Owens Lake Dust
Re “Owens Valley Wins Round on Pollution,” April 21: The Times has completely missed the point of state Sen. William “‘Pete” Knight’s (R-Palmdale) legislation on Owens Lake. While the city has taken responsibility for causing the air pollution from Owens Lake, it has not taken responsibility for implementing the solution. In letters to the air pollution control district, the city has repeatedly asserted that the state of California is primarily responsible for implementing and paying for controlling the dust pollution that the city has caused.
The Knight bill puts the responsibility for the solution completely on the city. It does not give our district any more authority than all districts in California have. The bill removes special protections given to the city that are not available to any other source of air pollution in California, including an automatic stay of all requirements during the city’s special appeal to the Air Resources Board. Our district is “demanding” only that the city obey the law.
ELLEN HARDEBECK
Air Pollution Control Officer
Great Basin Unified Air
Pollution Control District
Bishop
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