Supervisors Assail Proposed Regional Smog Plan as Unrealistic

In a sometimes biting attack, the Board of Supervisors Tuesday lashed out at a proposed regional smog plan that would require dramatic changes in the life style of Southern Californians, calling it “farfetched” and “counterproductive.”

The supervisors complained that the Air Quality Management Plan, now in draft form, does not outline the considerable economic impact it would have on Orange County. They also said it is contingent on technology that is not yet available, adding that its demographic projections are questionable and its conclusions illogical.

“Their approach, as far as I’m concerned, has been counterproductive,” Supervisor Roger R. Stanton said. “They might be better off employed in other pursuits, considering the quality of their work.”

He added, “I hope I’m not hiding my feelings on this.”

Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder, who is a member of the board of directors of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, said, “It’s one thing to do something in an Ivory Tower and another to do something in reality.”

Wieder complained that there wasn’t enough time for local governments to reach a consensus on this plan. “There are too many unanswered questions in this draft,” she said.

The plan, which is expected to be adopted eventually by state and federal environmental authorities, would impose some severe restrictions on Southern Californians, with the aim of helping clean the state’s air--especially in the Los Angeles basin--by the year 2007.

It was prepared by the Southern California Assn. of Governments and the South Coast Air Quality Management District and was released early last month for comment by Southern California cities, counties and the public.

Among its recommendations for businesses are van pooling, staggered work hours and a requirement that some workers conduct business from their homes through telecommunications equipment.

The supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to transmit their concerns and others prepared by the county staff to the two regional agencies. The agencies are scheduled to adopt a final version of the plan in December.

Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez said, “More time is needed to give this plan extensive revisions and to add a dose of reality.”

Jacqueline Switzer, a spokeswoman for the SCAQMD, said she could not comment on the specific complaints that the supervisors had of the draft smog plan. She said other counties had similar concerns but not “to that extent.”

“That’s the purpose of the public comment period, to get input,” she said. “When we receive their testimony, we will review their concerns.”

Switzer noted that a public hearing on the plan is scheduled Thursday at the Hall of Administration in Santa Ana, beginning at 2:30 p.m. and including an evening session. That hearing is sponsored by the Coalition for Clean Air, a Santa Monica-based group that is pressing for stronger measures to improve the region’s air quality.

At their meeting Tuesday, the supervisors were particularly critical of a part of the plan that calls for shifting jobs from Orange and Los Angeles counties to other less populated areas in an attempt to distribute traffic more evenly.

Under the plan, Wieder said, “We know for a fact it would be that much harder for our children to obtain jobs here. Would there be measurable improvements in our air to pay such a dear price? It’s not clear from this document.”

Stanton also complained that the agencies that drafted the plan did not use the state population projections that are commonly considered by local governments. Instead, the agencies produced their own projections, which are higher than the state’s figures. Consequently, the pollution mitigation measures that are required under the agencies’ projections are stricter.

“As far as I’m concerned, there is considerable question of whether SCAG has the ability to project population for the region,” Stanton said, calling the plan “generally an inferior document.”