“Southern California Air Regulators Crack Down on Polluters with Millions in Fees – A Win for Clean Air Advocates”

Southern California air regulators have taken a significant step towards addressing the region’s air quality issues by voting to impose millions of dollars in fees on the area’s heaviest polluters. This decision marks a reversal of a controversial program that previously shielded major sources from penalties for their emissions.

Southern California has long struggled to meet federal clean air standards, with large polluters required by U.S. law to reduce their emissions by 20%. If these reductions are not achieved, the polluters must pay fees proportional to their emissions, with the intention that the funds will be used for clean air investments in the region.

For years, the South Coast Air Quality Management District utilized an accounting rule enacted in 2011 that allowed polluters to avoid paying fees if the agency allocated an equal amount towards emission reduction initiatives. This loophole resulted in the potential loss of over $200 million in pollution fees that could have been collected from Southern California’s largest polluters over the past decade.

Environmental groups, including Earthjustice, petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to intervene and compel the air district to revise its pollution fee program, arguing that the loophole had removed the incentive for facilities to reduce their emissions. The move to impose pollution fees was welcomed by environmental justice advocates, who see it as a crucial step towards holding polluters accountable for the impact of their emissions on local communities.

At a recent meeting, air district staff emphasized that failure to collect pollution fees as mandated by federal law would result in the U.S. EPA collecting the fees, with the funds going into the federal treasury. The fees will impact approximately 320 facilities, including oil refineries and landfills, but critics have raised concerns about the financial burden it may place on essential operations such as hospitals, wastewater treatment facilities, and power plants.

While some critics argue that the fees may not significantly improve air quality and could harm the economy, supporters believe that the action is long overdue and necessary for ensuring compliance with federal regulations. Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics, expressed relief that the region will finally be aligning with federal law in addressing its air quality challenges.

Overall, the decision to impose pollution fees on Southern California’s heaviest polluters represents a significant step towards addressing the region’s air quality issues and holding polluters accountable for their emissions.