Smog Report

“New Strategies Against an Old Enemy” (by David DeVoss, July 20) relied upon inflammatory language and innuendo to point an accusing finger at the business community. The story does manage to mention that air quality in the Los Angeles Basin is improving. This is due in large part to the implementation of the strictest air-quality controls in the nation--and to voluntary industry compliance that the article pooh-poohs.

Our El Segundo facility is operated by employees who are nearly all residents of the basin, which is why so many of them take a personal interest in our environmental compliance. Far from viewing air-pollution fines as “the cost of doing business,” we recognize that environmental compliance today means a continuing and profitable business tomorrow.

D. E. Tormey

General Manager, Chevron El Segundo Refinery