Rep. Takano Urges EPA to Hold Warehouse Polluters in the Inland Empire Accountable
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Yesterday, Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) led a public comment letter along with Inland Empire Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-CA) and Pete Aguilar (D-CA) to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize a proposed approval which would allow the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) Program to be federally enforceable.
South Coast AQMD’s WAIRE Program requires warehouses in Southern California to offset their emissions through reduction measures, including through the purchase and use of zero-emission vehicles, installation and use of vehicle charging stations, installation and use of onsite solar panels, and more. The WAIRE Program would significantly improve the air quality in communities throughout the Inland Empire -- especially for those living in areas adjacent to warehouses and distribution centers.
Congressman Takano rang the alarm on air quality earlier this year following the publication of his State of Air Quality in California’s 39th Congressional District.
South Coast AQMD has already found over 1,400 warehousesin Southern California in violation of WAIRE Program regulations. If the proposed approval is finalized, the WAIRE Program would be included in California’s State Implementation Plan under the federal Clean Air Act, allowing Inland Empire residents affected by warehouse emissions to file federal lawsuits to enforce the rule.
The members wrote, “SCAQMD’s WAIRE Program is a major step towards addressing one of the largest sources of emissions in Southern California. As the Congressional members whose districts are affected by warehouse-related air pollution, we respectfully urge EPA to consider the health and quality of life of the vulnerable communities within the Southern California Air Basin.”
Read the full letter here.