Clean-Air Promise

Re “ ‘Reform’ Imperils a Force for Clean Air,” Opinion, Aug. 8: Marc Haefele’s criticism of a proposal by the California Performance Review panel to abolish the state Air Resources Board is on target. However, he wrongly attributes to me a quote terming the proposal a “gubernatorial power grab.” In fact, it reflects a grab for power by polluting industries. The governor has not adopted the panel’s ill-conceived proposal, which would do away with one of the most effective environmental boards in the nation.

To the contrary, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to cut California’s air pollution by half by 2010. I fully expect the governor to reject this shortsighted recommendation and instead to retain the ARB, whose leadership has been so vital to California’s battle for clean air.

Gail Ruderman Feuer

Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council

Santa Monica