User:Milton Beychok/Sandbox: Difference between revisions

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The  '''South Coast Air Quality Management District''' (SCAQMD), formed in 1976, is the [[Air quality|air quality]] agency responsible mainly for regulating [[Air pollution dispersion terminology|stationary sources]] of [[air pollution]] for most of [[Los Angeles]], [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]], [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]], and all of [[Orange County, California|Orange county]]. The main office  of the SCAQMD is located in the city of [[Diamond Bar]], [[California]].


The area encompassed by the SCAQMD amounts to about 10,750 square [[U.S. customary units|miles]] (27,850 square [[kilometre]]s) and is the second most populated area in the [[United States]]. This area has a severe problem with [[smog]] and the SCAQMD has been a leader in the nation's efforts to reduce [[air pollutant emission]]s.
==How the SCAQMD operates==
The SCAQMD develops, adopts and implements an ''Air Quality Management Plan'' for bringing the area into compliance with the clean air standards established by national and state governmental legislation.
Air quality and permissible air pollutant emission "rules" are promulgated to reduce emissions from various sources, including specific types of equipment, industrial processes, paints, solvents and certain consumer products. Permits are issued to the pertinent industries and businesses to enforce compliance with the air quality and emission rules, and SCAQMD staff conducts periodic inspections to ensure such compliance.
The SCAQMD's rules apply to businesses ranging from large [[Oil refinery|oil refineries]] and [[power plant]]s to [[Filling station|gasoline fueling stations]] and [[dry cleaning]] plants. There are about 30,000 such businesses operating under SCAQMD permits. In general, the SCAQMD is limited to establishing rules for regulating stationary sources. [[Emission standards]] for mobile sources (automobiles, trucks, buses, railroads, airplanes and marine vessels) are established the [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] (U.S. EPA) and the [[California Air Resources Board]] (CARB).
==How the SCAQMD is organized==
The SCAQMD has a ''Governing Board'' of 12 members. Nine of the members are county supervisors and city council members. The remaining three are appointed by California state officials. The chief ''Executive Officer'' of the SCAQMD reports to the Governing Board and the following departments report to the Executive Officer:
===Administrative departments===
* Policy advisor
* Legal
** Counsel
** Prosecutor
* Public Affairs
* Media Relations
* Finance
* Human Resources
* Information Management
===Operational departments===
* Engineering and Compliance
* Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources
*Science and Technology advancement
==Air quality monitoring network==
The SCAQMD also operates an extensive network of air quality monitoring stations (about 40 stations) and issues daily air quality forecasts. The forecasts are made available to the public through newspapers, television, radio, faxed messages to schools, the SCAQMD's internet website, and a toll-free ''Smog Update'' telephone line.<ref>[http://www.aqmd.gov/map/MapAQMD2.pdf SCAQMD Air Quality Monitoring and Forecast Map]</ref><ref>[http://www.calepa.ca.gov/childhealth/news/WorkshopApril04/JCassmassi.pdf ''Monitoring, AQI, Standards & Notification, The South Coast Perspective''] Joe Cassmassi, Senior Meteorologist, SCAQMD, April 2004</ref>
==Air quality modeling and air pollution dispersion modeling oversight==
The air quality modeling activities of the SCAQMD are one of the functions of the Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources section. That section is also responsible for oversight and commenting upon [[Atmospheric dispersion modeling|air pollution dispersion modeling]] studies performed as part of any environmental impact studies that may be reviewed by or requested by the SCAQMD. The models that may be utilized include:<ref>[http://www.aqmd.gov/ceqa/models.html Air Quality Modeling]</ref>
*California Line Source Dispersion Model ([[Compilation of atmospheric dispersion models#U.S. Environmental Protection Agency models|CALINE-4]])
*Industrial Source Complex Short Term ([[ISC3|ISCST3]]) Model
*Hotspots Analysis and Reporting Program (HARP)
*U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's models
*California Air Resources Board's models
==Funding for the SCAQMD==
About 70% of SCAQMD’s funding is derived from fees paid by the regulated businesses, 20% from motor vehicle registration fees and the balance from other sources such as fines and other penalties assessed for businesses that violate the SCAQMD's rules.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[AP 42 Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors]]
*[[Clean Air Act (1990)]]
*[[Clean Air Act (1970)]]
*[[Compilation of atmospheric dispersion models#U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency models|U.S. Environmental Protection Agency dispersion models]]
*[[National Ambient Air Quality Standards|NAAQS]] (National Ambient Air Quality Standards)
*[[National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants|NESHAP]] (National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants)
==External links==
* [http://www.aqmd.gov Official SCAQMD website]
* [http://www.aqmd.gov/rules/rulesreg.html The SCAQMD's Rules]

Revision as of 22:21, 4 October 2008

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