Goal 1: Achieve Impact.

Reduce Health Impacts of Air Pollution

Strategy 1.1 Change Approach to Air Quality: We will change our approach to reducing air pollution so that we achieve more meaningful improvements to air quality in communities, with a focus on those overburdened by air pollution.

While the traditional approach to air quality management has successfully reduced air pollution across the region, many communities still face higher levels of exposure to air pollution than others. Air agencies across the state and country have historically focused on reducing specific pollutants to meet federal and state air quality standards for regional air pollution. After many decades of applying this approach in the Bay Area, there remains a difference between regional and local air pollution in some communities. Communities where air pollution remains high are mostly located near freeways, busy roadways, or large industrial facilities and are often impacted by more than one of these sources of pollution. They are also more often lower-income communities of color.

Reducing disparities in air pollution requires a different approach to air quality planning. This strategy is about that different approach. Under this strategy, we will not only focus on the sources that are driving up regional levels of air pollution but will also focus on the sources of air pollution that are causing the most harm to communities and are causing the greatest disparities in exposure to air pollution.

Understanding which sources of air pollution are causing the most harm will require new ways of looking at air pollution data. Under this strategy, we will analyze existing air pollution data to determine which sources have the highest levels of pollution and partner with communities to better understand which sources most impact them. We will do computer modeling of emissions data and collect new monitoring data at and near sources to understand which are most significant. Our efforts will center on the air pollutants that cause the greatest health effects, including fine particulate matter and toxic air contaminants.

Not only will we look at our data differently, but we will also build community capacity to collect air pollution data. We will ensure we have a complete and accurate picture of local air pollution, one that includes community experience and perspectives of local air pollution. These efforts are described in Strategy 2.2 Collect Community Data and Strategy 2.7 Understand Local Air Pollution.

We will also work to better understand how we can reduce pollution from the sources that cause the most harm. Through computer modeling of possible actions, we can learn which actions would be most effective at reducing harmful pollution in communities.

What we learn through our efforts under this strategy will inform many of the strategies in the 2024-2029 Strategic Plan. Strategies that speak to new regulations, better enforcement of air pollution sources in communities, and more strategic incentive programs, will all be informed by what we do to better understand local air pollution and the actions needed to reduce that pollution.

Reduce Health Impacts of Air Pollution

Strategy 1.2 Stronger Regulations: We will develop stronger regulations, prioritizing those that can improve local air pollution.

We need stronger regulations on activities that contribute most to local air pollution disparities. What we learn through our efforts in Strategy 1.1 Change Approach to Air Quality about which sources contribute the most to local air pollution and which actions can be most impactful in reducing pollution will help us build these stronger regulations.

Under this strategy, for the sources of air pollution that we find contribute most to local air pollution, we will review existing regulations, including any existing exemptions. We will ensure these regulations are updated and that they reflect our current understanding of the health burdens associated with air pollution. We will also ensure regulations include the latest technological advancements in reducing emissions.

Where we find our existing regulations do not provide adequate health protection, or that there are inappropriate or outdated exemptions, we will update the regulation. Or, if needed, we will develop new regulations to ensure the appropriate level of health protection for communities. In doing so, we will prioritize the regulations that will provide the greatest benefit to communities, which may include indirect sources of pollution. Indirect sources are facilities that attract mobile sources of pollution such as trucks, trains, aircraft, or ships. After our initial review, we will repeat this process at regular intervals and prioritize the development of new or amended rules to ensure that the stringency of the regulations continues to keep up with advances in technology and local circumstances.

Strategy 1.3 Minimize Flaring: We will minimize flaring at oil refineries to lessen the impact flaring has on communities, including air pollution and odors.

People living near oil refineries are concerned about flaring, as flaring can periodically release uncertain, and potentially unsafe, amounts of air pollution. Flaring involves visible flames, smoke, and odors from tall smokestacks that have a burner, used to destroy gases produced at industrial sources such as refineries, sulfur recovery plants, and hydrogen production plants. Flare systems should be operated as last-resort safety devices.

