Sierra Club CA Air Quality committee

2009-02-01T18:38:00.000-08:00

Sierra Club is working with our public health, environmental, and environmental justice allies to ensure that the recent 'wins' at the Air Resources Board - reducing diesel pollution from trucks and off-road construction equipment, are not 'rolled back' due to Republican demands during the budgetary deliberations.

Feb 2 Readers' letters , Mercury News
Posted: 01/31/2009
GOP holding state budget hostage (3rd LTE)

Mike Olenczuk (Letters, Jan. 30) expressed his support for Republicans who ostensibly demand that the state live within its means. However, that's not all they are demanding.

Republicans have regrettably resorted to a form of budgetary extortion, demanding dangerous public health and environmental rollbacks that would jeopardize the health of all Californians. Mercury News reporter Paul Rogers initially wrote of 10 highway CEQA exemptions demanded by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Jan 19. Since then, the Republican leadership has expanded the list to lifting pesticide rules, allowing more diesel pollution and much more.

If the Republicans only discussed budgetary matters, Olenczuk's point would be valid. Sadly, they have seized the budgetary crisis to demand environmental and public health rollbacks that they couldn't achieve during the legislative session.

Irvin Dawid
Chair, Sierra Club California Air Quality Committee Palo Alto

Environmental Review of Highways Must Not Be Lifted

2009-02-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

Much has been made about the Governor asking President Obama for the waiver from EPA to require reduced greenhouse gas emissions from new cars sold in California - and the favorable reception by Obama. Less has been made about what the Governor and the Republican party are doing to INCREASE GHG emissions in CA by demanding environmental rollbacks in order to secure a budget agreement.

Hopefully, this NYT LTE will shed some light on what's happening here in CA:
Letter to Editor, New York Times
Clean Air in California
Published: January 31, 2009
To the Editor
Re: Editorial - New Day on Climate Change

The new administration is both figuratively and literally a breath of fresh air. But as President Obama begins to undo the damage done over the last eight years, environmental rollbacks in Sacramento threaten to undo the good news from Washington.

Just as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asks President Obama to grant California a waiver to require cleaner vehicles, he is demanding that environmental review be lifted from 10 big highway projects that ultimately could increase greenhouse gas emissions — and he’s doing it because he wants them considered in Mr. Obama’s stimulus package.

I hope Mr. Obama informs our governor that he will not sacrifice environmental laws to allow highway projects to be “shovel ready.”

Irvin Dawid
Palo Alto, Calif., Jan. 27, 2009
The writer is chairman of the Air Quality Committee of Sierra Club California.

Way to Go, Barack!

2009-01-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

President Obama has met yet another promise of his campaign, along the lines of lifting the gag order applied to family planning organizations that prevented them from even mentioning the 'A' word (abortion).

This one, folks, is big, really big, because it is critical for CA to meet the greenhouse gas reductions mandated in AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

Today, Monday, Jan. 26, he signed a memorandum directing his new EPA Secretary, Lisa Jackson, "to move swiftly on an application by California and 13 other states to set strict limits on greenhouse gases from cars and trucks."

The Sierra Club is delighted!

"This action deserves the loudest applause. President Obama is making good on campaign promises and sending yet another clear signal that global warming and a clean energy economy are top priorities for his administration. By beginning this process and directing EPA to review the Bush administration's lack of action, President Obama is turning the Federal Government into a force for positive change instead of a roadblock." Press Release, 1/25

Key Environmental Lawsuit Settled On Highway 50 Project

2009-01-16T19:35:00.000-08:00

This development shows the importance of environmental review being applied to major highway projects. Thanks to litigation pursued by Environmental Council of Sacramento,and Neighbors Advocating Sustainable Transportation community group, public transit will be a big winner while the carpool lane construction can proceed. More jobs, less greenhouse gas emissions!

On Planetizen:

Key Highway Lawsuit Settled In California

“One down, nine to go - that's how many hwy projects Gov. Schwarzenegger wants exempted from environmental review in order to be 'shovel ready' for the Obama stimulus”

State, environmental groups settle highway lawsuit

By SAMANTHA YOUNG Associated Press Writer

Posted: 01/16/2009

"The deal relieves the state from having to pursue court-ordered environmental reviews that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been seeking to circumvent in negotiations over the state budget.

The settlement means construction could start later this year on the $165 million project to add carpool lanes along Highway 50 east of downtown Sacramento.

The agreement requires the state to give Sacramento $7.5 million to expand its light rail system as a way to offset the pollution and greenhouse gases that might be generated from the added traffic.

Eric Davis, a spokesman for the Environmental Council of Sacramento, said he hopes the settlement will prevent efforts to undermine environmental laws for road projects in the ongoing budget negotiations.

"Our agreement shows that economic stimulus and environmental protection can go hand-in-hand," Davis said in a statement."

Public Health & Climate Change

2009-01-15T16:52:00.000-08:00

They get it!
Public Health folks truly understand the land use/climate change connection.
This was truly gratifying - I had attended a meeting at the public health (PH) offices in Sacramento - they are preparing an "adaptation strategy" - something that will become increasingly more important as the effects of climate change take hold.

It was nice to be amongst these PH professionals as this is a field I know little of, but hope to learn more!

2009-01-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

Our huge accomplishment was the successful outcome of our diesel rule campaign - please see our air quality committee report....(4-page PDF)