Speak out for Strong New BAAQMD Rules (For Air Quality in the Bay Area)

Speak out for Strong New BAAQMD Rules.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) is in the process of adopting new rules to improve monitoring of refinery emissions and to require at least a 20% reduction in CAP (criteria air pollutants) emissions (PM, SOx, NOx, CO, ROG) within five years.  They have scheduled a Town Hall style meeting for public input: After a presentation by Board staff members, comments will be invited.  The room is relatively small and the meeting will be brief.  Nevertheless, let’s use this opportunity to show that this process is important to us and to advocate for meaningful improvements!

The RPA suggests these points for those who wish to speak for effective rules:

• We want emissions reporting and health risk assessments we can trust.
• We want real emission reductions through the use of BACT (Best Available Control Technology).
• BAAQMD should not allow any increases in pollution due to changes in feedstock.
• The BAAQMD refinery rule should not include exemptions that would allow increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oil refineries.
• BAAQMD should enact a moratorium on permitting air emissions for proposed oil projects until the new refinery rules have been finalized.

Immediately before the meeting, at 5pm, a press conference will be held in the patio area outside the community room.  Eye-catching signs, hats, and shirts are encouraged.