Our current regulations prohibit routine flaring by requiring refineries to submit and comply with annual Flare Minimization Plans. These plans require refineries to evaluate and implement all feasible prevention measures, or actions that can be done to reasonably prevent expected flaring, such as during maintenance events. Our regulations also require refineries to record flaring events, to monitor the volume and composition of the flare gas, and to submit monthly flaring reports to the Air District. Flare Minimization Plans, monthly flaring reports, and general information on flaring events and associated emissions for each facility are posted on our website.

Under this strategy, we will explore new and additional ways to minimize flaring through a collaborative process with anyone interested in participating. Options include automating monitoring, implementing better ways to limit pollution related to flare systems, and strengthening our flare minimization-related regulations. In exploring these options, including possibly updating our regulations, we will consider health impacts, better enforceability, safety, and more stringent flaring requirements and associated reporting requirements. We will also increase our public engagement on flaring and develop ways to share timely and accessible information with affected communities.

Furthermore, we will better hold refineries accountable for any flaring incidents that do not comply with our regulations through increased inspections and monitoring where an incident occurs.

Strategy 1.4 Reimagine Funding: We will reimagine funding programs so that they better benefit communities impacted by air pollution.

The Air District has a variety of funding programs available to reduce air pollution. Grant funding is available for fleet and equipment owners to upgrade older, highly polluting engines in trucks, school and transit buses, construction equipment, marine vessels, trains, airport ground support equipment, and agricultural equipment. We also have money for electric vehicle charging stations and financial support for innovative climate technology solutions. Public agencies can apply for money to build clean air centers and to install bicycle lanes. Funding is also available to residents to replace their older cars with cleaner options or to replace wood-burning stoves or fireplace inserts with electric heat pumps. They can even turn in older vehicles for cash.

While these funding programs are effective in reducing air pollution, there are challenges. State and federal funding requirements significantly limit who can apply and the kinds of projects that can be funded. There are also short deadlines for completing projects. Additionally, community members often tell us that our funding programs are not directly responsive to their needs or are difficult to access. The application, eligibility, and reporting requirements can be cumbersome and stringent. Communities would also like more involvement in the types of projects we fund.

Under this strategy, we will change our funding programs to provide greater benefits to communities, neighborhoods, and households. Changes will be based on input from community members and what we learn from Strategy 1.1 Change Approach to Air Quality, about which sources of air pollution cause the most harm to communities and which actions are most effective in reducing pollution. Where possible, we will reduce barriers to applying for funds, including eligibility requirements, and develop creative solutions to fund a wider variety of projects that respond to community needs.

We will also work with communities to identify and access new, non-Air District funding sources, such as state, federal, or other grants. Such funding could be used to expand our grants for community capacity building and community education funding. We will talk with communities about defining new project ideas and assist in the funding application process. We will also, if possible, partner with communities on project implementation.

Hold Violators Accountable

Strategy 1.5 Enhance Violation Investigations: We will enhance our procedures for investigating violations of Air District regulations in communities overburdened by air pollution to better protect community health.

The Air District is responsible for regulating emissions from stationary sources of air pollution, including oil refineries, power plants, wastewater treatment plants, gas stations, and many other commercial, manufacturing, and industrial activities. If an industry or business violates any of our regulations, we have a process for identifying and investigating such violations.

In our investigations, we sometimes do not have all the information we need to fully demonstrate the significance of the violation, especially hearing from community members on how the violation impacted them. We may also have limited information on the public health consequences of the violation or potential cost savings to the violators from actions that led to the violations. Such additional information could be useful in building more stringent enforcement actions and related penalty assessments for violations. This, in turn, could better deter industries from violating regulations and improve future compliance.

Under this strategy, we will develop an enhanced investigation procedure for violations, especially for violations that occur in communities overburdened by air pollution. The protocol will include a way for community members to tell us how the violation impacted them. We will better quantify the extent of emissions that violate our regulations in communities and, where possible, analyze the health impacts of violations in communities. We will also investigate the duration of violations and the avoided costs that may have led to violations.

We will prioritize implementing the new investigation procedure for any violations that occur from air pollution sources found to have the greatest impact on community health, as identified in Strategy 1.1. Change Approach to Air Quality.

Strategy 1.6 New Enforcement Policy: We will collaborate with communities to develop an enforcement policy to better prevent violations of air quality regulations.

