South Coast Air Quality Management District

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Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS: 

This report highlights the July 2000 activities of the Public Affairs Office which includes the following activities: Environ-mental Justice Update, Community Events/Public Meetings, Business Assistance, Intergovernmental Affairs and Media Communications. The latest edition of the AQMD Advisor is included with this report.

COMMITTEE: 

Not Applicable

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

The following report reflects the activities of the Public Affairs Office for the month of July. The report format includes five major areas: Environmental Justice Update, Community Events/Public Meetings (including the Speakers Bureau, Visiting Dignitaries and Public Information Center), Business Assistance, Intergovernmental Affairs and Media Communications (including the Communication Center).

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE UPDATE

As of March 2000, the AQMD has met the objectives of the Environmental Justice Initiatives. Policies and Procedures are in place to address the Environmental Justice concerns of communities and individuals.

Town Hall Meetings	A Community Briefing on LAX is scheduled for Inglewood on Wednesday, September 20, 2000.
Ambient Monitoring of Air Toxics	MATES-II and Microscale Study: Completed. Final Report presented to March Governing Board.
Community Response Teams	Inglewood AQMD Laboratory Services and Special Projects staff is completing testing for particulates in and around the Los Angeles International Airport. Results are expected to be released at the September Community Briefing in Inglewood.
CEQA Commenting	Commenting Reporting Period: June 1-30, 2000 Requests to AQMD for document review:         0 Documents received this reporting period:        77 Documents to receive AQMD comments:        37 Comment letters sent out this reporting period: 17
Environmental Justice Task Force	Completed.
City of Los Angeles Environmental Justice Forum	Completed.
Diesel Fuel Clean-Up Incentives	Conduct Public Education and Outreach Proposed Rules 1186.1, Less-Polluting Sweepers, and 1194, Commercial Airport Ground Access, are scheduled for Public Hearing on August 18, 2000.
Field Inspection Technology	Completed.
Portable Equipment Permitting	Completed.
Public Comment, Rules 1401 and 1402	Completed. Air Toxics Reduction Plan adopted by the Governing Board at the March 17th meeting.

COMMUNITY EVENTS/PUBLIC MEETINGS

Each year, thousands of AQMD customers receive tips on reducing their exposure to smog and its health effects; information on ways to participate in AQMD rule and policy development; and assistance in resolving air quality-related problems through events and meetings which AQMD sponsors alone or with others. The following describes the activities undertaken during July.

Date	Location	Description of Activity
7/12	Los Angeles	Spoke with staff from Montebello Unified School District to receive an update on School Board approval to participate in Breathmobile Program and MOU approval by LA County Board of Supervisors. MUSD will discuss the item at their meeting on July 20. MOU will be reviewed by Board of Supervisors in August.
7/12	Orange	Spoke with Executive Director from American Lung Association, Orange County, who stated that the next meeting of Latino Advisory Committee would be July 27. Forwarded this information to Board Assistant Ruben Gonzales who will be providing the committee with the names of additional members, primarily representing local governments and community-based groups in Orange County.
7/13	Out of Basin	Spoke with staff member from Mojave APCD who requested information on AQMD program policies on New Source Review thresholds, offset ratios and target Average Vehicle Ridership. Researched these items and provided response.
7/13	Los Angeles	Spoke with Margarita Sanchez from Boyle Heights Mejoramiento regarding a press event that they will hold on July 14 announcing proposal for truck tonnage limitations for 7th Street. She also requested update on preliminary data from monitoring study being conducted near 7th & Soto Streets.
7/13	Los Angeles	Spoke with USC regarding establishing a high school program where students will sample air quality and conduct analyses. Asked if AQMD has an analyzer they could use in this program; there is surplus equipment that may be used. Also, there may be an opportunity to loan equipment.
7/20	Los Angeles	Spoke with contractor regarding timeline for relocating museum exhibits from Diamond Bar to Lewis Center in Apple Valley.
7/25	Riverside	Spoke with staff member from Inland Empire Health Plan regarding data on pediatric asthma.
7/26	Los Angeles	Attended planning meeting for Community Health Fair hosted by Hispanic Outreach Taskforce in Santa Fe Springs.
7/27	Orange	Attended American Lung Association, Orange County, Latino Health Advisory Committee meeting to discuss programs goals for FY 00-01, including an Environmental & Community Health Fair in Santa Ana
7/28	Areawide	Spoke with Executive Director of Asthma & Allergy Foundation who invited AQMD to attend a meeting with representatives from the Center for Disease Control on Aug. 3 in Los Angeles. Visitors are interested in air pollution and asthma issues and will be touring the Breathmobile.
7/19	Los Angeles	Attended a meeting of teachers, administrators, students, parents and community-based organizations planning an environmental charter school in the Hawthorne area.
7/26	Los Angeles	Met with Los Angeles Urban League to discuss outreach opportunities in conjunction with the upcoming Inglewood Town Hall Meeting.
7/26	Orange	Attended a meeting of the Orange County Region of the California Regional Environmental Education Community Network (CREEC Network) to plan an Environmental Education Fair for Orange County public schoolteachers scheduled for Oct. 5 at the Santa Ana Zoo.

