South Coast Air Quality Management District

Review of AQMD’s Environmental Justice Program and Release of Proposed Enhancements for FY 2002-03 for Public Review

SYNOPSIS: 

Chairman Glover’s Strategic Alliance Initiative #6 calls for an annual program review of District activities related to identifying and addressing environmental justice issues. Staff has prepared an initial review of key program accomplishments and proposed further enhancements. In the future, the annual review will serve as the basis for further outreach and problem-solving activities with stakeholders regarding short- and long-term environmental justice challenges and solutions.

COMMITTEE: 

Not Applicable

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

No Board action required – staff will circulate the attached draft Staff Report for public comment and return to the September 13, 2002 Board meeting with a Final Report, including recommended Program Enhancements, for Board consideration and approval.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Since AQMD’s historic Environmental Justice Initiatives were first set in motion in October 1997, a great deal of progress has been made to develop related policies and procedures, to advance science & technology tools, and to implement community empowerment actions. As with all District programs, such progress is monitored, re-assessed, and re-calibrated to ensure continuing improvement.

Following the implementation of the original Environmental Justice Initiatives, a brief implementation status of ongoing environmental justice activities has appeared as part of each month’s Public Affairs Report to the Board. Ongoing environmental justice issues and activities have also been tracked by the Board’s standing Committees and advisory groups. Ongoing activities include Town Hall meetings, community response team actions, CEQA commenting, diesel clean-up incentives, improvements in field inspection technology, and public comment on successive amendments to Rule 1401 and 1402 controlling toxic air contaminants.

In February 2002, the Board approved the workplan for the Strategic Alliance Initiatives, including Initiative #6, Strategic Alliance on Environmental Justice. This initiative called for staff to prepare a review of AQMD’s environmental justice program to date, and to lay out proposed environmental justice related activities for FY 2002-03. The attachment comprises a draft first annual review document. In the future, the annual review will serve as the basis for further outreach and problem-solving activities with stakeholders regarding short- and long-term environmental justice challenges and solutions.

In addition to implementing the District’s own initiatives, staff is also actively involved with these efforts at the state level. Staff participates as a member of CARB’s Environmental Justice Stakeholders Group and the Cal/EPA Advisory Committee for Environmental Justice (SB 89-Escutia), as well as discussions on related issues by the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA). Staff’s leading and active profile helps to ensure consistency and integration among regional and state environmental justice programs and levels of authority.

Proposal

This document is intended to examine and chart the overall direction of AQMD's environmental justice program. Development and implementation of proposed enhancements will require partnerships with other agencies, regulated businesses, environmental and community groups, and the public.

Staff is circulating this draft report to solicit feedback and suggestions from the public, industry, and other stakeholders; and will hold public input workshops in each county this summer, on a schedule to be determined. Staff will then further proceed with refining identified enhancements and will finalize its recommendations for Board consideration at the September 13, 2002 Board meeting.

Resource Impacts

It is anticipated that there will be workload adjustments required relative to implementing the proposed enhancements to AQMD’s environmental justice program. These modifications will be addressed through current budget allocations and staffing whenever possible. Any individual enhancement requiring significant additional resources will return to the Board for approval.

Attachments

Draft Environmental Justice Program Review
    and Proposed Enhancements for FY 2002-03

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