A big part of what the Air District does is enforce its air quality regulations. Effective enforcement is central to making sure our regulations have real and measurable impacts on air quality. Enforcement is done through regular inspections of oil refineries, power plants, wastewater treatment plants, and other industrial facilities and businesses we regulate. The Air District also responds to complaints, which can trigger investigations of potential regulation violations. The Air District also partners with the state to help enforce state regulations on trucks, port equipment, and other mobile sources of air pollution.

Communities want more transparency and accountability in how we enforce our regulations, so they feel confident we are holding violators fully accountable. Even though active enforcement cases must be confidential, we can openly develop a policy for how we approach enforcement cases. Under this strategy, we will develop an enforcement policy that considers environmental justice principles and community voices, experiences, and perspectives to build community confidence and trust in our efforts to enforce air quality regulations. The policy would also include a set of principles to guide how the Air District evaluates and applies penalties, as allowed by state law, community-focused legal remedies, and consideration of repeat violations. In the policy, we would also consider enforcement actions, such as an abatement order or coordinating with other enforcement agencies, like local district attorneys or the state Attorney General.

We commit to engaging in a collaborative process with communities, regulated industry, labor, and others who may be interested in participating with us as we develop the new enforcement policy.

Mitigate Climate Change and Its Impacts

Strategy 1.7 New Climate Solutions: We will develop new regional solutions for climate change and support partners to advance climate change mitigation.

Human activity has changed our climate. The impacts from a warmer planet are being felt around the world, including intensifying heat waves, wildfires, hurricanes, drought, and floods. These impacts do not affect everyone equally. The same communities that have struggled for years to access clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food, living- wage jobs, and affordable housing are also the most vulnerable to climate impacts. Communities overburdened by air pollution and poverty tend to have higher rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions that make them more vulnerable to wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and other climate impacts. The impacts from a warming climate are only expected to get worse in the coming decades.

Carbon dioxide is the most prevalent heat-trapping gas (also known as a greenhouse gas) contributing to climate change. The amount of carbon dioxide covering the planet has been quickly increasing, mostly due to the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas. The Air District doe snot have the regulatory authority to adopt regulations that reduce carbon dioxide from large industrial sources such as oil refineries or natural gas-fired power plants. We also do not have the authority to regulate cars, trucks, and other mobile sources of air pollution; that authority belongs to the state and federal governments. These sources produce over 75 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the region. However, we do have authority to regulate methane and other greenhouses gases that are more powerful than carbon dioxide.

The California Air Resources Board, the agency that oversees all efforts to reduce air pollution in the state, adopted a statewide climate plan to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality, or net zero greenhouse gas emissions, by the year 2045. In the Bay Area, cities and counties have adopted more than 80 local climate action plans. Regional government agencies, like transportation agencies, are developing and implementing plans to address climate change. Unfortunately, these plans are not always developed in coordination, nor in partnership with communities most vulnerable to climate impacts. At the same time, there are now once-in-a-generation federal funding opportunities available for local governments and community-based organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, help communities adapt to climate impacts, and to thrive in a carbon-neutral economy.

In addition, the Air District runs a program to help fund local projects that apply new technologies to cut heat-trapping gases in communities around the Bay Area, known as the Climate Tech Finance program. The program has been effective since its inception but needs to be assessed and improved to continue growing its climate benefits for communities.

Under this strategy, we will maximize climate change benefits from our air quality related regulations and nonregulatory programs. Often the same activities that produce greenhouse gases also produce other harmful air pollution. As we build stronger regulations on industries, businesses, and activities that contribute most to local air pollution, as described in Strategy 1.2 Stronger Regulations, we will also evaluate potential ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

We will also work with our state, regional and local government partners to develop regional solutions to climate change. We will develop a regional climate plan that describes how regional efforts can work synergistically and with local and state efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. In developing this plan, we will engage with the Bay Area’s diverse communities to better understand their climate concerns and priorities. The regional climate plan will support more coordinated and successful funding applications, and better implementation of existing and future climate priority efforts. We will assess and improve our Climate Tech Finance program to maximize benefits for communities.