Monterey Bay Area Air Pollution Control District
By Maureen McCarty
Ben Lomond resident, Donna Smith, and I represented the VWC on an advisory committee convened by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (“Air District”) to address the smoke issue in the Valley. In its ongoing (it ain’t over) effort to reduce winter smoke emissions, the Air District is proposing revisions to its “Rule 438” which addresses open outdoor fires.
Click to view .pdfs of the final draft of the Air District’s revised outdoor burning rule, Rule 438, as well as the Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND). The rule modifications, Staff Report, and CEQA document are also available on the air District’s website at www.montereybaycleanair.org.
Please consider the proposed changes – they may affect you directly. The public has until September 7 to submit comments on the IS/MND. Comments should be submitted to Amy Clymo, Supervising Air Quality Planner, Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, 24580 Silver Cloud Court, Monterey, CA 93940. If this Newsletter reaches you too late, do not hesitate to send your comments in, even if they are late.
You may also voice your concerns/comments at the Air District’s Board of Directors meeting on September 19, 2012 at 1:30 pm at the District office (24580 Silver Cloud Court in Monterey).
Here are the major changes to Rule 438:
In addition to the rules changes, there will be expanded financial support available to replace polluting wood-burning stoves, and extensive outreach to help make sure SLV residents know about and understand the ramifications of the new rules.
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