I was invited by the Western States Petroleum Association to attend a public hearing on Wednesday January 6, 2010 for BAAQMD. A main topic of the hearing had to do with new Bay Area Air Quality Management District – Bay Area Healthy Communities Resolution (BACHR) resolutions and New CEQA guidelines to lower significance and toxic risk thresholds from 10 in a million cancer risk to 5 in a million in 7 “priority communities ” including Richmond, Concord, Oakland, San Leandro, San Francisco, San Jose, and Redwood City. The proposed changes could affect renovations and expansions for both industry and urban infill projects because the BAHCR intends to implement a no net increase of toxic emissions in such communities, and identify strategies to reduce impacts in these communities. If the BAAQMD passes the resolution as it stands, many projects may not be able to be permitted.
As a new resident in an affected area, I have personal interest in what toxics I am being exposed to, but I am also in a business that is closely tied to construction projects that may not be performed because of the new standards. The hearing was well attended with concerned members of the community and impacted business emotionally expressing opinions about BAAQMD adopting the resolutions or not. I hope that a workable balance will be implemented that can meet the objectives of cleaner air for our communities while allowing projects to move forward that will help our economic development objectives and provide much needed jobs.
Harry Lawrence, CPSM, Dir. Business Development – Emeryville, CA
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