It sure didn't take the Valley's air board long to get into the habit of postponing cleaner air. On the heels of pushing back the clean-up deadline by more than a decade, the board has now voted to soften a ban on open field burning.
The ban was part of a package of historic legislation passed a few years ago. Sponsored by state Sen. Dean Florez, the bills also included removing the agriculture industry's longtime exemption from the Clean Air Act.
Now the air board has relaxed the prohibition against ag burning, allowing an extra three years -- until 2010 -- before the practice is completely forbidden. The air board voted 9-1 to allow farmers to burn up to 20 acres per year, calling it an economic hardship to make them use waste chippers instead. Want to talk economic hardship? How about the $3 billion-plus Valley residents shell out annually in health care costs related to foul air?
Things may be changing, though. On the same day the board punted on ag burning, the state Senate approved legislation that would change the board's makeup. Four new members would be added, including two more representatives of Valley cities, to balance the preponderance of county supervisors on the board, and two people with medical and scientific experience in the effects of air pollution -- to balance the utter lack of such knowledge currently in place. It can't come too soon.
They can't blame this one on an alleged lack of technology. The only excuse is that it might cost Big Ag a little more money. That makes me question how sincere they are when they write their op ed pieces about how much they really want to clean our air.
I believe the Valley Air Board is being misadvised and encouraged to to the wrong things by the Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) who is pro-industry, anti- environment, and anti-staff.
Apparently, he does not provide good guidance to the board, he won't hire the necessary inspectors, and he won't let staff enforce existing rules.
If staff speak up, he tells them the door to leave is open, as he told the inspectors in their annual in-house meeting just a while back. The APCO even requires the inspectors to text message their whereabouts to supervisors so that he can control their every move.
If the agency is to ever succeed in its mission of cleaning up the Valley's air it needs to add good board members and get an APCO who has the right attitude.
Even under the strictest of supervision and following of guidelines, excavation of sewer lines is one of the worst pollutants known to man. Imagine 40+/- yrs of this carried out illegally, unauthorized, without permits or inspections. In addition to this, structures have literally been taken off their foundations followed by major reconstruction, also carried out without permits or inspections; in violation of building and health codes. Mold, termites, leaks - asthma, lung, respiratory. It was recently announced that the air in our homes is now 3-5 x worse than it is outside. Is it any wonder?
To date, rather than to disprove any of the above facts, the City of Fresno has responded with nothing more than lies, threats and name calling. Their own (unaltered) records verify exactly what has been done. Former appraiser for the city appears to be the mastermind behind this, conspiring with various city employees, including risk analysts. Says his son will soon make a fortune in the solar business. No doubt.