Agencies Taken to Task Over Air Quality

Re: Editorial, “Useless Criticism” (Oct. 30):

Having been involved directly with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Southern California Assn. of Governments (SCAG), it is my impression that those two agencies are not interested in receiving input from others or building consensus on what measures should be implemented to attain clean air. SCAQMD and SCAG do not appear to be willing to accept any criticism or suggestion as to how this goal could be reached. We have been advised that there will be no compromise.

The entire review process by which public comment is supposed to be provided on the far-reaching plans from SCAQMD and SCAG has been hindered because of the unavailability of pertinent documents. It is totally unacceptable to assume that any public agency can review, understand and prepare informed comments on the Draft Air Quality Management Plan when documents are not available. Only after repeated requests and the hint of legal action was this public information made available for review.

In our work with SCAQMD, we have often heard that its goal is to adopt a plan and that we should get a board and accept the plan. We have been advised that after the plan is adopted, changes and amendments can be made to it during the following year. This position is unacceptable to most policy makers. How difficult will it be to change the plan once it is adopted?

The goal of clean air in this basin is endorsed by those of us who are not “critical” of SCAQMD’s and SCAG’s efforts to develop a plan to reach that goal.

Public officials are only asking for additional time to review these proposed plans. Only then can we all make informed comments and suggestions on how to achieve clean air.

F. PAUL DUDLEY

Director

Development Services Department

City of Fullerton