Press Release

State Air Board Seeks Delay in Federal Air Pollution Standards
Putting Lives and Lungs of Californians at Dangerous Risk

SACRAMENTO-In a move that threatens the health of millions of Californians, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has requested an extension of five more years to achieve the federal health-based air quality standards for Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5).

The Coalition for Clean Air is strongly opposed to CARB’s request to extend its deadline of reducing PM 2.5 from 2015 to 2020. Particulate matter is one of the most dangerous air pollutants. These small particles of soot, often the result of diesel exhaust, are smaller than the width of human hair. They can lodge deep into the lungs, causing irreversible damage. Particulate matter is associated with asthma, bronchitis, decreased lung function, cancer, heart conditions and premature death.

In a March 12 letter to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, CARB asked for the extension to 2020 without any public comment or disclosure.

“It is outrageous that CARB made this request when you consider the potential health cost to California of delaying attainment of the PM 2.5 standards for 5 years,” said Tim Carmichael, president/CEO of the Coalition for Clean Air. “Millions of Californians would be negatively impacted by this delay.  It is irresponsible that they unilaterally decided to make this request without any public process to discuss it. We are asking for CARB to withdraw their request and develop a viable plan to attain the standards by 2015.”

CCA is strongly opposed to CARB’s request for a delay because:

• The public health costs of delay are high. US EPA estimates that the total benefit of attaining the PM2.5 standards nationally is as high as $236 billion per year and the total cost just $12.4 billion per year.

• This is counter to the Governor’s promise to cut air pollution in half by 2010. First on Schwarzenegger’s “Action Plan for California’s Environment” (Sept. 5, 2003) was:
  Cut Air Pollution Statewide by Up to 50% and Significantly Reduce California’s Dependence on Foreign Oil Before the End of this Decade.

• CARB’s request for a delay is counter to its mission: To promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering the effects on the economy of the state.

• The state’s local air districts, CARB and US EPA share responsibility for California achieving clean air standards. CARB has not even prepared a draft PM 2.5 state air plan (also known as the State Implementation Plan or SIP) to outline how California could achieve the PM 2.5 standards. CARB has not taken into account local air district plans for controlling particulate matter (these plans are currently being developed) and has not pushed EPA hard enough to tighten regulations that would help California reach pollution reduction standards for PM 2.5.

The economic and human losses caused by this air pollution are devastating for California. In its 2004 fact sheet, CARB estimates the financial toll that results from exposure to PM 2.5 pollution in excess of California's state standard at $43 billion annually. The state can not afford to delay reducing these deadly emissions that harm all Californians.

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For more than 35 years, the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air has been committed to restoring clean, healthy air to all of California. With offices in Los Angeles, Fresno and Sacramento, it is dedicated to strengthening the environmental movement by promoting broad-based community involvement, advocating responsible public policy and providing technical expertise.

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