Countywide : Sharing of Pollution Regulations Urged

Air pollution officials are recommending that Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties coordinate regulations to help businesses comply with state and federal laws and cut county costs.

“It makes sense for the districts to share in the workload for developing new regulations and coordinating our policies and procedures,” said Richard Baldwin, air pollution control officer for Ventura County.

“We are recommending that the three districts work together to develop consistent regulations.”

If the districts agree to coordinate their efforts, regulations written in one county could be adopted by another, eliminating redundant costs of staff time and creating more consistent rules, Baldwin said.

The end result would be fewer fees for business and industry, he said.

The South Central Coast Basinwide Air Pollution Control Council, an advisory group to the three counties, discussed the idea but took no official action during its meeting in Santa Barbara on Thursday.

But the advisory council recommended that county staff ask industry for its views on the idea before the council holds its next meeting Nov. 5.

“Before you adopt things that apply to industry, it’s a good idea to let them be a part of the conversation,” said Mike Stoker, an advisory council member and a Santa Barbara County supervisor.

Each county Air Pollution Control District creates regulations to reduce air pollution as mandated by state and federal law, Baldwin said.

The advisory council is made up of staff from each county’s control district as well as county supervisors.

But some businesses, particularly the oil industry, are skeptical of the proposal, Baldwin said.

“They wonder what would happen if Santa Barbara makes regulations that are then adopted by Ventura,” he said.

Baldwin stressed that if the consolidation is approved, no regulations would be adopted without consulting industry and the public.

The advisory board will decide whether to endorse the proposal during its next meeting, Baldwin said. Each county’s Board of Supervisors would have final approval.