OHV's affect air quality?

[Sal]

Read about this issue here:

Supervisors deny appeal objecting to wind towers on Mesa, in the dunes
By April Charlton/Senior Staff Writer


State Parks can construct wind-monitoring stations in the Oceano Dunes and on the Nipomo Mesa, the county Board of Supervisors ruled Tuesday.

The action is the latest in the debate over dust stirred up by off-road vehicles at the dunes and the impact on the Nipomo Mesa’s air quality.
With a 4-0 vote Tuesday, the county board denied appeals of the Planning Department’s approval of the project at a hearing in early December. Supervisor Frank Mecham was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

Nipomo Mesa resident Katrina Dolinsky and longtime Oceano resident Terry Sweetland filed separate appeals of the approval that permits State Parks to construct and operate five wind-and-air-quality-monitoring stations for two years.

Two of the 30-foot towers will be located within the open riding area at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, two will be south of Oso Flaco Lake in the dunes area and one will be at the Cal Fire station on Willow Road in Nipomo.

State Parks is planning to use the data collected through the pilot program to supplement information contained in a scientific study released last year by the county Air Pollution Control District (APCD), according to officials.

“We feel it’s very important to have the wind towers up and use that data,” said Phil Jenkins, State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Division deputy director.

The controversial APCD study draws a direct link between fugitive dust generated at the Oceano Dunes SVRA to increased particulate matter on the Nipomo Mesa.

The study concludes off-road vehicles break up a natural crust that forms on the sand dunes and the dust is then blown from the five-mile stretch of beach onto the Mesa.

But without additional data there’s no way for State Parks to determine how much fugitive dust is generated in the riding area of the Oceano Dunes and what needs to be done to address the pollution problem, Jenkins said.

“If there aren’t any towers, there’s no feedback telling you whether you’ve been successful at the end of the day,” he added.

Major points in Dolinsky’s appeal included her assertion that State Parks’ permit application was flawed, the project lacked appropriate scientific design, specificity or completeness regarding estimated costs, and it also lacked transparency and risked public health.

“How does this project provide Nipomo Mesa residents timely relief?” Dolinsky asked Tuesday. “Public health is the issue and as the Board of Supervisors, you should act.”

Long-term exposure to particulate matter, like the fine, coarse sand particles found on the Mesa, can lead to many upper respiratory illnesses and even premature death.

Studies have linked exposure, even short term, to increased incidence of asthma and bronchitis in both children and adults, as well as heart and lung disease, according to public health officials.

Some have also questioned whether State Parks is trying to undermine the APCD study by using the wind towers to collect data to refute the information in the document.

Sweetland said he believes operation of the Oceano Dunes SVRA is an essential part of the recreational picture and filed his appeal because he doesn’t have faith in the Off-Highway Division (OHV) of State Parks.

“I’m worried about the reasoning behind their wind towers,” Sweetland said. “”Why are they putting up the towers when we already have the information? I don’t trust the (OHV). I think they are trying to muddy the waters.”

The supervisors assured individuals who spoke at the meeting that the board is committed to addressing pollution on the Nipomo Mesa and doesn’t take the issue lightly.

“To be fair, we have to stick to the scope,” Supervisor Bruce Gibson said. “I don’t have a problem permitting these structures.”

The board’s decision can be appealed to the state Coastal Commission. After the hearing, Dolinsky said she wasn’t sure if she’d appeal to the Coastal Commission but added that it was something she was considering.

http://www.timespressrecorder.com/artic ... news09.txt

[Dan]

Nothing more than a scam. Environmental extremists asserting OHVs make dust, claiming injury and death to all who don't ride OHVs. No surprise in that action. Then, when challenged on whether it's a wise use of taxpayer funds and green sticker funds (contributed by OHV users), they appeal to a bureaucracy mostly comprised of more environmental extremists. Then, when further challenged to show efficacy and justify relative importance of the program, it's further appealed to yet another bureaucracy made up of .......... you guessed it, yet more environmental extremists. Once again using dishonesty and misleading testimony to effect political outcomes desired by their leadership.

Since when do we expect anything else from environmental extremist political activists?

[Sal]

This case is not about someone asserting anything. They want to scientifically measure the amount of airborne dust caused by OHV use on the sand dunes. If there is enough dust to threaten public health of those living nearby, shouldn't there be measures taken to protect them? Maybe water trucks wetting the OHV area periodically.

Anyone who fears the use of scientific monitoring probably has an agenda based on prior knowledge of the results of that monitoring.

[Brew]

Anyone who fears the use of scientific monitoring probably has an agenda based on prior knowledge of the results of that monitoring.

