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Arvin/Lamont Community Steering Committee 

Hello CSC Member,

We would like to get your feedback on these remaining four CERP measure ideas that are still under consideration. Any language that has blue font indicates these are new changes based upon comments from CSC members. Please submit your completed survey by the end of day, Sunday, May 22, 2022.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the survey, please reach out to the District at AB617@valleyair.org or call 559-230-6000 and ask to speak to someone with the AB 617 program.
 

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* 1. What is your name?

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* 2. What is your membership status on the CSC?

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* 3. Measure 2.e

CAR SHARING PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Overview: The goal of this strategy is to reduce emissions from passenger vehicles by launching an electric car-sharing program in the Arvin/Lamont community. These types of programs offer access to electric vehicles for a defined period at a minimal cost to the user. In addition, these programs may allow a resident to eliminate the use of a gas-powered vehicle providing a benefit to community residents by reducing NOx and VOC emissions that would otherwise occur.

This strategy provides funding for a partnering car share provider to either launch a new program in the Arvin/Lamont community and/or expand on the existing program in the Arvin/Lamont community. Project specifics will be designed with the CSC and can include electric vehicles, related infrastructure, and subsidies to help minimize the initial cost to the end user. The emission reductions associated with this measure would be calculated in coordination with the project partners once the CSC selects a specific project location.

Implementing Agency: Valley Air District, Local Government Agencies, car share operating partners

Type of Measure: Incentives

Budgeted Amount: $250,000

Quantifiable Emission Reductions: Reduce emissions through transitioning to zero-emissions technology.

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* 4. Measure 3.d

PUBLIC FLEET VEHICLES

Overview: To provide increased outreach and access to incentive funding for the replacement of older, higher polluting public fleet vehicles operating within the Arvin/Lamont community with new clean vehicle technology. 

Replacing older public fleet vehicles is important to reduce the public’s exposure to vehicle emissions including NOx and PM2.5. These pollutants negatively affect human health, especially for sensitive populations such as children. These are new clean vehicle technologies, including plug-in hybrid, battery electric and natural gas that are significantly cleaner than conventionally-powered gasoline and diesel vehicles. 

State and Federal requirements control emissions from passenger vehicles. The Valley Air District does not have jurisdiction over these sources. However, due to the large amount of air pollution that originates from passenger vehicles in the Valley, including public fleet vehicles, the District has implemented a suite of programs to reduce pollution from public fleets:
  • The Public Benefit Grants Program- http://valleyair.org/grants/publicbenefit.htm.  The District operates this program. The purpose of this program is to fund the purchase of new electric, plug-in hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles for public agencies to promote clean air alternative-fuel technologies and the use of low-or zero-emission vehicles in public fleets. This program is currently open and accepting applications on a first-come-first-served basis. 
  • Employer Based Trip Reduction (District Rule 9410) requires large employers to implement measures to encourage employees to take alternative transportation to work through the establishment of an Employer Trip Reduction Implementation Plan (eTRIP). 
    • An eTRIP is a set of measures that encourages employees to use alternative transportation and ridesharing for their morning and evening commutes.
    • Each measure contributes to a workplace where it is easier for employees to choose to use ridesharing or alternative transportation.
    • Through this rule, single-occupancy vehicle trips are reduced, thus reducing emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOC) and particulate matter (PM).
The goal of this action is to work closely with public agencies, including City of Arvin and Kern County, to expedite the replacement of up to 20 vehicles through the District’s Public Benefit Grants Program. This includes increased outreach to public agencies operating vehicles within the community as well as prioritized funding for projects in the community. 

Implementing Agencies: Valley Air District, City of Arvin/Lamont, Kern County, and Kern Council of Governments

Type of Measure: Incentives

Budgeted Amount: $400,000

Quantifiable Reductions:  Estimated lifetime emissions reductions associated with this measure includes up to 0.1 tons of PM

 

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* 5. Measure 5.a

REDUCING EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES IN THE COMMUNITY

Overview:  The Arvin/Lamont Community Steering Committee had several community concerns related to pesticide application and exposure reduction, including expanded monitoring, local notification, and mitigation practices such as application buffers within the community.

All pesticide-related emission reduction strategy suggestions submitted by the CSC were shared by the District with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), Kern County, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). DPR, CARB, and OEHHA have committed to implement the following specific measures to reduce community exposure to pesticides in the chart below.

Furthermore, Kern County will engage with CARB, DPR, the District, and the Community Steering Committee regarding expanding exposure mitigation practices in the community and development of a local pesticide notification system when DPR has developed a recommendation for statewide notification.

Implementing Agency: Department of Pesticide Regulation, Kern County, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and California Air Resources Board

Type of Action: Partnership

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* 6. Measure 2.f

PARTNERSHIP TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO INCENTIVES FOR EBIKES

Overview: The goal of this strategy is to encourage adoption for low-income individuals of electric bicycles (e-bikes) as a replacement for motor vehicle trips. The strategy would increase access to clean transportation options while reducing vehicles miles traveled by incentivizing e-bikes for the Arvin/Lamont community. Emission reductions from the utilization clean transportation provides benefits to area residents as well as assist in reducing impact from pollution in the Arvin/Lamont community. 

Through the California Air Resources Board new e-bike voucher program, launching in July 2022, qualified residents would be eligible for an incentive to purchase an e-bike. The strategy will increase outreach and access to the statewide incentive funding towards the purchase on an eligible e-bike for low-income residents. The District will work with CARB and community residents to bring awareness about the e-bike program to the community.

Implementing Agency: California Air Resources Board and Valley Air District

Type of Measure: Outreach

Quantifiable Emission Reductions: Estimated emissions reductions associated with this measure will be calculated with CARB-approved methodology.

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