The San Joaquin Valley faces a serious environmental problem--air quality. Both the state and federal governments set standards and monitor air quality based on the need to protect public health. Despite twenty years of legislation and regulation, many regional areas in the state of California, including the San Joaquin Valley, still do not meet all air quality standards. The three major pollutants of concern in the San Joaquin Valley are:

• Ozone
• Carbon Monoxide
• Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5)

The severity of the problem is related to Valley topography and climate. The Valley has a warm, sunny climate, a relatively flat valley floor, and is surrounded by mountain ranges. Air pollutants generated from other air basins as well as activity in the Valley floor become trapped by an inversion layer caused by cool air masses, held captive by the Coastal and Sierra Nevada Mountain Ranges, and held down by the sun-warmed air expanding above the Valley.

Pursuant to Federal law, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has designated the entire Valley a non-attainment area for ozone and particulate matter. The metropolitan areas of Fresno, Modesto, Stockton and Bakersfield were recently upgraded to maintenance areas for carbon monoxide. The Valley is unique within the nation and is not typical of most air basins. The ozone attainment area encompasses eight counties and contains six separate and distinct metropolitan areas amidst millions of acres of farmland. The travel patterns also vary between each metropolitan area.

Air Quality / Modeling Links

Real-Time Air Quality Information
http://www.valleyair.org/aqinfo/aqdataidx.htm

 Census 2000 Demographics
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06039.html

FREE Carpooling/Vanpooling Ride Share Online System

http://www.valleyrides.com

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

http://www.valleyair.org/

10 WAYS TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION

1. CARPOOLING/VANPOOLING - Large employers can encourage employees to carpool and vanpool to and from work by providing preferential parking for those employees who participate in a voluntary carpooling and vanpooling program.

2. TRANSIT PASSES - Large employers can reduce air pollution by subsidizing employee transit passes.  Our community would benefit even if workers commuted to work only one day a week.  If we increase their use, the governments will increase the frequency and convenience of the schedules, which in turn will further increase their use, thereby discouraging individual car and truck traffic positively impacting air pollution in our community.  

3. AVOID IDLING YOUR CAR - Avoid idling in drive-through lanes.  Idling burns more gas than restarting the engine.  Turn off the engine if you know you will have a long wait.  Better still, park and go inside.  Your personal idling time may be only a minute or two, but if you multiply that by the millions of drivers who may do it several times per week, it adds up to a lot of wasted gas and extra pollution.

4. COMBINE VEHICLE TRIPS - Plan Ahead and combine your driving trips.  You can reduce your driving by planning ahead and combining several small trips into one, whenever possible.  Over a year's time, your savings in energy, money and time could be substantial, while your part in traffic congestion shrinks.

5. WALK AND BICYCLE - Walk or ride a bicycle to school or work.  If it's a reasonable distance, you'll save energy and improve your health.  Doctors say that regular walking is the best form of exercise, helping to control weight and build a healthy heart.  Encourage your schools to promote walking and bicycling for their student bodies. 

6. TELECOMMUTING/TELECONFERENCING - Telecommuting and Teleconferencing can benefit our air quality and reduce air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley.  By telecommuting and teleconferencing, trips can be reduced and businesses can improve productivity of their labor forces by reducing stress. 

7. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - Get Involved and Talk to Your Legislators, Church groups, and Scouting organizations.  Many of our current governmental regulations are not strong enough to address our air pollution problems.   Citizens need to contact their legislators and ask for better policies.  Local church organizations and scouting groups can also help to spread the message of Air Pollution problems and solutions.

8. TOPPING OFF THE TANK - Do not top of the tank when fueling your vehicle.  Topping off the tank can contribute to smog, fill the air with cancer-causing toxic pollutants such as benzene, and waste gasoline.  Go easy at the pump.

9. PONY ENGINES - The use of auxiliary truck engines can help to reduce air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley.  According to the Office of Industrial Technologies of the U.S. Department of Energy, the nearly two million heavy trucks traveling the United States each year waste fuel and produce exhaust emissions by idling their engines.  While idling the trucks, operators use the power to operate lights, communications equipment, car carrier ramps, appliances, and air conditioning and heating the cab and sleeping area.  Using the auxiliary power units eliminates 70%-90% of diesel emissions during extended periods of idling.

10. TEAM STAFFING FOR OFF SITE PROJECTS - Large employers within our community can group their maintenance workers, electricians, groundskeepers and custodial staff and send out to off site locations as a team.  By grouping these staff people, air pollution will be reduced all the while providing a comprehensive and timely approach to the upkeep of their property.

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