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Keep an eye on the sky
In more great news for our organization, CCA is proud to announce that Joseph Lyou, Ph.D., will join our staff as president and CEO beginning in September. A highly regarded leader in the California environmental movement, Lyou brings to the position two decades of expertise and experience in environmental policy and advocacy. As pandemonium over the gulf oil spill rages on, let us not lose sight of the bigger picture: our dependence on fossil fuels and the impact that has on our air, our health and our economy. CCA Board Member Gary Polakovic said in a recent Los Angeles Times op-ed, “The oil spill ranks as the nation's worst environmental disaster only if you ignore the great ongoing spill in the sky.” So we persevere, and we celebrate: good news from the White House, victories here at home, dedicated leadership among our organization, and a supportive audience—you—to help keep that clean air vision alive.
We are pleased to announce that Joseph Lyou, Ph.D., will join CCA as president and CEO beginning in September. A highly regarded leader in the California environmental movement, Lyou brings to the position 20 years of experience in state environmental policy and advocacy. He is extremely knowledgeable in both science and air quality policy, and he has a demonstrated history of bringing together diverse voices in defense of environmental health and justice.
Nidia Bautista, CCA policy director, watched excitedly from her seat in the White House Rose Garden as President Obama announced the latest federal auto emission standards. CCA was one of the few environmental organizations invited to this important event, held in May, where plans were unveiled to increase fuel economy and curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards nationwide.
On June 4, 2010, CCA Deputy Director of Campaigns Luis Cabrales addressed the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), asking the board to stand its ground on standards for paint thinners and solvents. If industry representatives had their way, implementation would have been delayed; but we successfully defended our victory, and the results were even better than expected.
Proposition 23, a deceptive initiative slated for Novemeber's ballot, will effectively increase pollution and kill jobs for Californians. Bankrolled by Texas oil companies Valero and Tesoro, the Dirty Energy Proposition will allow polluters to circumvent our state's clean energy standards, set back the California economy and keep us addicted to oil.
"The Plane Truth: Air Quality Impacts of Airport Operations and Strategies for Sustainability" is a case study of the Los Angeles World Airports. It serves as a first step for community advocates to develop a campaign to reduce air pollution from airports in the Los Angeles region. The report also highlight serious air pollution problems that impact thousands of communities across the country.
California has lost an important member of the academic community: Dr. Stephen Schneider, who died on July 19. He was widely known for his groundbreaking advocacy work and research on global warming trends.
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In June, the Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) celebrated innovation in clean transportation with the 
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Taking out the trash Trash trucks haul our waste away, but what do they leave behind? In most neighborhoods, it’s a dirty cloud of harmful emissions. But thanks to the work of CCA and our allies, Southern California can soon look forward to trash day. Companies must now replace their diesel-fueled trash trucks with alternative fuel vehicles, thanks to action by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) governing board, who approved an expedited five-year timeline for trash companies to implement Rule 1193. Qualifying companies may apply for up to two 1-year extensions. By January 1, 2020, all private fleets contracting with government agencies for refuse collection services must provide 100 percent clean-fuel vehicles. More than 90 percent of refuse trucks run on diesel fuel, emitting global warming emissions and myriad toxic contaminants along their daily routes through our neighborhoods. In California alone, diesel particulate matter contributes to an estimated 5,400 premature deaths each year, as well as asthma attacks and other respiratory symptoms resulting in thousands of hospital admissions and lost workdays; most of these are in Southern California. Under Rule 1193, about 2,900 diesel refuse trucks will be replaced by alternative fuel vehicles. By 2020, this would eliminate approximately 119,200 tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 576 tons per year. These gains are momentous for our air quality and public health. Converting to alternative-fuel vehicles also helps reduce our dependence on crude oil and advances the future of cleaner vehicles on our roads. CCA helped strengthen this rule to ensure compliance plans and faster conversion to cleaner trucks. A diverse set of community, labor, corporate and environmental voices joined our call for a strong rule, including Pacoima Beautiful, Teamsters Local 396, LA Alliance for a New Economy, Waste Management and Sierra Club. Read our letter to the SCAQMD (70kb).
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Introducing Dr. Lyou We are pleased to announce that Joseph Lyou, Ph.D., will join CCA as president and CEO beginning in September. A highly regarded leader in the California environmental movement, Lyou brings to the position 20 years of experience in state environmental policy and advocacy. He is extremely knowledgeable in both science and air quality policy, and he has a demonstrated history of bringing together diverse voices in defense of environmental health and justice. “Joe’s track record and rich experience will undoubtedly help to strengthen CCA and our mission,” said CCA Board Chair Erik Neandross. “The board is extremely pleased to have found such a qualified candidate.” “I am honored to have been chosen and look forward to joining CCA’s talented staff,” said Lyou. “I will work to further strengthen this organization, build bridges with our community stakeholders, and advance our cutting-edge policy work in the fight for clean and healthful air for all Californians.” Martin Schlageter, a longtime employee and CCA’s campaign director, has been serving as interim executive director and will continue in this role through the transition this summer. “Martin has led CCA with a steady hand, and the board is immensely grateful for his leadership and dedication to the organization,” Neandross added. Lyou comes to CCA from the California Environmental Rights Alliance, of which he was founder and executive director. He has also held management positions with the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and Committee to Bridge the Gap. Lyou serves as the governor’s appointee to the South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board, and he is an active participant on many regional and statewide advisory committees on air pollution, air toxics, environmental justice and environmental health. He received his Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz in 1990.
