Ventura County Air Pollution Control District
Encyclopedia
The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD), formed in 1968, is the air pollution agency responsible mainly for regulating stationary sources
of air pollution
for Ventura County. The District was formed by the Board of Supervisors in response to the county's first air pollution study which identified Ventura County as having a severe air quality problem.
Currently, Ventura County does not meet the federal air quality standard for ozone
and exceeds the state standard for ozone and particulate matter.
The Hearing Board consists of five members appointed by the Air Pollution Control Board for three-year terms.
Current members are:
Current Committee members are:
The District has stated the following goals for 2010-2011:
Air pollution dispersion terminology
Air pollution dispersion terminology includes the words and technical terms that have a special meaning to those who work in the field of air pollution dispersion modeling...
of air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
for Ventura County. The District was formed by the Board of Supervisors in response to the county's first air pollution study which identified Ventura County as having a severe air quality problem.
Currently, Ventura County does not meet the federal air quality standard for ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
and exceeds the state standard for ozone and particulate matter.
VCAPCD organizational structure
The VCAPCD is governed by the Air Pollution Control Board. This 10-member board consists of the County Board of Supervisors and five elected officials representing Ventura County cities. The APC Board establishes policy and approves new rules. They also appoint the Air Pollution Control Officer, the District Hearing Board, Advisory Committee, and Clean Air Fund Advisory Committee. The Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) of the VCAPCD reports to the APC Board and the following divisions report to the APCO:VCAPCD Divisions
The VCAPCD has a staff of about fifty employees including inspectors, engineers, planners, technicians, and support staff. The District is divided into the following divisions:- Administrative Services
- Information Systems
- Public Information
- Planning and Evaluation
- Rules and Incentives
- Pass-Through Grants
- Compliance
- Engineering
- Monitoring
Hearing Board
The APCD Hearing Board is a quasi-judicial body established by state law to grant variances and uphold or overturn APCD decisions regarding permit denials and operating conditions on permits. The Hearing Board may also revoke permits to operate, issue orders of abatement, allow citizen appeals, and settle disputes between the District and permittees.The Hearing Board consists of five members appointed by the Air Pollution Control Board for three-year terms.
Current members are:
- Gary Gasperino - Engineering (Chair)
- Stephen C. Hurlock, Ph.D - Public (Vice Chair)
- Daniel J. Murphy - Law
- Mike Stubblefield - Public
Advisory Committee
The VCAPCD Advisory Committee is a twenty-member citizens advisory body appointed by the Air Pollution Control Board. The Committee reviews staff proposed new and revised rules, and makes recommendations to the Air Pollution Control Board on those rules.Current Committee members are:
- Duane Vander Pluym, Ventura (Chair)
- Sara Head, District 1 (Vice Chair)
- Scott Blough, Simi Valley
- Raymond Garcia, District 2
- Robert Cole, Camarillo
- Richard Cook, Santa Paula
- Todd Gernheuser, Fillmore
- Aaron Hanson, District 4
- Michael Kuhn, District 4
- Kim Lim, District 5
- Marleen Luckman, Ojai
- Hugh McTernan, District 1
- Brandon Millan, Thousand Oaks
- Keith Moore, District 5
- David S. Morse, District 3
- Richard S. Nick, District 3
- Ronald Peterson, District 2
- Steven Wolfson, Moorpark
- Vacancy, Oxnard
- Vacancy, Port Hueneme
Main District Goals
The VCAPCD works with business and industry to reduce emissions from new and existing sources to protect public health and agriculture from the advserse effects of air pollution for over 800,000 county residents.The District has stated the following goals for 2010-2011:
- Attainment of federal and state ambient air quality standards.
- Implement the requirments of the California Clean Air Act and 1990 Amendments to the federal Clean Air ActClean Air ActA Clean Air Act is one of a number of pieces of legislation relating to the reduction of airborne contaminants, smog and air pollution in general. The use by governments to enforce clean air standards has contributed to an improvement in human health and longer life spans...
. - Continue public awareness program and education program.
- Develop attainment plans for a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ambient air quality standards.
See also
- California Air Resources BoardCalifornia Air Resources BoardThe 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...
- California Center for Sustainable Energy
- California Code of RegulationsCalifornia Code of RegulationsCalifornia Code of Regulations contains the text of the regulations that have been formally adopted by state agencies. They are reviewed, approved, and made available to the public by the California Office of Administrative Law , and are also filed with the Secretary of State.The CCR consists of...
- California Energy CommissionCalifornia Energy CommissionThe California Energy Commission is California’s primary energy policy and planning agency. Created in 1974 and headquartered in Sacramento, the Commission has responsibility for activities that include forecasting future energy needs, promoting energy efficiency through appliance and building...
- California Environmental Protection AgencyCalifornia Environmental Protection AgencyThe California Environmental Protection Agency is a state cabinet-level agency within the government of California. Cal/EPA is composed of six departments, boards and offices responsible for environmental research, regulating and administering the state's environmental protection programs, and...
- Climate change in CaliforniaClimate change in CaliforniaCalifornia has taken legislative steps towards reducing the possible effects climate change by incentives and plans for clean cars, renewable energy and stringent caps on big polluting industries.- Scoping Plan :...
- Ecology of CaliforniaEcology of CaliforniaThe ecology of California is diverse: it is considered to span six biogeographic provinces or ecoregions: "Coastal Chaparral Forest and Shrub", "Dry Steppe", "Coastal Steppe, Mixed Forest, and Redwood Forest", "Sierran Steppe/Mixed Forest/Coniferous Forest", "Coastal Range Open Woodland/Shrub/...
- Emission standards
- Greenhouse gasGreenhouse gasA greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
- Greenhouse gas emissions by the United StatesGreenhouse gas emissions by the United StatesUntil 2006, the United States was the largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions. China has been the top emitter since 2006. However both the emissions as a result of manufacturing exports and the emissions avoided by product imports are not considered...
- List of California Air Districts
- NAAQSNational Ambient Air Quality StandardsThe National Ambient Air Quality Standards are standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under authority of the Clean Air Act that apply for outdoor air throughout the country...
(National Ambient Air Quality Standards) - NESHAPNational Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air PollutantsThe National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants are emissions standards set by the United States EPA for an air pollutant not covered by NAAQS that may cause an increase in fatalities or in serious, irreversible, or incapacitating illness...
(National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants) - Pollution in CaliforniaPollution in CaliforniaPollution in California is the amount of harmful substances in California. Studies show that pollution links to cancer and birth complications. In 2008 Bakersfield, California had the worst level of pollution in the nation. - Causes :...
- Public SmogPublic SmogPublic Smog is an "atmospheric park" created by San Francisco-based artist Amy Balkin and her supporters through the use of financial, political, and legal methods. The goal of Public Smog is to "highlight the complexities and contradictions of current environmental protocols." .-The Park:The...
- South Coast Air Quality Management DistrictSouth Coast Air Quality Management DistrictThe 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...
- Timeline of major US environmental and occupational health regulationTimeline of major US environmental and occupational health regulation* 1947 – Los Angeles Air Pollution Control District created; first air pollution agency in the US.* 1948 – Federal Water Pollution Control Act* 1955 – National Air Pollution Control Act...
- US Emission standardUS emission standardIn the United States, emissions standards are managed on a national level by the Environmental Protection Agency . State and local governments play a subsidiary role.- Motor vehicles :...