2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G 

 

Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 
2007 Ozone Plan 

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San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-1

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions

This Appendix contains verbal and written comments collected at the series of Town 

Hall meetings the District held from July 26-28, 2006. The meetings were held in 

Bakersfield, Delano, Fresno, Huron, Modesto, and Stockton, and approximately 300 

people attended. 

These comments are sorted by jurisdictional authority and by topic. They are numbered 

for reference only. 

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

District: Agricultural Sources 

1 

Agricultural burning, fireplace, and ISR rules were 

not derived to clean our air per se, but to regulate it. 

Even though the District has begun to regulate 

fireplace use, it still allows agricultural burning to 

continue (Rule 4103). 

2 

Encourage farmers to burn dry prunings and 

orchard debris during periods free of inversion 

layers. Let farmers decide how to dispose of 

orchard prunings, but they should be told when the 

best days to burn are. 

The District’s Governing Board adopted rule 

amendments to District Rule 4103 for Phase I 

and Phase II in 2004 and 2005, respectively. 

Future amendments are scheduled to further 

curtail ag burns, as required by state law. Please 

see S-AGR-1 in App. I for more details of District 

efforts to limit ag burning. In addition, the 

District’s Smoke Management Program (SMP) 

manages smoke pollution caused by open 

burning, including hazard reduction and 

prescribed burning, with meteorological 

conditions as the basis for allowing or not 

allowing burns to occur. Please see the District 

website for more details about the SMP. 

3 

Make the conversion of diesel irrigation pump 

engines to electric motors voluntary. Electric 

motors are inefficient and strain the electric grid. 

Public utility companies have indicated that grid 

capacity is able to handle increased demands 

from electric conversion to power ag pumps. 

Incentivizing use of electric motors is a viable 

option and participation is voluntary. Please see 

comment # 251. 

4 Stop giving waivers and delays to agriculture. State law mandates that agriculture sources are 

now subject to District regulation. 

 

District: Stationary and Area Sources 

5 

With the prevailing winds into the Valley through the 

mountain passes, the Bay Area needs more 

stringent ozone controls that apply to all areas 

(whereas the beach areas are not included 

currently). 

The BAAQMD governing board recently adopted 

the 2005 Ozone Strategy. Both the BAAQMD 

and the District are continually addressing ozone 

transport issues. More stringent state ozone 

standards will require further controls to be 

implemented by the BAAQMD. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-2

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

6 

The District should consider the Positive Charge 

Clean Air Restoration Device, which is like an Ionic 

Breeze Air Purifier. It would generate wound 

electro magnetic field. The original test device 

(described in comment letter) should be 100 square 

acres. Each battery could purify millions of cubic 

feet of air. 

Comment noted. The commenter may submit 

this to the US EPA for further technical 

evaluation of its merits. 

7 The plan should include short and long-term 

solutions. 

Comment noted. The District strategy is to 

expedite NOx reductions, since modeling shows 

that attainment of ozone standards is NOx 

driven, and this approach is beneficial, as well, to 

attainment of the PM2.5 standards. 

8 

Increase incentive funding by fining bad actors who 

are not using proven technology to decrease 

emissions. Put fines in regulations. 

Comment noted. Incentive funding must come 

from reliable sources in order to sustain 

programs effectively. 

9 Need to revise all of its ERC banking Comment noted. 

10 No more credits for polluting industries. Comment noted. 

11 Reevaluate definition of stationary engines 

Stationary engines’ definition come from the 

federal CAA and is beyond the District’s 

authority. 

District: Advanced Emissions Reductions Options (AERO) Programs 

12 

District has not designed current programs 

(incentive, Alt Com, etc) effectively, need to outline 

specific program will work 

13 Voluntary and creative doesn’t work 

14 AERO strategies are interesting and should be 

studied further. 

15 AERO is not best approach. We need to do 

everything, not just what is cost-effective. 

16 

AERO should be the last resort and there should be 

proof that no technology exists to achieve the 

reductions. 

Comments noted. Please see App. K for 

descriptions of AERO programs. 

District: Behavioral Changes/Public Education

17 Need to focus on getting individuals to control their 

own emissions 

18 Mega High School kids driving cars 

19 Students should not be allowed to drive to high 

school 

20 

What can each one of us do to make the 

environment better, we can each do more, we can 

do our part 

21 More people to ride bikes 

22 Making personal changes/choices important 

23 In marketing, what is the comfort zone, we are 

swayed by marketing 

24 Daily tip in news and TV 

(This response addresses comments 17 – 42 

some of which appear on the following page) 

Comments noted. Several programs are being 

proposed to encourage greater public 

participation in clean air efforts, and these are: 

Trip Reduction, Expanded Spare The Air Day, 

Green Contracting, Heat Island Mitigation, and 

Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation. 

Future episodic control strategies are also being 

studied, and these are being designed to be 

similar to the highly successful fireplace rule. 