THANK YOU for recognizing that Sal. It is some of the residents that DON'T want additional testing and monitoring. Reread the article and see which residents.

Brew

[Sal]

Thanks Brew, I saw that one of the residents says that the facts are already in--I for one am willing for another study to be done and done repeatedly to insure the health of the community and to contain the side effects of OHV recreation.

[Dan]

Thanks Brew, I saw that one of the residents says that the facts are already in--I for one am willing for another study to be done and done repeatedly to insure the health of the community and to contain the side effects of OHV recreation.

I think this is a good example of presuming results before evidence is gathered, and pushing for endless tests, costing huge sums of taxpayer dollars, until some anomaly in the testing (or some unscrupulous testing firm), decides upon the outcome desired. It's so often the M.O. of environmental extremist pressure groups. Keep paying for endless studies, until you get the result you want. Then take it to court and demand action based on the one test out of five that suggests your pre-determined outcome.

Crooked politicians pull this crap all the time when they want a particular project developed so they can point to it as their political success story, and everyone is trying to tell them it's not feasible. They just keep paying consultants until they find one who will tell them what they want to hear, and then go ahead with the project anyway. Thank God for term limits, or several projects in my own county would have gone forward with a clear prediction that they would become sinkholes for millions in county dollars for maintenance that isn't necessary if you just listen to the people who know what they're talking about and ignore the politically-motivated sellouts. Don't you wish we had term limits on environmental extremists?

[Sal]

of course Dan's whole post begs the question of whether or not thousands of OHV's racing on the sand could possibly have a negative effect on the air quality of those living nearby.

[Brew]

Dan, did you even read the article, word for word???? It's the OHMVR Division that wants to do the continued testing. The local enviro community is the one that is objecting to more air monitoring. Oceano Dunes is one of the state SVRAs. OHMVR Division wants better data before making any decisions on the future of the SVRA.

Gathering complete data will provide a base point to see if there is a valid link between OHV use and the dust particulates. Continued monitoring will also show if mitigation measures are initiated, if they improve the air quality.

Brew

[MMM]

update

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/03/08 ... -from.html

Dunes wind towers get OK from San Luis Obispo County supervisors

They are meant to gather data in conjunction with dust projects

By David Sneed | dsneed@thetribunenews.com

County supervisors Tuesday approved the installation of five wind towers in the Oceano Dunes over the misgivings of some Nipomo Mesa residents.

Phil Jenkins, director of the Off Highway Vehicle Division of the State Department of Parks and Recreation, said the towers will be used to gather data to evaluate the effectiveness of pilot projects being conducted in the Dunes this spring to reduce the amount of sand blowing onto the Mesa.

Plan for wind towers at Oceano Dunes kicks up debate. Team to monitor dust flow is all set. Experts hired to study Oceano Dunes particulates. Dust advisory council dissolved amid criticism. Hay bales are high on Dunes dust test.

The project was appealed by Terry Sweetland of Oceano and Katrina Dolinsky of the Mesa. Both said they don’t trust officials with the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area to use the data collected by the towers to protect public health. Dust is a major air pollutant on the Nipomo Mesa and poses health risks for people living there.

“This is a waste of money,” Sweetland said. “I think they are just trying to muddy the waters.”

A recent scientific study by the county Air Pollution Control District showed that greater quantities of dust blow off the off-highway vehicle riding area than from adjacent nonriding dune areas. Jenkins said his department accepts that fact but is not convinced OHV are the cause. The location of the riding area or other variables could be the cause, he said.

Supervisors said public distrust of State Parks was outside the scope of the permit hearing. They reiterated their commitment to finding a way to reduce unhealthy levels of dust blowing from the park.

“I don’t see that there is a problem in putting in these structures,” Supervisor Bruce Gibson said.

Two of the towers will be in the riding area while another two will be outside it in the Oso Flaco Lake area. The fifth will be at the CalFire station on Highway 1.

It should take four to six weeks to install them, said Ronnie Glick, park environmental scientist. They will be in place for two years.

State Parks officials and consultants hired by the Air Pollution Control District are set to begin experimenting with hay bales and revegetation as means to control blowing dust.

Mike

[Dan]

Brew, I'm referring to environmental extremists living near Oceano Dunes, who are not getting the answers they desire from the county, state, the courts, or especially from OHMVR, so they push it to the Coastal Commission in hopes that the anti-access folk there will deny permits to put up wind towers designed to settle the argument with facts instead of anecdotal testimony. The scam is their continued attempts to find some issue they can allege, but for which sufficient evidence cannot be gathered to refute, which will cause a court to find in their favor for no other reason than what they call the "precautionary principle".