SAN FRANCISCO--The U.S. Environmental Protection…
“These air quality plans rely
on first-of-their kind requirements for the engines in trucks,
ships and construction equipment, impacting almost a million
vehicles in California,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s
Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Clean air
is critical to everyone’s health, especially our children and
seniors.”
Over the past 10 years, at the worst
monitors, particulate matter has improved by 14% in the San Joaquin
Valley and by 43% in the South Coast. “Worst monitors”
are those that have the highest annual average PM2.5 concentration
for a three year period in the air basin.
PM2.5 is made up of small particulate
matter—1/30th the diameter of a human hair. Fine particle
pollution can be emitted directly or formed secondarily in the
atmosphere and can penetrate deep into the lungs and worsen
conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Reducing exposure
helps reduce asthma, cardiovascular disease, emergency room visits,
cancer and premature death. According to a 2010 California Air
Resources Board study, PM2.5 exposure leads to 9,200 premature
deaths annually in CA.
Mobile sources of diesel, such as
trucks, construction equipment and marine vessels, are the largest
source of PM2.5 in California. Trucks and buses account for 40% of
the total diesel emissions. The state has adopted aggressive rules
to target diesel emissions including the In-Use Diesel Truck and
Bus rules, the Drayage Truck Rules and the Ocean Going Vessels
Clean Fuels rule. The truck and bus rules are the first of their
kind throughout the nation and will prevent an estimated 3,500
deaths.
EPA is disapproving the plans’
contingency measures because they do not provide sufficient
emissions reductions. EPA will continue to work with the state to
resolve these remaining issues.
The South Coast and San Joaquin Valley
suffer from some of the worst pollution in the nation, which is
caused by myriad factors including adverse meteorology, ports
activities and substantial pollution from trucks that carry produce
and international imports to the rest of the nation.
The state is currently working on air
quality plans to meet the more stringent 2006 PM2.5 standard. In
addition, the state and local districts have launched grant and
incentive programs to demonstrate and deploy near zero emitting
technologies.
Today’s actions will be published
in the Federal Register and will become effective 60 days from the
date of publication. EPA’s Federal Register notices include
detailed responses to all major comments on our proposed
actions.
For more information on the South Coast
and San Joaquin Air Quality Plans, please visit EPA’s web
site at: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-9-pacific-southwest