The District invites further comments and 

suggestions to engage all residents to adopt 

behavioral changes beneficial to healthy air. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-3

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

25 Going to have to dig deep and ask people to 

sacrifice 

26 

Suggests a celebration of the air, improving air 

quality., Everybody’s responsibility, One thing 

lacking is education (in some issues). 

27 Choices all of us make each day that can help 

improve the air. 

28 More money for advertising on television 

29 Incentives for biking to work. 

30 Incentives to live in the town that you work. 

31 The District should do more to inform voters about 

what to do to help clean the air. 

32 Be educators-for both citizens and the governing 

board about the problems and solutions. 

33 

It is easy to blame business for pollution, but we are 

all part of the problem. The District needs to adopt 

more rules like the ISR rule. 

34 Individualized transit marketing. 

35 

Sell, sell, sell! Sell, market “green” ideas. Kids 

need to know it’s cool to drive fuel-efficient cars and 

ride bikes to school and work. Set good examples!

36 

Have an on-going public education program 

showing people the various small and large things 

they can do to reduce air pollution. 

37 

Also, have a ride-2-school day on your bike for 

middle and high schoolers, also for adults to ride to 

work. 

38 Need to use simpler language 

39 Try to give parts of the presentation in Spanish, 

Have Powerpoint in Spanish 

40 Wondering how much outreach has been done 

41 District need to focus on drivers for behavioral 

change, over time behavior becomes natural 

42 Support education of sustainable energy 

District: Composting Facilities 

43 Regulate composting facilities. 

44 Biosolids need to be regulated 

The District is currently developing a rule to 

cover composting. 

District: Confined Animal Facilities

45 We need to do something about VOCs from 

manure. 

Please refer to the District’s Rule 4570. 

46 Dairies need to really pay the full costs of the 

pollution they are causing. 

47 Dairy Rule...District needed to go further 

48 Regarding dairies, science wasn’t there 

This 8-Hour Ozone Plan contains a control 

measure that expands the applicability of the 

current dairy rule. Please see App. I, Confined 

Animal Facilities (S-AGR-2). 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-4

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

49 Why no offsets of dairy industry? 

Federal law does not require offsets for minor 

sources of fugitive emissions. State law prohibits 

districts from requiring offsets until an ERCgeneration protocol is established. District staff 

is currently evaluating this issue. 

50 

Rule 4570 is the most stringent regulation for 

dairies in the country and it should be given time to 

work. 

51 

Regulate confined animal facilities! By-right system 

does not work to control/monitor VOC. Do it now. 

These are not small family dairies, and they are not 

local businesses. They are out-of-areas 

corporations that are shifting their costs to Valley 

residents’ health and safety, and not creating any 

benefit to Valley residents. 

Comments noted. 

52 Rescind and revise the large confined animal 

facility rule 

State law prohibits the District from rescinding 

the CAF rule. As stated previously, the District is 

proposing expanding its applicability. 

53 Strongly believe mega dairies should not exist in 

central Valley 

Although the District does not have zoning 

authority to prevent dairies from moving into the 

Valley, dairies in the Valley must comply with 

District rules. 

54 Dairies are getting larger, No justification for large 

facilities, think twice about permitting large dairies 

The District cannot withhold a permit based on 

the size of a dairy. 

55 

Dairies are major problem, wants to limit the size, 

Dairies are dirty, smell, ugly in CA – in east coast 

dairies are cleaner in appearance 

56 Accepted huge out of town dairies which have been 

regulated out of other areas 

57 Create limit of number of cows each dairy has 

58 

I suggest following the model of San Bernadino 

County, putting a cap on the amount of dairies 

allowed. 

59 Find a way to prohibit mega dairies or disincentives 

for moves 

Dairy size is under the jurisdiction of land use 

agencies. 

60 Often hear CAFOs bring employment, but only 

earned just over $8 per hour 

Comment noted. Please see the socioeconomic 

analysis done for the adoption of Rule 4570 in 

6/15/06. 

District: Fires and Hazard Reduction

61 

Weeds, grasses, and brush along highways, hills, 

and other properties should be burned on 

authorized good-burn days to minimize smokerelated problems. 

Please see Rule 4106. Also, Prescribed Burning 

& Hazard Reduction Burning (S-GOV-6) in App. I 

contains more explanation about this source 

category. 

District: Flares

62 The flare rule needs to be tightened. To be as 

tough as South Coast and Bay Area. 

63 On 7th Standard Road, flare is always on, gas 

burning is damaging our air 

Data from the Bay Area and South Coast 

AQMDs will be evaluated to analyze the 

effectiveness of Flare Minimization Plans. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-5

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

64 Need to do something about flares burning late at 

night, should charge them for flares 

Please see Flares (S-IND-21) in App. I. 

District: Fugitive Windblown Dust

65 New rules for vacant lot weed control. Bare direct 

surface gets picked up on windy days. 

66 Make voluntary any rule that would require farmers 

to disturb the soil. 

67 Fun of dirt road should not be allowed...just say no

68 Dust on the canal banks and road in Fresno county

69 Shoulders need to be sealed, too much dust 

This is a PM-related issue. It will be addressed 

during the PM2.5 planning process in 2007. 

