SM’s City Hall receives pair of clean air awards
Southern Californians are inhaling fresher air thanks to strict regulations and environmentally conscious practices by cities like Santa Monica, according to a pollution control agency.
Long regarded as one of the leaders in the sustainability movement, Santa Monica City Hall received double honors from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) last week for the success of its Environmental Programs Division and participation in the Five Cities Hydrogen Program. The SCAQMD is the local smog control agency for Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
October marks the conclusion of the cleanest smog season on record in Southern California thanks to unseasonably cool temperatures this summer and a host of continuing efforts to cut emissions by agencies like the Environmental Programs Division, one of the organizers of the Alternative Car Expo, which was held last weekend at Santa Monica Airport.
The Santa Monica city government received the “Model Community Achievement” award and the “Innovative Transportation Project” for its role in the Five Cities Hydrogen Program.
“They are the model of community because they do implement these demonstration-type projects that help us demonstrate... technology for the future,” said Tina Cherry, spokeswoman for the SCAQMD.
Partially funded by the SCAQMD, the $7 million Five Cities Hydrogen Program is a partnership between the cities of Santa Monica, Burbank, Ontario, Riverside and Santa Ana. Each city government runs a small fleet of hydrogen-powered Toyota Priuses, which are filled up at a municipal hydrogen fueling station located in each city. The hydrogen fueling station opened in the City Yards in 2006. One of the goals of the program is to spark demand for the hydrogen-powered vehicles.
7EC,SCAQMD officials found that Southern California recorded the fewest number of days in which it exceeded the federal eight-hour ozone health standard, a benchmark showing whether the air quality is out of compliance with federal health standards. As of Oct. 2, the air quality in Southern California failed the health standard in 78 days this year, as opposed to 86 in 2006.
Heat and sunlight can contribute to smog and one of the biggest factors leading to the improvement in air quality this year was the cool weather.
“When we have an untypical weather pattern, it can change how a season goes,” Cherry said.
Despite the strides made in enhancing air quality, Southern California is still stricken with the dirtiest air in the nation.
“We can give ourselves a pat on the back as long as we’re also giving us a kick in the pants too, because our air is dirty and it’s unhealthy,” said Martin Schlageter, the campaign director for the Coalition for Clean Air, an environmental group that was founded in Santa Monica more than 35 years ago.
The Coalition for Clean Air, which spearheaded the California smog check program, is now statewide with offices in Los Angeles, Fresno and Sacramento.
“We have definitely made improvements, but the problem is we’ve gone from air that is horrible to air that is very bad,” Schlageter said. “It’s an improvement, but a long way to go before we can breathe easy.”
This is the third year that City Hall was honored with the Clean Air Awards. The Environmental Programs Division received a “Model Community Achievement” in 2000 and was recognized in 1991 for the commuter reduction program, through which city employees are given incentives to seek alternative forms of transportation.
Jump hedline: City Hall receives two clean air awards
Suggested pullquote: “We can give ourselves a pat on the back as long as we’re also giving us a kick in the pants too because our air is dirty and it’s unhealthy.”
Martin Schlageter
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 24, 2007. Read the original PDF.