Speakers Bureau / Visiting Dignitaries / Information Requests

AQMD receives dozens of requests each month from trade associations, chambers of commerce and community-based groups, as well as schools, hospitals and health-based organizations, requesting a District staff member to speak on a variety of air quality-related issues. In turn, the District hosts distinguished visitors from around the world, as well as members of the general public, who visit our headquarters to tour the facility and meet with staff on a wide range of air quality issues. The following describes the major activities handled during July.

Date	Location	Description of Activity
7/7	Los Angeles	Monitoring & Analysis staff gave a tour of the Caltech air monitoring station to a group of teens in the Harambee Youth Day Camp in Pasadena. Public Affairs staff gave an air quality overview and a science demonstration on how smog forms to a larger group of younger children at the day camp.
7/25	Headquarters	Gave an air quality overview and a tour of AQMD headquarters to a group of students and teachers from Diamond Bar High School.
7/19	Headquarters	Mr. Munir Dahalwi, Director of Environmental Programs of the Saudi Arabia Royal Commission, Yanbu Region, met with Planning, Compliance and Public Affairs staffs for overviews on rule development, permitting, inspections and penalties pertaining to refinery operations and marine terminals.

Speaking Requests Received	Presentations
3	3

Delegations Hosted	Tours of AQMD Headquarters
1	2

Public Information Center Statistics

The Public Information Center handles the District’s visitors and handles general information phone calls.

Visitor Transactions	Info Packages Mailed	Calls Received by PIC Staff	Calls to Automated System	Total Phone Calls Received
549	179	408	8,503	8,911

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

AQMD assists businesses by notifying them of proposed regulations so they can participate in their development by providing one-to-one assistance. Staff also works with other agencies and states to identify efficient, cost-effective ways to reduce air pollution and shares that information broadly.