District: Health Issues

70 Outdoor air pollution is bad for asthmatics. 

71 Public Health Agency, but feels not doing a good 

job of protecting the public 

72 Crisis occurring, huge health costs 

Studies like the Hall study increase 

understanding of the actual health costs of air 

pollution in the Valley. Future studies will further 

this knowledge. The health costs are higher for 

PM2.5 than for ozone, so the District will be able 

to do even more to decrease potential health 

costs with the 2008 PM2.5 Plan. 

73 Valley Fever Possible links between Valley Fever and air 

pollution are not well understood. 

74 Air District not agency of commerce but agency of 

health 

While the District’s highest priority is public 

health, the District also has a legal responsibility 

to consider the economic impact of its actions. 

75 Now are hearing the interests of the community. 

Interest is health 

76 Air Quality issue tied to health problems 

77 Public is the one who pays the price 

78 Cost of disease but what about cost of death 

Comments noted. 

79 Need to do something soon, do it for the kids 

Comment noted. The control strategy proposed 

in the 2007 Ozone Plan will result in air quality 

improvements in the near future. 

80 

Need to include public health as part of analysis, 

rule making fails to calculate positive public health 

benefits and that cost impact 

The public health costs associated with individual 

rules may be relatively small and/or difficult to 

quantify, in contrast to the overall impacts as 

quantified by the Hall study. Future studies like 

the Hall study will further the District’s 

understanding of the possible health costs 

associated with air quality. 

81 Standard is damaging the health of the Valley 

The intent of the District’s plans is to bring the 

Valley into standards set by EPA, which are 

based on public health studies and involve 

extensive peer review and public comment. 

82 Doctor and air specialist on board 

The District has expressed previously that the 

current constitution of the Governing Board have 

been effective in tackling the District’s air quality 

issues, as evidenced by many regulations 

adopted, including the fireplace rule, the CAF 

rule, the ISR rule, the school bus rule, etc. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-6

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

83 In Jane Adams 3rd highest number of kids with 

asthma 

84 Concerned about asthma, health, air quality 

85 Embrace more public health 

86 Subsidy to all polluters. From the public’s lungs. 

87 Mandate health, SB 999 

88 Our Valley has high health cost and crop loss 

numbers due to ozone levels. 

89 

Should establish health goals that everyone buys 

into that could be tracked to determine progress. 

One agency needs to be responsible to track 

respirator health improvement. 

Comments noted. 

90 Protect the most vulnerable The federal standards are set to protect the 

sensitive groups. 

91 Prioritize pollution sources by health impact 

Comment noted. In some cases, future studies 

may increase understanding of speciated health 

impacts. 

92 We need to quantify health issues. 

Health issues are continually quantified by 

various agencies and groups, and the best 

available health studies are consider by EPA 

when the NAAQS are set. 

93 Any delay in attainment of the standards will have a 

high cost to public health. 

Comment noted. The District is committed to 

bringing the Valley into attainment as soon as is 

practicable. 

94 

We are all paying the costs NOW, so why are you 

scared to make polluters pay to prevent these air 

problems? Why do they get to wait to pay when 

our lives are affected today? Each day this board 

delays imposing emission controls means death, 

harm, and severe health problems for us and out 

children. 

The District is committed to balancing all of its 

responsibilities. The District must base its 

approach on the best available science and 

technologies to ensure the most effective 

improvements to the Valley’s air quality. 

District: Incentives and ISR Programs

95 

Command and control is not always the best 

answer, often incentive programs can provide 

greater reductions 

96 

When selling a home, the seller is required to 

disclose things like lead-based paint, asbestoses, 

and mold because of the hazards they pose. I think 

people buying homes in the Valley should have to 

sign some sort of document indicating that they 

understand they are buying a home in an area with 

poor air quality. 

97 

For what someone can spend on gas-powered lawn 

equipment, they can change their landscape so that 

mowing won’t be needed. Perhaps regulations can 

be passed to limit the amount of lawn a home can 

have. 

98 The District needs to defend the ISR rule. 

(This response addresses comments 95 – 101 

some of which appear on the following page) 

Comments noted. The District is committed to its 

ISR rule. 

Please see Indirect Source Review 

Enhancement (M-OTH-8) in App. I of this plan. 

Future control options are described, but the 

District is not making recommendations at this 

time, pending examination of legal limitations in 

state law. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-7

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

99 Charge more through ISR (indirect source review), 

Make smaller developer pay ISR 

100 ISR fee discounts to businesses with air programs.

101 

All new development should completely offset new 

sources of air pollution. Leapfrog and new town 

development should be discouraged because these 

create longer commutes to city centers. These 

should be assessed impact fees if they are built. 

District: Monitoring

102 Expand scope of studies with more monitors in 

mountain communities 

103 Additional monitoring stations in Kern County. 

The District’s monitor locations are selected to 

meet federal requirements, including 

requirements that the monitors be placed to 

measure representative concentrations as well 

as concentrations in air pollution hot spots. 

