Oceano Dunes dust reduction deal OK’d

Source: http://www.timespressrecorder.com/articles/2010/07/29/news/news03.txt

The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District approved a cooperative deal Wednesday with State Parks to find ways to reduce dust pollution generated at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
The agreement was unanimously approved by the air pollution control board and has also been signed by State Parks officials. The memorandum of agreement is also expected to be approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

A scientific study released earlier this year links increased dust pollution on the Nipomo Mesa to the use of off-highway vehicles in the dunes.

The controversial study concludes that off-road vehicles in the Oceano Dunes SVRA break up a natural crust that forms on the sand dunes, allowing tiny particles of dust to be blown from the beach onto the Mesa.

Under the two-year agreement, a technical advisory committee will be formed to develop dust-control pilot programs that could be implemented by State Parks at the popular off-highway park. A management oversight committee will also be formed to oversee the technical advisory committee.

“It took awhile to hammer out what would go into the MOA (memorandum of agreement) and how it would be implemented,” said Larry Allen, Air Pollution Control District executive director.

Allen said the technical advisory committee will do the majority of the work on an emissions-reduction plan for the Oceano Dunes SVRA. The six-member committee will include two people each from the Air Pollution Control District, State Parks and the county. It will also have an outside technical expert.

The committees are expected to be formed within the next two weeks, and a scope of work is envisioned by mid-November. A draft plan is anticipated to be completed by summer 2011, with a final plan expected in September 2011.

However, many of the district directors, as well as Allen, were disappointed with the proposed timeline and felt that not having some type of pilot program in place by the time the spring winds hit the county wouldn’t help to solve the problem and delay finding a solution.

“I am very concerned with the timeline,” said Director Bruce Gibson. “It seems to me there’s a serious lapse of opportunity to get going on this problem. It’s extremely important to have a pilot program on the ground before the spring winds.”

Gibson wanted State Parks to make a good faith promise to have a pilot program in place at the dunes by March, but the agency wasn’t willing to make that commitment because not all of the stakeholders were at the meeting.

State Parks officials have concerns and questions about the study and don’t necessarily agree that the dust pollution on the Mesa is caused by off-highway vehicle at the beach.

The study didn’t identify the percentage of dust pollution caused by off-highway vehicles.

Phil Jenkins, State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Division director, said the key to effectively reducing dust pollution at the dunes would be to implement a program that has measurable results, which has yet to be developed.

Executing a pilot program that doesn’t measure the reduction of pollution “wouldn’t do anybody any good,” Jenkins said.

“It’s a good agreement and I am asking you to trust us,” Jenkins said, adding it’s a valid concern about the timing of getting pilot projects in place.

Possible methods for reducing dust at the dunes discussed previously include planting more vegetation in the riding areas and installing wind fences.