The Road To Clean aiR - LA Differentiated

Advocates
Q&A with our Valley team
Policy Director Nidia Bautista and San
Joaquin Valley Campaign and Outreach
Associate Laura Fultz Stout speak about
the issues and challenges of air quality
work in this unique region.
Nidia Bautista: This translates to high levels of
asthma and a number of other health problems
for residents, such as elevated incidences of cancer
and premature death. Much more work needs to
be done to improve the Valley’s air quality and
to educate its denizens on the effects that air
pollution has on their health.
CCA: What are the biggest roadblocks you
encounter in the Valley?
Nidia Bautista
Laura Fultz Stout
NB: One of the toughest challenges we face is
the misperception that clean air policies are antibusiness
and financially burdensome. Opponents
often cite the depressed economy as reason not to
adopt clean air policies. They fail to acknowledge
the job creation, improved health of the
community, and reduction in government costs
that result from clean air policies.
Laura Fultz Stout coordinated an agricultural
equipment tour for the Central Valley Air Quality
Coalition Watchdog Committee. The pictured
sulfur applicator can minimize the amount of
sulfur that goes into the atmosphere by blowing an
accurate amount to the target tree or vine.
Coalition for Clean Air: Why is the San Joaquin
Valley such a crucial area for air pollution advocacy?
Laura Fultz Stout: The Valley is listed by the
EPA as one of the top 10 worst polluted areas of
the nation in ozone and PM 2.5. To some, this
region of California represents an increasingly
failed geography—a place of rising poverty and
environmental and aesthetic ugliness. Due to the
low cost of land in the Valley, many pollution
sources—such as dairy industry, bio-waste sludge,
biomass power plants, natural gas power plants
and ethanol plants—move into the Valley.
LFS: The lack of health-protective rules costs each
Valley resident more than $1,600 a year in health
and related economic costs.
CCA: How do your tactics in the Valley differ from
those one might use elsewhere?
NB: The tactics in the Valley, more so than
elsewhere, require involvement at all levels. This
includes building relationships with policymakers,
ensuring local voices are heard throughout the
decision-making process, and working in coalition
with environmental, industry and community
groups that recognize the value of clean air.
CCA: How is Valley pollution important to
you personally?
LFS: Valley air pollution is very personal to me
because it affects my quality of life. Every day, I
check the Air Quality Index and decide what
activities I will or won’t do. In the winter, when
PM 2.5 is high due to wood burning, I stay inside
with the house fan on or escape to the coast for a
long weekend. When ozone is bad in the summer,
I call my three sisters to alert them not to let
their children play outside. All of my 20 family
members, including five young nephews, suffer
from moderate to severe breathing disorders. And
a number of my friends have moved away to cities
with better air quality.
Coalition for Clean Air
15
2009 Annual Report