Please see Figure 1-3 in Chapter 1 of this Plan 

for a map of monitoring station locations to 

include mountain areas and Kern. 

District: Oil and Gas Production

104 Stop evaporation ponds in oil field Please see Crude Oil Sumps (S-PET-13) in App. 

I of this plan. 

District: Research

105 Actions need to be based on good sound science The District concurs. 

106 Research studies Comment noted. 

107 Remote sensing At this time, remote sensing does not appear to 

be the most cost effective option. 

108 District has shown that science based approach is 

good 

109 

The science needs to be better developed to 

identify controls for dairies. The industry has made 

its facilities available to do research. 

110 Be innovators-be the best at what we do. 

Comment noted. 

District: Public Outreach

111 Need to use simpler language This plan was written with readability in mind. 

112 Try to give parts of the presentation in Spanish, 

Have Powerpoint in Spanish 

The District provides English to Spanish 

translation in workshops for plans and governing 

board meetings, as often as possible. 

113 Wondering how much outreach has been done 

The District is committed to effective public 

outreach. Please see Expanded Spare-The-Air 

Programs (M-OTH-9) in App. I of this plan and 

check the District website for public service 

updates and other outreach services. 

114 

Fresno fair and mass transit! Print coupons in the 

Bee for free bus passes to the Fair. Additional bee 

sales funds get donated to air district funding. 

Based on the current transit system in the San 

Joaquin Valley, this does not appear to be a cost 

effective measure at this time. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-8

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

115 

SJVAPCD just doesn’t make it as an acronym. 

How about inventing one that fits the bill and people 

can identify your agency with your mission. 

Comment noted. 

District: School Buses

116 Replace pre-1999 school buses ASAP Please refer to the District’s recently-adopted 

school bus rule. 

117 

Ask school districts to reduce bus trips by x%; 

maybe ask students to walk farther, use 

neighborhood elementary schools as pick up 

points. 

These issues are governed by individual school 

districts. There may be safety issues involved. 

Limiting bus trips may actual encourage 

increased car use, which would be detrimental to 

air quality. 

District: Spare the Air Days

118 Free tickets on STA days 

Based on the current transit system in the San 

Joaquin Valley, this does not appear to be a cost 

effective measure at this time. The District 

encourages residents to utilize public transit. 

Many residents may find that they can save 

money using transit rather than using their cars. 

119 

Partnering with community organizations can help 

leverage precious public dollars to make a lasting 

impression on citizens. These programs, coupled 

with consistent Spare the Air messages and 

solutions can result in smart choices and improved 

air quality. 

The District concurs. The District’s partnership 

with the American Lung Association for the 

school flag program is one such successful 

program. 

120 Regulate spray painting on windy days. 

It is not evident that spray painting on windy days 

results in more of an air quality impact than on 

non-windy days. 

121 

Stockton does not seem to honor Spare the Air 

(e.g. no free transit). Free transit should be 

available locally, not just for rail commuters. 

122 

The Bay Area Air District offers free public 

transportation on Spare the Air Days. What 

incentives does this District offer? 

The District does not offer free transit (neither 

buses nor rail) on STA days because based on 

the current transit system in the San Joaquin 

Valley, this does not appear to be a cost effective 

measure at this time. The District encourages 

residents to utilize public transit. Many residents 

may find that they can save money using transit 

rather than using their cars. 

123 Incentives for transit and vanpool programs. 

Please see Employer-based Trip Reduction 

Programs (M-TRAN-2) in App. I of this plan. The 

District is committed to reducing vehicle miles 

traveled (VMT) in the district. 

District: Stronger Rules

124 

Plenty of rules out there that the District has 

declined to adopt (ex: NSR exempt Ag from 

offsets). Need to review the most stringent 

measures in other areas 

The District has analyzed rules from other air 

districts, including South Coast AQMD. The 

District has left “no stone unturned”, but the 

District must give priority to those rules that will 

achieve the most reductions earliest. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-9

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

125 

Need to make sure we are getting the most 

reduction out of each rule, Urgency of problem 

merits strongest rule possible 

The District has exhaustively assessed all 

existing rules for opportunities for strengthening. 

The District must give priority to those rules that 

will achieve the most reductions earliest. The 

District’s rule adoption schedule must allow 

adequate time for the public process. The 

District must, in some cases, consider improved 

technologies that will be available in the near 

future (such as Tier 4 engines) 

126 

Holding off on extreme measure b/c they impact 

quality of life, but they are actually limiting quality of 

life 

127 Make big-picture suggestion: should abandon 

concept of reasonable, cost-effective controls. 

The District has a legal responsibility to consider 

the socioeconomic impacts of its rules. 

128 Feels that District not interested in ideas for small 

reductions. 

129 The District should move with urgency and not 

worry to much about cost-effectiveness 

The District must give priority to those rules that 

will achieve the most reductions earliest. The 

District has a legal responsibility to consider the 

socioeconomic impacts of its rules. The District’s 

rule adoption schedule must allow adequate time 

for the public process. 

