The South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board just released previews of their upcoming 2003 Air Quality Management Plan, the ozone and PM10 attainment plan for the South Coast Air Basin. Among other challenges, the agencies acknowledge a significant shortfall (up to 150 tons per day) in the region’s strategies for reducing reactive organic gases (ROG). Making up this shortfall and otherwise adequately controlling the mobile and stationary sources in the region in time to attain the 2006 PM10 and 2010 ozone standards will be a Herculean task. Will the region’s manufacturers, already the most-heavily regulated in the nation, face further controls? How will federal sources, such as ships, planes and trains, be regulated? Considering that 75% of the region’s emissions come from mobile sources, will the region require significant new transportation strategies or reconsider the jobs-housing balance provisions of previous plans?
The Environmental Law Institute hosted an Associated seminar in Los Angeles, California on February 6, 2003 with an expert panel to discuss these issues. Moderated by John Turner (ELI Vice President of Publications and Environmental Law Reporter Editor-in-Chief), the panel included Jack Broadbent (Air Director, US EPA, Region 9), Dr. Barry Wallerstein (Executive Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District), Jim Gosnell (Deputy Director, Southern California Association of Governments), Tim Carmichael (Executive Director, Coalition for Clean Air) and Bob Wyman (Latham and Watkins).