© 1997 Antelope Valley Press, Palmdale, California, USA (805) 273-2700
By the end of November, the district had amended 60 existing rules, rescinded 32, transferred 872 permits from the South Coast district and processed 495 permit renewals, according to the district's year-end report.
District staff also responded to 64 air-quality complaints, conducted 113 courtesy compliance visits to regulated industries and identified 38 un-permitted units since its establishment, the report said.
In the first five months of existence, governing board members were sworn in, hearing board members were appointed, air-quality concerns surrounding the BioGro composting facility were addressed and the district celebrated the Valley's cleanest air in years.
The air district was formed after an Antelope Valley Board of Trade task force found that separating from the South Coast district would provide the best climate for industrial development and airquality benefits for the Antelope Valley.
In September 1996, Gov. Pete Wilson signed Assembly Bill 2666, introduced by then-Assemblyman, now state Sen. William J. "Pete" Knight. The bill removed the Antelope Valley from the jurisdiction of the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Diamond Bar and gave the Antelope Valley authority to create its own district effective July 1.
The district is operating under contract during its first year of existence by the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, based in Victorville. Until new rules are established, the district will follow regulations of the Whittier-based South Coast air district.
Members of the governing board, sworn in at the district's first July meeting, are: Vern Lawson, executive director of the Lancaster Economic Development Corp., appointed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich; Palmdale businessman and resident Ken McDonald, appointed by Antonovich; Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts and Vice Mayor Henry Hearns, representing the city of Lancaster; Palmdale councilmen Joe Davies and David Myers, appointed by the city of Palmdale; and Antelope Valley Schools Transportation Agency director Ken McCoy, public member.
Hearns and Myers were appointed chairman and vice chairman, respectively.
In August, the governing board approved a six-month amnesty program that exempts local business owners from penalties for unauthorized equipment, with the hope that owners would obtain necessary permits during the time allowed.
The hearing board, appointed by the governing board in September, considers all applications for variances from district rules and regulations, issues orders of abatement and settles permit issues. Members of the hearing board cannot be replaced nor can their decisions be overturned by the governing board, unless done in court.
Hearing board members include Chairman Robert A. Parris, legal member; Samir I. Fasheh, medical member; Dennis Sloane, engineering member; and Bret Banks and James Charlton, public members. Their terms range from one to three years.
In October, the district office moved from 315 West Pondera St. to 43301 Division St. The motive for the move, staffers said, was noise from the air-monitoring equipment, which will continue to be housed on Pondera St.
In November, the air district addressed air-quality concerns in regards to the BioGro composting plant, approved by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in June. Desert Citizens Against Pollution, Kern County air officials and Antonovich called for a structure to be constructed around the plant, planned at 145th St. West, south of Avenue A.
In a letter to the board, Antonovich urged the local air district "to look into this proposal to ascertain what controls need to be imposed upon the site to protect down-wind constituents."
The air district responded by asking the Board of Supervisors for a chance to comment on the environmental impact report for the facility.
"The (air district) has concerns regarding potential adverse air quality impacts associated with the proposed project and believes these impacts may not have been adequately discussed and mitigated," according to a district letter.
Air district staff has not heard a reply from county attorneys regarding its request to comment. However, the Board of Supervisors is set to soon approve the final environmental impact report for the facility.
But the most positive news of the first five months was that Valley residents breathed cleaner air in 1997 than they had in years.
Data collected from the local air-monitoring station showed that the Valley exceeded the state airquality standard - 0.09 parts per million - 14 times in 1997, for a decrease of nearly 75%. From 1994 to 1996, the Valley exceeded the same standard an average of 54 times annually.
In December, the hearing board granted its first variance and district staff conducted a public workshop to consider the proposed recision of Rule 2202, the so-called "ride-share rule."
The district is bordered by the Kern County line on the north, the San Gabriel Mountains on the south, the San Bernardino County line on the east and the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the west.