130 

Strengthen every existing rule to require the 

maximum achievable reductions at the earliest 

possible date. 

131 Talks about improving rules such as flares rule, 

boiler rule, LCAF rules. 

The District has exhaustively assessed all 

existing rules for opportunities for strengthening. 

District: Urban Forestry/Cool Cities Programs

132 Encourage District to look at smaller communities 

to see how to fund and support urban forestry 

133 

Investing in tree planting through incentives, 

volunteer efforts, and various local ordinances can 

provide some air pollution reductions. Many 

jurisdictions are supportive of this type of strategy. 

We know trees are good for air quality, and with 

data from a study out of UC Davis and the Tree 

Foundation, we can prove it. 

Further study may be needed to quantify the 

emissions reductions that may be associated 

with tree planting. The District’s control strategy 

must achieve quantifiable emissions reductions. 

134 Want sidewalks and trees...can walk and clean the 

air 

The District emphasizes walkable communities in 

its “Air Quality Guidelines for General Plans,” and 

sidewalks are an element of ISR. Overall, the 

ultimate authority belongs to land use agencies. 

State: Fuels

135 Would it be possible for the old diesel engines to 

use biodiesel? 

136 

Biofuel is an option to consider for diesel engines; 

vegetable oil and other non-petroleum based 

biofuel does not pollute. Berkeley currently uses it 

in its city vehicles. The District should encourage 

cities to use vegetable oil biofuel for diesel engines.

Biodiesel’s merits lies with other concerns (such 

as PM and toxics) other than it’s NOx potential 

as an ozone precursor. 

137 Support Natural Gas “Fuel neutrality” is now possible due to the 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-10

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

138 Support E85 pacific (ethanol). advances made to have cleaner engine 

emissions in all fuel types. 

139 Increase fuel standards 

140 

Increase fuel efficiency standards and emissions 

controls on passenger vehicles and heavy duty 

trucks 

State law vests the authority to the ARB with 

regards to fuel standards. The state has 

jurisdiction over mobile sources. However, the 

District plans to provide incentives to hasten the 

turnover of vehicles. 

State: Mobile Sources

141 

Consumer education on cars should be offered, like 

how greencars.com lists the best and worst cars for 

the environment. 

Comment noted. The District’s public education 

unit constantly reminds the general population 

about wiser choices to protect the environment. 

142 

Raised trucks should be banned. There is no 

practical reason to raise a truck, and it makes the 

mileage even worse. Although the District doesn’t 

regulate vehicles, perhaps something can be done 

about the businesses that raise trucks for people. 

Perhaps there can be a limit on how high a truck 

can be raised, like no more than 4 inches beyond 

factory height. 

Comment noted. As said, it is beyond District 

authority to regulate the operation of vehicles. 

143 

As an initial step, and to get more money for 

alternatives, ads, and mitigation, tax sources of 

pollution when they’re sold: taxes of leaf blowers, 

lawn mowers, even cars and sources of VOCs. 

The District does not have the authority to levy 

taxes at the point of sale. 

144 

 Autos and diesels are the largest contributors of 

pollution, and diesel emissions are quite hazardous. 

The focus should be on these sources of pollution. 

The District concurs and plans to “step out of the 

Box” by using mechanisms, such as incentive 

funding and AERO (Advanced Emissions 

Reductions Options) options to reduce emissions 

from mobile sources. 

145 Reinstate roadside vehicle checks. 

Comment noted. The state, through ARB, has 

plans to improve Smog check programs and 

institute other programs that will cut down mobile 

source emissions. 

146 Container movement 

This is being addressed through ARB’s Goods 

Movement programs. It is also the subject of 

exploratory modeling studies to determine if 

geographic relocation to the west side is a viable 

option. 

147 Idling trucks, enforcement of the rule 

The District concurs. The ARB has adopted 

idling restrictions. The District’s ongoing 

incentive programs cover electrification of truck 

stops. 

148 

Uninsured vehicles don’t participate in smog check, 

Need to help people keep vehicles but get smog 

check 

Please see the ARB’s proposed control 

measures, which includes Smog Check 

improvements. The District and ARB plan to 

improve their scrappage programs to get gross 

polluters off the road. 

149 

Have you analyzed the amount of air pollution 

reduction if the CAFÉ (mileage) standards were 

raised to 40 mpg? If not, will you? 

The federal sector has the authority to regulate 

CAFÉ (mileage) standards. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-11

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

State: Off-Road Engines

150 Fork lifts 

District incentive programs can target the 

reduction of emissions from forklifts, as with all 

other possibilities of reducing off-road emissions.

State: Pesticides

151 Need to go to Congress/DPR and use political 

leverage 

152 Adopt rules for pesticides 

153 Pesticide controls 

154 Limit VOCs in the pesticides 

155 Limit use of pesticides with VOC on high ozone 

days 

156 State revision of pesticide regulations. 

157 Pesticide use controls, such as utilizing tarps etc. to 

control pesticide drift. 

