By Gary Meyer

‘You have to build a new school. You can’t mitigate a school that is that close to a freeway.’

A panel of experts at the Mountain Communities Town Council meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 23 presented air pollution facts showing enough pollution in Lebec to cause concern for our mountain schools and sobering suggestions to begin corrective action.

Scott Nester and David Nunes of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) presented data collected by an air monitor installed in Lebec between February 2006 and March 2007.

Their charts showed that Lebec’s ozone concentration levels rose in the mornings to a 3 p.m. average peak of over 84 parts per billion (ppb). The federal standard for ambient outdoor air is 80 ppb.

Another chart showed that the air quality around the monitor unit was on par with places like Shafter, Oildale, Burbank, and other locations in the Los Angeles area.

Charts based on state standards, however, show that Lebec had worse air than Los Angeles, Reseda and Glendora.

As startling as this information may be for residents of the mountain, Nester and Nunes said progress is being made in the San Joaquin Valley. There has been a decrease in toxic emissions since 1985. Measurements of Particulate Matter 10 microns or smaller (PM10) in the San Joaquin Valley show a dramatic drop in the number of days per year this pollutant exceeds the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. In 1990, it was at 55 days. During 2003 to 2006, that number remained at zero.

PM2.5, which is Particulate Matter 2.5 microns or smaller, did not show the same reduction in emissions and will take further work to toughen standards. According to Nester, the drop in PM10 emissions is the result of tightening standards and improvements in technology.

Jane Williams, Executive Director of California Communities Against Toxics, identified three significant stationary sources of pollution in the mountain communities: diesel trucks parked at the Flying J truck stop, the TXI plant (Pacific Custom Materials) in Lockwood Valley and the National Cement plant in the southwestern area of Tejon Ranch, near Highway 138 where the Centennial housing development is planned.

She encouraged audience members to organize an action program to obtain funding to solve some of the problems.

According to Williams, Proposition 1B, the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality and Port Security Bond Act of 2006 can be used to solve a major problem here in our community.

"Proposition 1B includes one billion dollars to reduce emissions from goods movement activities," she said. "Some of that money can be used to help improve the air here."

Audience member Frank Williams (no relation) asked, "What would you do with that money if you had it?"

She responded that the truck stop should be "electrified," meaning it should be converted to electrical hookups so that trucks now left idling (emitting toxins into the air) could run their appliances and heating without running their engines all night.

Jane Williams says that the hundreds of diesel trucks which are parked daily with their engines running are making community members sick.

She asked how close El Tejon School is to the freeway. "Is it less than 500 feet from the freeway?" she enquired. Several audience members responded that the school playground is only 50 to 100 feet from Interstate 5.

"You have to move the school," she immediately answered. "You have to build a new school. You can’t mitigate a school that is that close to a freeway."

Williams emphasized that there are things which can be done now, such as upgrading the Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system, "so that at least the air is cleaner inside," she said. "Don’t wait to start doing things," she said. "Replace the HVAC system in three months. Plan for moving the school. The Proposition 1B money may be available to help with the truck stop."

The SJVAPCD has obtained $100 million in Proposition 1B funds for the Central Valley, according to Nester.

You have good people here," Williams said, "Organize a team and go after some of that money."

Paula Regan, chair of the El Tejon Unified School Disrict board of trustees, was not at the forum but was contacted afterward and read this report. "I’m uncomfortable responding to that right now. I don’t have all the information. This is a part of a big global picture I have to look at," she said.

"A lot of things affect children," she added, "The pollution level is one portion. I would have to talk with our architects about [HVAC] filtering system plans. We are in the beginning stages of our building process. I’m sure Anita [Anderson, also on the ETUSD board] will bring it to us for study,"

-Additional reporting by Patric Hedlund

This is part of the October 26, 2007 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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