Supervisors Endorse Bill for Antelope Valley Air Agency
The Antelope Valley would have a more autonomous air quality agency under a state bill that won unanimous support from Los Angeles County supervisors Tuesday.
Sponsored by state Sen. William “Pete” Knight (R-Palmdale), the bill would break the Antelope Valley’s air pollution agency away from Los Angeles County and create a new air quality management district in 2001.
The bill will be debated by the Senate’s environmental issues committee next month. Endorsement by county supervisors improves it chances, supporters said.
The Senate gave the Antelope Valley an agency to monitor air pollution in 1996, but it remained under Los Angeles County control and was required to follow county guidelines for hiring and paying workers. It also has depended on the neighboring Mojave Desert Air Quality Management for staff and services.
Supporters said Knight’s bill would allow Antelope Valley authorities to set their own pay scales and write their own job descriptions for the pollution-monitoring agency.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