158 Adopt stringent controls for smog forming 

chemicals in pesticides 

The District concurs with the importance of 

DPR’s having effective pesticide controls. The 

DPR regulates emissions from pesticides. The 

District concurs that the DPR needs to achieve 

emissions reductions from pesticides. 

The DPR regulates emissions from pesticides. 

The District concurs that the DPR needs to 

achieve emissions reductions from pesticides. 

159 Pesticides - #4 precursor to Ozone Comment noted. 

160 See that you fine people but pesticides and dairies 

are contaminating air more 

The District has rules regulating dairies, but 

pesticides are under the jurisdiction of DPR 

State: Energy

161 Support education of sustainable energy 

162 Energy is not clean 

163 

I think we should put solar panels in the schools so 

it saves energy. Then make the school buses 

hybrids. 

164 Encourage energy efficiency. 

165 How about setting up windmills around our cities to 

power electric cars? 

The District concurs that energy efficiency is an 

important part of air quality. Many education 

programs are in place at various agencies. 

Ultimately, general energy efficiency issues are 

not under District jurisdiction. Energy efficiency 

may not always be linked to direct emissions 

reductions in the San Joaquin Valley. 

Please see Alternative Energy Production and 

Energy Conservation Programs (S-COM-12) in 

App. I of this plan for information on District 

efforts to address this issue. 

State: Small Off-Road Engines (SORE)

166 Ban noisy dust blowers – PM, gas for smog 

167 Ban use of gas powered lawn equipment 

168 Leaf blowers are dust blowers. Don’t think ban 

would be a disaster 

169 Leafblowers, can we find alternatives to gas? 

170 Leaf blowers need to be replaced with vacuums 

with filters. The noise is a problem as well. 

Based on the District’s recent study, although 

leaf blowers can create highly localized impacts 

on air quality, leaf blowers do not greatly 

contribute to the region’s air quality. Cities have 

authority to ban lawn equipment for noise 

reasons. 

Please contact the District office for copies of this 

study. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-12

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

171 

Is it possible to ban leaf blowers and other 

equipment (tractors?) on Spare the Air days? What 

is the District’s authority to ban equipment on Spare 

the Air days? 

Spare The Air is a voluntary program that does 

not involve the banning of equipment. The 

District encourages residents to refrain from 

using gas-powered lawn equipment on STA 

days. 

172 

The unexpectedly rapid expansion of residential 

development in the Valley means, among many 

other factors, we are losing prime farm land and 

seeing thousands of lawns and leaf blowers. 

Solutions: Stop some of this, mitigate some of this, 

limit lawns, and train gardeners to first rake leaves 

onto the lawn, then mow over them, picking them 

up as the mow – not the other way around. 

Please see Expanded Spare The Air Day 

Programs (M-OTH-9) in App. I of this plan for a 

summary of future District efforts to mitigate 

emissions from residential sources, especially 

during STA days. 

173 

Encourage people to replace gas-powered lawnmowers and leaf-blowers with either electric or 

manual models. 

The District has been operating lawn mower 

trade-ins for a few years now with great success. 

174 

Have city and county governments switch to electric 

lawn mowers, blowers, trimmers, etc. Provide 

incentives for gardening businesses to do the 

same. 

Two proposals by the District could have a 

positive effect, air quality-wise, on how 

government agencies conduct business. These 

are: Green Contracting and Accelerated Fleet 

Turnover, which are in App. I of this plan. 

State: Highways

175 Reduce highway speed limits 

176 User fees on I-5 and highway 99. 

177 Slow freeway speeds 

County, state and federal government agencies 

have jurisdiction over roads and highways. The 

District concurs with the suggestion to reduce 

emissions by driving at optimum speeds that 

maximize gas energy use. 

Federal: Aircraft

178 

The worst and most uncontrolled polluters currently 

operated with complete impunity are private/public 

airplanes. These machines not general pollution, 

but noise as well. When will they be required to 

install pollution reducing equipment and mufflers? 

Aircraft is not under the District’s jurisdiction. 

Pollution reducing equipment and fuels are 

already required. 

179 

How much NOx and VOC do the military flights 

from the National Guard Base add to our air? How 

about getting then to curtail their practice, to use 

flight simulators instead? 

Please refer to the emissions inventory in 

Appendix B, specifically the “Aircraft” category 

within mobile sources. These values include 

commercial, private, and military aircraft. 

Federal: Trucks, etc.

180 Better regulation of trucks, trucks from across the 

border 

181 The traffic on I-5 carries many trucks. The trucks 

need stronger smog controls. 

182 

Trucks not registered in California need to be under 

California regulations if they’re going to be driven in 

California. 

183 EPA needs to be a bigger partner. 

Interstate trucking is federally regulated. The 

District concurs that trucks, both in-state and outof-state registered, must operate at the cleanest 

emissions possible. According to the ARB, out of 

state trucks, as a population, are cleaner than instate trucks. In addition, incentivization for 

acceleration of fleet turnover is a major 

component of this plan. In addition, ARB is 

c rrentl cond cting r lemaking to reg late
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-13

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

184 Could the District sue EPA to enforce federal 

regulations? 

currently conducting rulemaking to regulate 

private fleets of trucks. Please see Accelerated 

Fleet Turnover (M-TRAN-1) in App. I of this plan 

for future District efforts to reduce emissions from 

the trucks category. 

