As residents living in the most polluted air basin in the United States, we are regularly exposed to air that makes us sick. Poor air quality hurts our lungs, makes us more susceptible to asthma and allergies, and can lead to lung diseases, heart disease, heart attacks, stroke and even premature death.
We, the people of the San Joaquin Valley, call on you, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the California Air Resources Board, to:
1)
Deliver clean air now. Overdue plans and programs to reduce air pollution to healthy levels should be finalized and implemented immediately. Delaying adoption of the PM2.5 Plan until Fall, 2018 and clean air until 2025 is too late to protect our children and our parents from unhealthy air. We need reductions now.
2)
Design a robust air pollution alert system. We ask you to utilize every tool available to alert the public when air pollution reaches hazardous levels - including broadcasting on radio, television and on highway signs, and sending alerts to our phone. In addition, tell us what dangerous air quality means for our health and what actions we can take to protect ourselves.
3)
Create an all-of-the-above solution for clean air. Your agencies must not pick and choose which air pollution sources are regulated and which sources get a pass. Your agencies must require all polluters within your jurisdiction to clean up, including dairies and livestock operations, oil and gas operations, distribution warehouses, and industrial and agricultural wood burners.
We thank you for the work done to reduce pollution over the years, but more is needed to reach clean air. Fulfill your legally mandated duty to protect public health and reduce winter-time pollution in the San Joaquin Valley - with no further delay.
Sincerely,
[Signer's Name]
