Cities Claim Merger May Not Reduce Air Pollution : Utilities: Officials in Oxnard and Simi Valley say they are not satisfied with an agreement the county made with Southern California Edison.

City officials in Oxnard and Simi Valley said Wednesday that they remain skeptical about promises that a proposed merger of Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric will not increase air pollution in their areas of the county.

The officials said they are not satisfied with an agreement that Edison struck with the county to reduce certain pollutants by specified percentages, more than compensating for increases expected as a result of the merger.

If the merger is approved by the state Public Utilities Commission, Edison will increase production at its two power plants in Oxnard while curtailing operations at plants in San Diego.

“We have a direct concern,” said Richard Maggio, director of community development for the city of Oxnard. “Edison has two plants in the county, and they’re both located in our city.”

Maggio said the city recently sent a letter to the Public Utilities Commission, citing its concerns about air pollution increasing in the area as a result of the merger. The commission is scheduled to make the final decision on the proposed merger within the next few weeks.

Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton, whose city has the worst air quality in the county, also expressed reservations about the merger. He said Simi Valley, which is surrounded by hills, collects most of the air pollution expelled by the power plants in Oxnard.

“We can’t get any worse,” Stratton said of his city’s air pollution. “We have to get better.”

He said the City Council is likely to vote next week to send a letter to the Public Utilities Commission outlining its objections.

Under the agreement approved by the County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Edison would reduce overall nitrogen oxide emissions at its plants by at least 45% over the next 17 years. Reactive organic compounds would be reduced by 2,300% and carbon monoxide by 500% over the same period.

Michael M. Hertel, Edison’s environmental affairs manager, said Edison would be able to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions in Ventura County, in part, by replacing internal-combustion engines at the company’s plants with electric units. But all of the units would not be in place until 1995.

Edison also plans to subsidize the replacement of gas or diesel engines at other businesses throughout the county.

Until then, “there will be a small net increase of emissions,” Hertel said.

The total amount of nitrogen oxide released into the air during the next five years would amount to about 830 tons, he said. On the average, there are about 3,000 tons of nitrogen oxide released every year.

Richard H. Baldwin of the county’s Air Pollution Control District, who also lent his support to the merger, said the county will ultimately benefit from the agreement with Edison.

“You have to look at it as short-term losses for long-term gains,” he said.

But Maggio said Oxnard wants “to see the actual data” on the planned emission reductions. He said the board should have waited until the final environmental impact report was completed before approving the agreement with Edison. The report is not due until June 29.

In the meantime, Stratton said, the city staff in Simi Valley is preparing a report on the potential impact that the merger would have.