The full report can be downloaded at: EXHAUST-ed!

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 17, 2012

TriCounty Watchdogs, Linda MacKay 661-747-3062, 661-248-6224

Global Community Monitor, Jessica Hendricks 707-980-3816

New report reveals high levels of diesel pollution causing health risk to residents living near Interstate-5 transportation corridor

First tests for diesel particulates reveal hidden dangers of California’s global trade

LEBEC, CA: A new report, EXHAUST-ed!: Community Exposure to Diesel Air Pollution in California’s Transportation Corridor, released today by environmental organizations TriCounty Watchdogs and Global Community Monitor reveals high levels of diesel pollution is causing serious health risk to residents living near the California Interstate-5 (I-5) transportation corridor, known as the Grapevine. According to the CA Dept. of Transportation, approximately 70,000 vehicles, of which an estimated 18,000 are large trucks with diesel-fuel engines, travel through this narrow mountain pass, close to nearby communities, schools and parks.

The report contains air sample data collected by the TriCounty Watchdogs from March 2011 through March 2012 indicating that the Lebec community, including a school with 240 students, is impacted by diesel particulate pollution from heavy truck traffic along the Interstate highway.

According to an independent expert retained to review the data, Dr. Mark Chernaik, “The levels found in the samples represent a risk of cardiovascular and respiratory effects, including increased incidence of hospitalizations and premature death.”

“Children playing on the ball fields at Tejon Middle School have [1] high rates of asthma and sometimes even complain that their lungs hurt when they’re running around. We wanted to know how much diesel pollution our children are being exposed too.” said Linda MacKay, President of locally based TriCounty Watchdogs. “Now that we know how serious the risk is, we need action to protect our communities from impacts of being wedged into one of the nation’s largest transportation corridors.”

Members of TriCounty Watchdogs collected 51 air samples near community-identified ‘hot spots’, suspected areas of increased air pollution. This included near Lebec middle school, the Lebec post office, the truck stop and two residences.

TriCounty Watchdogs members were trained by San Francisco Bay Area based Global Community Monitor to conduct their own particle air monitoring. Global Community Monitor empowers ‘fencline’ communities on how to use the “Bucket Brigade” in community based air monitoring. Community concerns and incomplete data by the San Joaquin Valley Air District prompted TriCounty Watchdogs to pursue their own community air monitoring project.

“Residents of the Lebec area and the Grapevine pass are disproportionately impacted by diesel air pollution,” said Jessica Hendricks of Global Community Monitor. “The Lebec area is comprised of small mountain communities, yet the pollution levels found in this small community are comparable to a large metropolitan area.”

TriCounty Watchdogs and Global Community Monitor, based on the results from the community air monitoring project, have listed out a series of recommendations including:

1. Trees should be planted near the freeway to reduce emission exposures

According to the study, “Impacts of Noise Barriers on Near Road Air Quality” published by Atmospheric Environment, research has shown that planting trees between a major roadway and sensitive sites like school grounds can potentially reduce vehicle emissions by up to 30%.

2. Replant trees near businesses close to the Freeway

At the location in Lebec near the Lebec Post Office, we recommend that trees that were recently removed behind the post office and antique store be replanted to reduce the emissions exposure of the residents who live near this area.

3. Electrify the Flying J Truck Stop

Electrifying the truck stop will allow drivers to plug in instead of idling their engines overnight, thus reducing a source of emissions.

4. Ultra-fine particle analysis should be performed by the San Joaquin Air District.

Further ultra-fine particulate analysis is needed because standard PM 2.5 monitoring does not properly identify ultra-fine particles.

The report will be presented at the El Tejon School Board meeting on July 18, 2012 at The District Board Meeting Building next to the middle school at 7:00pm. To review EXHAUST-ed: Community Exposure to Diesel Air Pollution in California’s Transportation Corridor, visit Global Community Monitor: http://gcmonitor.org/downloads/EXHAUST-ed!.pdf