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CCA goes to Washington Nidia Bautista, CCA policy director, watched excitedly from her seat in the White House Rose Garden as President Obama announced the latest federal auto emission standards. CCA was one of the few environmental organizations invited to this important event, held in May, where plans were unveiled to increase fuel economy and curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards nationwide.
This announcement came on the heels of the administration's initial round of plans, which raises the fuel economy of cars and trucks and cuts GHG emissions for 2012-16. Modeled after California’s Clean Cars Law, which CCA originally co-sponsored, those measures set the bar for the nation. The next round raises that even further, establishing standards for cars and light trucks starting in 2017, and for medium- and heavy-duty trucks from 2014-18. This is the first time that federal government has set standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. These measures have the potential to drastically reduce oil use and CO2 emissions, while saving Americans billions of dollars at the pump. "CCA is greatly encouraged by this progress, and we are honored to be recognized by the Obama administration for our historical role and continued efforts in advancing cleaner transportation. Today’s action serves as further testament to the far-reaching effects of our work," said Bautista. "We are committed to moving forward in California with advanced clean cars standards for 2017-25, as well as to working with federal agencies to ensure the strongest possible standards nationwide."
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Advocates defend standards for thinners and solvents On June 4, 2010, CCA Deputy Director of Campaigns Luis Cabrales addressed the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), asking the board to stand its ground on standards for paint thinners and solvents. If industry representatives had their way, implementation would have been delayed; but we successfully defended our victory, and the results were even better than expected. The groundbreaking standard was originally set last year, when the SCAQMD approved Rule 1143. Effective January 1, 2011, the rule sets the strongest limits to date on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in all consumer paint thinners and multi-purpose solvents sold in Southern California. Rule 1143 was challenged when representatives of the paint and solvent industries took the SCAQMD to court and attempted to delay implementation by as much as three years. If that were allowed to happen, Southern California would suffer an increase of approximately 4,170 tons of dangerous pollutants—undoing the progress that air quality advocates have worked to achieve.
CCA and allies from the Sierra Club, Breathe LA and CLEAN Carwash Campaign came together at the June hearing to testify on the importance of Rule 1143. “Workers in the carwash industry often use paint and lacquer thinners or strong solvents and glass cleaner, which contains isopropyl alcohol, with no training, no protective gear, and often under hot sun for up to 10 hours a day,” said Pedro Guzman, a former carwash worker. “People don’t know this, but we can feel the cold, icy liquid burning our fingers from the rags with solvents we use to wipe tree sap, gum or oil stains.” The SCAQMD board agreed to not to delay Rule 1143; furthermore, Chairman Dr. William Burke echoed Guzman’s comments and directed his staff to investigate what could be done to abate the impacts of industrial products on the workers who use them each day.
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Proposition 23, a deceptive initiative slated for Novemeber's ballot, will effectively increase pollution and kill jobs for Californians. Bankrolled by Texas oil companies Valero and Tesoro, the Dirty Energy Proposition will allow polluters to circumvent our state's clean energy standards, set back the California economy and keep us addicted to oil.
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Aviation is one of the most energy intensive and polluting modes of transportation. Air pollution emissions from the aviation sector are likely to increase by 140-200 percent by 2025, unless aggressive actions are taken to control and reduce aviation‘s environmental footprint. "The Plane Truth: Air Quality Impacts of Airport Operations and Strategies for Sustainability" is a case study of the Los Angeles World Airports. It serves as a first step for community advocates to develop a campaign to reduce air pollution from airports in the Los Angeles region. The report also highlight serious air pollution problems that impact thousands of communities across the country. Among the key findings is the high level of lead emissions from aviation gasoline (avgas), which is used in piston-engine, normally non-commercial aircraft that frequent generation aviation airports. These emissions pose a health risk to approximately 3 million children and 16 million adults who live or attend school near the almost 20,000 U.S. airports frequented by piston-engine aircraft.
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Loss of a clean air hero California has lost an important member of the academic community: Dr. Stephen Schneider, who died on July 19. He was widely known for his groundbreaking advocacy work and research on global warming trends. "Over a career that spanned 40 years, Stanford University biologist Stephen Schneider counseled seven presidents, won a share of a Nobel Prize and became one of the nation's leading climate scientists," said Paul Rogers of the Mercury News. "Unlike the vast majority of scientists, who do not like to enter the debate on the policy front, Dr. Schneider was able to convince a majority of the decision makers and politicians from both sides of the aisle to take the right step in the right direction," said Dr. Shankar B. Prasad, CCA executive fellow. In 2008 CCA honored Dr. Schneider with the Carl Moyer Award for Scientific Leadership and Technical Excellence. Today we gratefully celebrate the life and work of Dr. Schneider and hope more scientists and academics will follow in his footsteps.
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