Date	Location	Description of Activity
7/5	Los Angeles	Small dry cleaner has filed petition for a variance. Provided assistance in the variance hearing.
7/5-28	Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino	Provided air quality clearance letters for companies in the cities and areas of: Anaheim, Azusa, Brea, Burbank, Canyon Country, Cypress, Fullerton, Gardena, Glendale, Hacienda Heights, Hemet, Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, La Mirada, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Murrieta, Northridge, Ontario, Palm Desert, Paramount, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Gabriel, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, Torrance, Valencia, and West Los Angeles.
7/6	Los Angeles	Machine shop: Manufactures aerospace components and was issued a Notice of Violation for solvent cleaning operation. Assisted facility with list of water-based equipment suppliers and discussed applicable rules and regulations.
7/6	Los Angeles	Auto body shop: Relocating their paint spray booth. Explained rule requirements, recordkeeping, and assisted in completing a spray booth application.
7/6	Los Angeles	Vitamin and food supplement company: Referred by District inspector to provide on-site consultation regarding permitting of various equipment. Advised on permitting requirements, assisted in filing the forms, and quoted the new fees with penalties.
7/6	Los Angeles	Metal finishing company: Seeking assistance in obtaining permits for a new copper-nickel-chrome plating line venting to the existing scrubber. Discussed District rules including toxics and provided application forms and current fees.
7/11	San Bernardino	Non-profit youth organization: Operates gasoline storage and dispensing equipment. Provided assistance with permit application for change of permit condition. Also provided assistance with variance petition.
7/11	Los Angeles	Waste water treatment equipment manufacturer: Plans to relocate. Provided assistance explaining the permitting requirement for relocating equipment.
7/11	Los Angeles	Major department store: Requested the list of approved Certified Permit Processors. Provided assistance searching for the information from AQMD’s web site.
7/12	Orange	Computer software company: Called to permit an emergency generator. Advised the company to buy the generator from the District’s pre-approved list and faxed the list and necessary application forms. They did buy a pre-approved generator and sent the completed application forms to staff.
7/13	Los Angeles	Water company: Inquired about permitting two emergency generators. Discussed District rules and regulations and faxed application forms.
7/13	Los Angeles	Jewelry shop: Facility will be melting gold in a crucible. Identified exemption provisions for equipment and discussed recordkeeping.
7/14	Orange	Dry cleaner: Was issued an incorrect permit. Provided assistance to resolve the problem.
7/14	Orange	Graphic art printing: Explained the requirements of Rule 1130 and assisted/educated the applicant in calculating the VOC content of printing materials.
7/14	Los Angeles	Gas station: Applicant was issued a Notice to Comply for not having a Rule 461 training certificate. Discussed requirements and assisted in signing up applicant for source education class.
7/18	Los Angeles	Ceramic product manufacturer: Existing business. Provided and explained Rules 203, 301, 1112, 1112.1 and 1171, and an application package for a kiln and mixer.
7/18	Los Angeles	Small dry cleaner: Requesting increase in perc usage limit set by the permit condition. Provided assistance explaining equipment and permitting requirements.
7/19	Los Angeles	Environmental clean-up company. Provided assistance completing applications for soil remediation equipment, operating permit, and VOC-contaminated soil mitigation plan.
7/20	Riverside	Solvent recovery system manufacturer. Provided assistance completing an application for equipment operating permit.
7/20	Los Angeles	Misc. rubber and plastic manufacturer: New business. Provided and explained applicable District rules, permitting requirements, and a clearance letter. The assistance was given in Spanish.
7/21	Orange	Large glass reinforced plastic pipe manufacturer: Plans new manufacturing facility in the SCAQMD area. Provided assistance and explanations of the permitting and equipment requirements for this type of facility.
7/21	Los Angeles	Auto body shop: Changing ownership. Conducted on-site visit, explained rule requirements, recordkeeping, and assisted in completing a spray booth application. Assistance was given in Spanish.
7/21	Orange	Transportation and maintenance: New business. Explained applicable District rules and provided a clearance letter. The assistance was given in Spanish.
7/25	Orange	Poultry farm: Applying for back-up water pump with internal combustion engine. Explained rule requirements and assisted in completing application forms.
7/25	Los Angeles	X-ray film manufacturer: Existing business. Explained Rules 203, 219, 442, and 1171, reviewed documents, and provided a clearance letter.
7/26	Los Angeles	Gasoline dispensing and foodmart: New business. Provided and explained applicable District rules, permitting requirements and a clearance letter. The assistance was given in Spanish.
7/27	Orange	Fabricated metal products: New business. Provided and explained applicable District rules, permitting requirements and reviewed technical data regarding the operation. Also provided a clearance letter.
7/27	Orange	Chemical products manufacturer: Filed a fee review request for the permit application fee charges. Provided assistance in the review process and investigations.
7/28	Los Angeles	Restaurant: New business. Provided and explained Rule 222, assisted in the completion of an application package, and issued a clearance letter.
7/28	Los Angeles	Portable equipment contractor: Abrasive blasting contractor has a portable compressor. Discussed applicable requirements and assisted in providing forms and fee information.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS ACTIVITY

Intergovernmental Affairs works with local government, state and federal officials in response to their air quality concerns and local issues.

