1994 Smog Season

The Air Quality Management District appreciates your article, “Area’s Smog Year Almost as Clean as Record 1993” (Nov. 1), showing that our region’s air quality programs are paying off in healthier air for all to breathe.

Glendora has demonstrated leadership in showing how local governments can contribute to the clean air effort by funding a number of creative programs to reduce emissions and promote air quality.

As part of this commitment, Glendora voluntarily hosts the AQMD monitoring station serving the cities of the East San Gabriel Valley. Thus, we at AQMD believe it is a disservice to Glendora to single it out as “the nation’s smog capital.”

Readings at this monitoring station are representative of air quality levels in an area that includes the cities of Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, Covina, El Monte, Monrovia, San Dimas, Sierra Madre and Temple City.

Air quality levels in Glendora and the surrounding area are showing dramatic improvement. The only way we at AQMD can continue to document this progress is through the continued hospitality of cities like Glendora. Glendora should be commended for this contribution to clean air.

JAMES M. LENTS

Executive Officer, AQMD

Diamond Bar