South Coast Air Basin
Encyclopedia
The South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) is one of several geopolitical areas designated by the state of California
, U.S., for the purpose of air quality management. An air basin is associated with a ring or partial ring of mountains that in the absence of winds holds air and smog
within the area. The SCAB was created in 1969 and includes all of Orange County
and
the non-desert regions of Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.
Initially, the SCAB had four air-quality management agencies one in each of the four counties. In 1977, the legislature merged these four agencies into the South Coast Air Quality Management District
(South Coast AQMD), which now also manages portions of two other air basins in Riverside County: the Salton Sea Air Basin, and the Mohave Desert Air Basin. The South Coast AQMD has jurisdiction over stationary sources of pollution, while the California Air Resources Board
has jurisdiction for mobile sources of pollution including cars.
The SCAB is the smoggiest
region of the U.S., and the South Coast AQMD provides hourly reports throughout the district.
Government of California
The government of California operates in the context of a democratic republic with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the California State Legislature which...
, U.S., for the purpose of air quality management. An air basin is associated with a ring or partial ring of mountains that in the absence of winds holds air and smog
Smog
Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine...
within the area. The SCAB was created in 1969 and includes all of Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
and
the non-desert regions of Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.
Initially, the SCAB had four air-quality management agencies one in each of the four counties. In 1977, the legislature merged these four agencies into the South Coast Air Quality Management District
South Coast Air Quality Management District
The South Coast Air Quality Management District , formed in 1976, is the air pollution agency responsible mainly for regulating stationary sources of air pollution for most of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside County, and all of Orange County...
(South Coast AQMD), which now also manages portions of two other air basins in Riverside County: the Salton Sea Air Basin, and the Mohave Desert Air Basin. The South Coast AQMD has jurisdiction over stationary sources of pollution, while the California Air Resources Board
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board, also known as CARB or ARB, is the "clean air agency" in the government of California. Established in 1967 in the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board, CARB is a department within the...
has jurisdiction for mobile sources of pollution including cars.
The SCAB is the smoggiest
Smog
Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine...
region of the U.S., and the South Coast AQMD provides hourly reports throughout the district.
South Coast AQMD governing board
As per the South Coast AQMD, "The South Coast Air Quality Management District is the regional government agency responsible for air pollution control...AQMD regulations must be approved by the state Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency." The governing board has thirteen members selected by a combination of city, county, and state agencies.See also
- South Coast (California)
- Los Angeles BasinLos Angeles BasinThe Los Angeles Basin is the coastal sediment-filled plain located between the Peninsular and Transverse ranges in southern California in the United States containing the central part of the city of Los Angeles as well as its southern and southeastern suburbs...
- San Bernardino ValleySan Bernardino ValleyThe San Bernardino Valley is a valley in Southern California. It lies at the south base of the Transverse Ranges. It is bordered on the north by the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains, on the east by the San Jacinto Mountains, and on the south and west by the Santa Ana...
- Pomona ValleyPomona ValleyThe Pomona Valley, located between the San Gabriel Valley and Cucamonga Valley in Southern California, straddles the border between Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. Back on March 1, 1893 the California Assembly voted 54-14 for a new county to form in the region, San Antonio County,...