Date	Location	Description of Activity
7/5	San Bernardino	Attended San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) Board Meeting. Discussed local air quality issues and recently adopted Fleet Rules 1191, 1192, and 1193 with mayors, council members, and city staff from Colton, Fontana, Loma Linda, Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Big Bear Lake and Redlands, and with SANBAG staff.
7/5	Orange	Had discussion with City of Laguna Niguel City Manager about a complaint petition received by the Executive Officer regarding diesel truck traffic in the vicinity of El Niguel Country Club in the City of Laguna Niguel.
7/5	Los Angeles	Attended South Bay Cities COG Steering Committee Meeting.
7/5	Los Angeles	Attended Gateway Cities COG Executive and Transportation Committee Meetings.
7/6	Districtwide	Attended SCAG Implementation and Policy Committees and Regional Council. Discussed recently adopted Fleet Rules 1191, 1192, and 1193 with mayors, council members, and city staff from Hemet, Corona, Temecula, Buena Park, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Lake Forest, and Cathedral City.
7/6	San Bernardino	Met with the President of the League of California Cities – Inland Empire Division regarding the League’s Legislative Task Force discussion of Air Quality Conformity and the Regional Transportation Plan.
7/6	Riverside	Met with the Mayor of Corona regarding concerns about the weekend operations of a local recycling business. Discussed approach to a possible investigation of permits, complaints, and violations that may exist.
7/6-9	San Diego	Attended Independent Cities Association Annual Seminar.
7/10	Riverside	Attended Riverside County Division - League of California Cities General Membership Meeting. Discussed local air quality issues and recently adopted Fleet Rules 1191, 1192, and 1193 with mayors, council members, and city staff from Rancho Mirage, Hemet, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Coachella and Temecula.
7/11	Orange	Attended Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting. Reported on the anticipated schedule for Governing Board consideration on the remaining Fleet Rules, answered questions regarding the present and future SIP conformity problems.
7/12	Riverside	Attended Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) Board Meeting. Provided support for RCTC staff regarding their proposed MOU with Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) and their proposed resolution to establish an emission standards requirement for the purchase or lease of urban transit buses by all transit operators in Riverside County.
7/13	Los Angeles	Spoke with Huntington Park City Councilmember (and employee of L.A. Unified School District) who requested data documenting the high concentration of asthma and morbidity cases related to air contaminants in the Huntington Park area.
7/14	San Bernardino	Attended Business Press Inland Empire Women of Distinction Luncheon. Discussed local air quality issues and recently adopted Fleet Rules 1191, 1192, and 1193 with mayors, council members, city staff and members of the Inland Empire business community who were in attendance.
7/14	District-Wide	Coordinated finalizing final reports with contacts from South Bay Cities COG, SANBAG, Western Riverside COG, and Orange County COG (in preparation for our October Governing Board meeting).
7/14	Los Angeles	Met with Alhambra School District Board member to discuss fleet rule implementation for school districts (buses).
7/19	Los Angeles	Spoke with staff from L.A. County Office of Education regarding Proposed Fleet Rule 1195.
7/20	Los Angeles	Met with staff to City of Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill regarding city’s most recent multi-media environmental community outreach campaign.
7/20	Los Angeles	Met with staff and Commissioner of Los Angeles DOT to discuss AQMD’s proposed Rule 1194.
7/20	Los Angeles	Spoke with staff to Councilmember Mark Ridley Thomas regarding upcoming L.A. City’s Environmental Quality and Waste Management Committee meeting and AQMD’s Town Hall Meeting.
7/20	Los Angeles	Spoke with staff to Councilmember Nick Pacheco regarding constituent issue.
7/26	Los Angeles	Attended Municipal Equipment Maintenance Managers Association (MEMMA) Meeting regarding Clean Fleet Rules.
7/26	Los Angeles	Contacted the cities of Hawthorne, Pomona and Culver City regarding Clean Fleet Rules
7/26-28	Monterey	Attended League of California Cities Executive Forum in Monterey, California.
7/26-28	Los Angeles	Contacted member cities to South Bay COG to follow up on surveys sent to evaluate AB 2766 Outreach Pilot Project.
7/28	Los Angeles	Attended CENCO hearing at joint meeting of Santa Fe Springs City Council and Planning Commission.

MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

The Communications Unit is responsible for informing and educating the public through the media and through the District’s Communication Center.

