Date
lunes, julio 29, 2019
The Air District and the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project have released their joint West Oakland Community Action Plan, Owning Our Air, for public comment.
The plan is the result of state law AB 617 which requires reduction of air pollution levels in selected communities with higher than average air pollution burdens.
“The Air District has been working closely with the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, the community and environmental groups, residents, and other stakeholders for many years which has helped in our partnership to develop a comprehensive plan which will transform air quality in and around West Oakland,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “Together we have developed a vision which will build upon the Air District’s decades of efforts to improve air quality in West Oakland and permanently reduce public health disparities.”
West Oakland is bounded by the Port of Oakland, the Union Pacific rail yard and the I-580, I-880 and I-980 freeways. Elevated levels of pollution result from the concentration of industrial activity which includes maritime-freight, the rail yard and rail lines, large distribution centers, cement and asphalt plants, a power plant, metal facilities, and small to medium industrial and manufacturing operations.
“The West Oakland Community Action Plan is a game changer for all communities similar to West Oakland in California,” said Ms. Margaret Gordon, co-founder and co-director of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project. “This is a new day of decision-making and planning that goes far beyond emission reductions. We no longer have to go knocking on doors, asking for participation and engagement from regulatory agencies. Also, the California Legislature has signed off to make impacted and vulnerable communities to have resources to become healthier.”
“For the first time we have a public policy that actually puts the public at the center of decision making,” said Brian Beveridge, co-founder and co-director of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project. “AB617 is not about residents offering ‘input’, it's about residents assessing their own needs and determining the solutions."
Members of the public are invited to download and review the plan at the webpage below:
Public comments may be submitted online at the Open Air Forum, or emailed to the WestOaklandPlan@baaqmd.gov, or in writing to:
Alison Kirk
Principal Environmental Planner
Bay Area Air Quality Management District
375 Beale Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94105
Public comments on the plan must be submitted by Monday, September 9, 2019, by 5 p.m. PST.
A town hall meeting to present and discuss the plan will be held on Saturday, August 17, between the hours of 10 AM – 2 PM at:
The West Oakland Youth Center
3233 Market Street
Oakland, California 94608
AB 617 is the state law which was passed along with the re-authorization of California’s cap-and-trade program, the centerpiece of the state’s efforts to reduce climate change. The law recognizes that while California has seen tremendous improvement in air quality, not all communities have benefited equally. Some communities located close to freeways, ports, industry or other large pollution sources need additional focus and resources to reduce exposure levels.
Translation for other languages can be provided upon request at least 72 hours before the event. Contact Aneesh Rana at 415.749.4914 or arana@baaqmd.gov to request interpretation.
Habrá interpretación al español disponible. El servicio de interpretación para otros idiomas estará disponible si se solicita al menos 72 horas antes del evento. Comuníquese con Aneesh Rana en arana@baaqmd.gov al 415.749.4914 para solicitar servicios de interpretación.
可提供西班牙語口譯服務。其他語言的口譯服務需要提前至少72小時申請。透過電郵 arana@baaqmd.gov 或撥打 415.749.4914 聯絡Aneesh Rana申請口譯服務。
Magkakaroon ng interpretasyon sa Espanyol. Ibibigay ang interpretasyon para sa ibang mga wika kapag hiniling nang 72 oras bago ang event. Kontakin si Aneesh Rana sa arana@baaqmd.gov o 415.749.4914 para humiling ng interpretasyon.
Sẽ có dịch vụ thông dịch tiếng Tây Ban Nha. Dịch vụ thông dịch cho các ngôn ngữ khác có thể được cung cấp theo yêu cầu ít nhất 72 giờ trước sự kiện. Xin liên hệ Aneesh Rana tại arana@baaqmd.gov hay 415.749.4914 để yêu cầu dịch vụ thông dịch.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area. Connect with the Air District via Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
View press release.
Last Updated: 30/07/2019