185 

Tell Federal General Services administration that 

Federal courthouse should be in Bakersfield City 

center 

Comment noted. 

186 Support legislation to require 40 mpg cars. Comment noted. 

Local Government: Drive-throughs

187 Close hamburger drive-through or make them pay a 

fee 

188 Fast food restaurants drive-throughs 

189 Abolish drive-thru services (stationary pollution, 

reward laziness, wastes gas, pollutes air) 

190 Eliminate the drive-thru at fast food businesses, 

Starbucks, etc, in California, esp. the Valley. 

191 Eliminate drive-thrus 

It is not clear that drive thrus result in more 

pollution, primarily because shutting off and then 

later restarting a car can generate higher 

emissions than just leaving the car running, 

depending on the amount of time involved. 

Further study may be needed. This is also a 

land use/zoning issue. 

Local Government: Land Use Issues

192 Must look at city design and design for Valley floor 

193 Nexus b/t Ag and urban planning essential 

194 Need to get out from under ridiculous land policy 

195 Charge business for every parking space 

196 

Air District s/t has role as lead agency in CEQA and 

has opportunity to make strong statements, can 

outline large environmental impacts, 

197 Issue of “new towns” being proposed 

198 More Urban sprawl = more NOX 

199 

Better planning to curb suburban sprawl and to 

create walkable communities. Current 

development patterns discourage walking. 

200 

Disking and tilling vacant lots and applying 

herbicides are detrimental. Planting native grasses 

that could be mowed would reduce emissions. 

201 This means that land-use decisions are key. 

202 Be liaisons-talk to business leaders and community 

leaders about land-use. 

203 The District needs to encourage better 

development patterns. 

204 

Ask City & county government planning to require 

fewer parking places, forcing people to carpool, 

walk, or ride the bus. 

205 

Regulate cities to reduce sprawl, pursue infill, and 

get away from proliferation of single family 

dwellings. 

(This response addresses comments 192 – 212 

some of which appear on the following page) 

The state, through the ARB, has issued Land 

Use Guidelines. As mentioned in a previous 

response, the District endorses ways of reducing 

VMTs, as discussed in its “Air Quality Guidelines 

for General Plans.” To support efforts by many 

entities that address land use decisions, the 

District is a major sponsor of the San Joaquin 

Valley Blueprint Process, a collaborative 

undertaking of the valley’s Council of 

Governments (COGs). In addition, the District 

provided technical assistance on air quality 

topics to the California Partnership for the San 

Joaquin Valley, which brought state agencies 

and local valley leadership together to make 

recommendations to the governor regarding 

changes that would improve the valley’s 

economy and quality-of-life of its residents. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-14

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

206 

The city and county seem to let developers make 

new home subdivisions by paying for infrastructure 

before development. It is up to the government to 

direct infrastructure before, not after, development. 

This would eliminate traffic jams, i.e. reduce 

pollution. 

207 

The Valley has a huge sprawl problem, which 

increases smog and air pollution by having to travel 

more to get to schools, government offices, civic 

centers, shopping centers, etc. Many cities are 

continuing to encourage sprawl. The District needs 

to do a better effort to discourage sprawl for the 

expanding cities within the SJV. 

208 

Valley attracts distribution centers because it is 

centrally located, but this creates a lot of truck 

traffic. The air district should levy impact fees on 

distribution centers. 

209 

Need to emphasize, encourage, give incentive to 

build walkable sub-divisions/neighborhoods built 

around transit to reduce the need to drive. 

210 

With the influx of people and suburban sprawl, I 

can’t not believe that cars are the primarly culprit of 

poor air quality. I see unlimited growth, sprawl in all 

directions, “new towns” being created – Harlan 

Ranch, Millestown, Boswell east of Visalia. Where 

are the brakes? 

211 We also have opposed poor planning, leading to 

sprawl. 

212 Local community not doing anything 

Local Governments: Transportation Issues

213 We must add more buses and perhaps jitneys on 

call to bring people to the best routes. 

214 Synchronize traffic lights 

215 

Transportation projects included as RACM in the 

SIP should be eligible for ISR funds; since the 

RACM do not list emissions reductions targets, 

projects funded would indeed be surplus. Local 

transportation projects not included in the SIP, but 

beneficial to air pollution control, should equally be 

eligible for mitigation funds as long as they can 

meet the cost-effectiveness criteria. Projects 

include enhanced public transit, transit incentives, 

traffic flow improvements, bicycle/pedestrian 

facilities, and road paving. 

216 

Incentives might help people who want to open a 

home-based business, which would lower the 

amount of people with long commutes. 

