Victory for Sierra Club California on Clear Air!
Thursday, November 29, 2007

Yesterday I joined other clean-air advocates from around the state in asking the CA Transportation Commission to reinstate air quality as one of the key factors to consider when bond money to improve trade corridors is doled out. The CTC had previously removed air quality from the list of criteria compiled by its own staff, but after public testimony yesterday the commissioners restored it to the list. Breathers who live near busy ports and rail and truck routes now can have some hope that the public's money will be spent on transportation projects that make the air cleaner, not dirtier.

This win comes after a Sierra Club California action alert – thank you for taking action! -- an Associated Press article citing our concerns, a letter we joined in sending with other groups, and 2 meetings I participated in with Dale Bonner, Secretary of Business, Transportation & Housing. To his credit, Secty Bonner kept an open mind and met with all the interested parties, including state and local air quality advocates. The Air Resources Board also deserves credit for speaking up at yesterday’s meeting, as the article below explains.

Bill Magavern


Panel says air quality should not be sacrificed for road projects

By SAMANTHA YOUNG

11/27/07 15:24:13

State authorities said Tuesday that highway, rail and port improvements funded through a voter-approved transportation bond must not worsen air pollution.

The 8-1 vote by the California Transportation Commission marked a reversal by the panel and the Schwarzenegger administration in deciding how to spend $2 billion in bond funds.

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The commission's new guidelines will shape how and where to spend about 10 percent of the $20 billion transportation bond voters approved last year to fix roads, clear freeway bottlenecks and help reduce transportation-related air pollution.

"We all want to work together to ensure we haven't damaged the environment," commission chairman James Ghielmetti said after the vote.

Environmental groups, local air districts and residents of port communities worried the panel would weaken the air quality standards included in the transportation bond. They feared new construction could make the state's smoggy skies even worse without any pollution controls.

Their concern was prompted by a commission decision earlier this month to eliminate air quality as part of the state's initial review of projects to be funded from the transportation bond.

"We're asking you ensure that all communities get protected," said Cynthia Marvin, a transportation expert at the state Air Resources Board.

The commission and state Business, Transportation and Housing Secretary Dale Bonner had argued that the state had no real way to gauge the effect of new construction on air quality when they are first proposed.

Commissioners, who are appointed by Schwarzenegger, reversed their decision after more than a week of closed-door negotiations led by Bonner and more than three hours of public testimony Tuesday.

"It wasn't that we wanted to lower the standard," Ghielmetti said. "The fear was it was going to get in the way of moving projects through quickly."

The guidelines adopted Tuesday will provide a uniform method for screening construction projects to determine their effects on local and regional air quality.

For example, a rail line proposal that would send containers through the Sierra Nevada might receive bond money if it reduces the number of freight trucks using Interstate 80 and employs technology to reduce emissions from trains.

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for full article, see http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/228875.html