Kids Club, Great America. The goal of ACE is to month calendar should call the provide an alternative to single- features air number listed occupant automobile travel from the quality-related previously, or fax Central Valley to the Tri-Valley and drawings by the child’s name, Silicon Valley worksites, bypassing the local children. address, date of Altamont Pass and the Sunol Grade, Each year, the birth, and tele- two of Northern California’s most District holds a phone number to congested highways. calendar contest (559) 230-6064. Two locomotives and ten cars travel as part of its Make a resolu- the 85-mile corridor in approximately Clean Air Kids tion to reduce air two hours and twenty minutes. Feeder Club. Members pollution. Call shuttle services are available at all and Valley and order the stations, including connections to light- school children 2000 Clean Air rail and Bay Area Rapid Transit. Each are invited to The drawing of nine year-old Daniela Kids Calendar day, approximately 1,200 ACE passen- participate. Vaca of Reedley was chosen for the today! gers travel roundtrip, decreasing high- cover of the millennium calendar More than 100 way congestion considerably. Currently entries were running at near capacity, equipment for 2000 Calendar Contest Winners received this year. While all of the a third train has been ordered with Emily Borman, age 12, Tracy entries demonstrated artistic talent hopes to have it in service by July 2000. Alex Bozzini, age 12, Tracy and recognized the importance of According to an extensive passenger Claudia Camarena, age 6, Corcoran survey conducted in February 1999, clean air, District staff selected 13 Megan Davey, age 8, Stockton drawings to appear in the 2000 79 percent of the ACE passengers Melissa Doiron, age 8, Bakersfield previously commuted in single- calendar. Sandra E. Macias, age 11, Tracy occupant vehicles. As a result, statistics To order free copies of the Maria Isabel Modesta, 2nd grade, French Camp indicate that more than 700 cars have calendar for a business or organiza- Olivia Page, age 5, Stockton tion, call (559) 230-5800. Supplies Jeramie Pawloski, age 12, Tracy been removed from the congested are limited and calendars will be Anjelica Quiñones, age 12, Monte Vista highways each day. distributed on a first-come, first- Angela Sasaki, age 8, Reedley The Valley Air District commends serve basis.