(This response addresses comments 213 – 238 

some of which appear on the following page) 

The District supports the multi-varied efforts by 

local and state government agencies to reduce 

emissions from land use and transportationrelated sources. Local COGs and transportation 

planning agencies use a combination of 

strategies, subdivided as follows: 

TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENTRideshare Programs, Transit Usage, Fles Hours, 

Vanpools, Bicycling & Walking, Telecommuting, 

Mixed Land Uses; TRANSPORTATION 

CONTROL MEASURES- Rideshare Programs, 

Park-and-Ride Lots, Telecommunications, 

Alternate Work Schedules, Bicycle Facilities, 

Public Transit, Traffic Flow Improvements, 

Passenger Rail & S pport Acti ities and
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-15

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

217 

Partnerships with private businesses and other 

organizations could be helpful. Some funding 

allocated to incentives could help fund these 

partnerships. Examples might include: free transit 

rides on Spare the Air days, partnerships with 

school districts to include class visits or special 

assemblies, and partnerships with automobile 

repair facilities to promote engine maintenance in 

between required smog check testing. 

218 

Bicycling in Bakersfield is made difficult by 

freeways. Crossing them (99, 58, 178) is 

dangerous at the on/off ramps. As freeways are 

added (Kern River Parkway), it only discourages 

the use of alternative modes of transportation. 

What can be done to maintain the ability to cross 

these areas? 

219 Encourage mass transportation 

220 

Look at Mexico City’s policies, such as one day a 

week you can’t drive and the government shutting 

down businesses when needed. 

221 No drive days 

222 Certain streets just for bicycles 

223 Coordinate signals 

224 Help expand bike lanes and paths. Educate 

bicyclists and drivers about sharing the road. 

225 We should make more bike paths also, because 

many streets don’t and it’s dangerous. 

226 

Real need for improved public transit in Bakersfield, 

many different options that aren’t seen anywhere in 

the Valley. 

227 Mass Transit needs to be promoted 

228 Need to pursue Transportation / Kings Co Ag Vans

229 Transit 

230 Charge business for every worker to come to work 

on the bus and give rebate if bus is used 

231 Public Transit 

232 More Mass transit 

233 Expand public transit and BART in the San Joaquin 

Valley. 

234 More public transit. 

235 

Create and subsidize a light rail system within cities 

and high-speed rail throughout the Valley. Make 

sure bus routes and schedules encourage people 

to use mass transit. Right now, I cannot use GET 

to get anywhere I want to go in a reasonable 

amount of time. 

236 Increase public transit opportunities 

Passenger Rail & Support Activities; and 

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS 

MANAGEMENT- Traffic Signal Synchronization, 

Traffic Engineering Improvements, 

Channelization, One-Way Streets, Turning & Bus 

Pocket bays, Bus Terminals, Removal of OnStreet Parking, Limit Arterial Access, Street & 

Highway Widening, Bicycle Facilities, and 

Pedestrian Malls. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 30, 2007

Appendix G: Town Hall Meeting Suggestions 

2007 Ozone Plan 

Appendix G-16

Ref. # Town Hall Comment District Response 

237 

Our board members are dedicated to support more 

and better public transportation to reduce driving. 

River Park to downtown is easy by bus, and no 

parking problems! Publicize this! 

238 

Adopt regional design standards for transportation 

projects and land use that support walkability and 

bikeability (cites Breathe California’s “Clean Air 

Agenda,” adopted 2002). 

Inter-agency Cooperation

239 Industry will help to encourage state and federal to 

do their share 

240 Agree that state and federal government need to do 

their share 

241 Concurs with the District’s frustration over land-use 

and state and federal reductions. 

Comments noted. 

242 Stop isolating constituents/pollutants 

The District has consistently spread the message 

that it takes all sectors to successfully bring 

healthy air to valley residents. 

243 Need Balanced approach The District concurs. 

244 Work hand-in-hand with water board and DPR, 

More cooperation 

Comment noted. The District concurs and 

recognizes that collaborative effort is an 

important part of solving environmental 

problems, which are often inter-related. 

245 Feel should work with other districts to make 

message stronger 

The District collaborates with other air districts 

through several avenues, including participation 

in CAPCOA, STAPPA, ALAPCO and other 

organizations that were established for the very 

purpose of inter-agency collaboration. 

246 Wants to know how we are working with 

neighboring District’s? 

Pollutant transport is analyzed by the ARB. The 

District and other air districts for control 

measures ideas. Air districts work together on 

technical and policy issues. 

247 Also like partnership ideas. 

Partnerships will be crucial to achieving 

reductions from non-District sources to ensure 

that everyone does their part. 

248 Partner with the other agencies that have authority.

249 Be advocates-at the State and Federal level. 

District staff and resources have been and will 

continue to be devoted to cooperation with other 

agencies. 

250 Let the Congressman [Radanovich] know what he 

can do to help 

Partnerships will be crucial to obtaining funding 

and achieving reductions from non-District 

sources. 

251 Cites replacing diesel pumps as success, PGE runs 

a $27 million program to change out pumps. 

This is a fine example of private industry 

involvement in the solution of our valley’s air 

quality problem.