Press Relations Highlights

Date	Media	Description of Activity
7/5	Newspaper	Provided information on possible rental of office space to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
7/5	TV/Radio	Mailed letters seeking interviews regarding clean fleet rules on TV and radio talks.
7/5	News Service	Provided information on smog pager service to Associated Press.
7/5	Newsletter	Provided information on MATES II Study to The Cunningham Report.
7/5	Newspaper	Provided information on MSRC project to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
7/5	Weekly Newspapers	Mailed clean fleet news release to weekly newspapers.
7/6	Newspaper	Provided information to San Gabriel Valley Tribune on status of fleet rules.
7/6	Television	Provided information, interview and tour of the lab and air monitoring station to Channel 18 Mandarin News for feature story on AQMD.
7/7	Newspaper	Provided information to Los Angeles Daily News on smog pagers.
7/7	Newsletter	Provided information to Inside Cal-EPA on fleet rules.
7/7	Newspaper	Provided information on possible rental of building space to City of Diamond Bar to the Los Angeles Times.
7/11	TV	Set up interview on general air quality topics with Media One’s public access channel in Cypress and La Habra.
7/11	News Service	Provided air quality information to the Associated Press.
7/11	TV	Discussed interview with KDOC-TV (Ch. 56) regarding fleet rules.
7/12	News Service	Provided status update on Cenco Refinery to Reuters.
7/12	Newspaper	Provided information on asbestos problem at Thomas Edison Elementary School in Burbank to the Los Angeles Times.
7/12	News Service	Provided interview on air quality trends to Associated Press.
7/12	Newspaper	Provided information on fleet rules to High County News, an environmental newspaper.
7/12	Newspaper	Provided information to Riverside Press-Enterprise on smog season.
7/12	Newspaper	Provided information on AQMD auto scrapping program to the Los Angeles Times.
7/12	Newspaper	Provided information on Governing Board appointment process and removal from office process to the LA Weekly.
7/13	Newspaper	Provided information on Wholesale Shutter Co. to the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
7/13	Newspaper	Provided information on Tosco and Ultramar refineries to the Contra Costa Times.
7/13	Magazine	Provided information to Chemical Engineering magazine on fleet rules.
7/14	Television	Provided information to Fox TV on AQI.
7/14	Newsletter	Provided information to Clean Air Compliance Review on microturbines.

7/14	Newspapers	Provided information on smog trends to the Los Angeles Daily News and San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
7/14	Newspaper	Provided information on RECLAIM to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
7/18	Newspaper	Provided information on air monitoring study at LAX to the Chicago Tribune.
7/18	Radio	Provided information to Inland Empire News Radio on Rule 1402, smog season.
7/19	Internet	Provided information to Cox Interactive Media on air pollution.
7/19	Newspaper	Provided information and interview to the Long Beach Press-Telegram regarding petroleum coke in the port area.
7/19	Newsletter	Provided information to BNA on public consultation meeting regarding diesel equivalent methodology.
7/19	TV	Provided information to KCBS Channel 2 on air quality levels.
7/19	Newspaper	Provided information to Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on locomotive emissions.
7/19	TV	Provided information to KCET Channel 28 on history of air pollution control.
7/20	Newspaper/News Service	Provided information and interview regarding proposed Rule 431.2 to the Los Angeles Times and Associated Press.
7/20	Newspaper	Provided information to the Los Angeles Times on compliance record of Willamette Industries.
7/21	Newsletters	Provided information on diesel emissions risk methodology to Hart Energy Publications, Inside Washington Publishers and the California Environmental Insider.
7/21	Newspaper	Provided information to the Los Angeles Daily News regarding smog levels.
7/21	Newspaper	Provided information to the Los Angeles Daily News concerning asbestos at schools in Burbank.
7/21	Newspaper	Provided information and interview to Torrance Daily Breeze on roadside flare project.
7/25	All Media	Distributed July Board Summary.
7/25	Newsletter	Provided information on Rule 431.2 proposal to Mobile Source Report, Hart Energy Publications, Transport Topics and California Environmental Insider.
7/25	Newspaper	Provided interview to the Desert Sun regarding an air quality violation by the Desert Sun.
7/25	Newspaper	Provided information to the Los Angeles Times concerning BP Amoco.
7/25	Radio	Provided air quality information to Inland Radio.
7/25	Newsletter	Provided information to Inside Cal/EPA on Board meeting.
7/25	Newspaper	Provided information to LA Weekly on Cool Communities initiative.
7/25	Newspaper	Provided information to Burbank Leader on air pollution terms.
7/25	TV	Provided information to channel 13 on wet cleaning.
7/26	Newspaper	Provided information on CR Transfer Inc to the Orange County Register.
7/26	Newspaper	Provided information on the status of permits for CENCO Refinery project to the Whittier Daily News.
7/26	Newspaper	Provided information to Los Angeles Daily News, Burbank Leader on asbestos cleanup at Roosevelt Elementary.
7/26	Newspaper	Provided smog data to the Los Angeles Times.
7/26	Newspaper	Provided information to Portland Oregonian on open burning.
7/27	Magazine	Provided information to LA Times Magazine on toxics in LA air.

Communication Center Statistics

The Communication Center handles all District main line, CUT-SMOG line and Spanish line calls.

Main Line Calls	CUT-SMOG Line	After Hours Calls*	Spanish Line Calls	Total Phone Calls
7,203	4,475	2,301	50	15,257

*Saturday, Sunday and after 9:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

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