October 25, 2000
Chairman William Burke and other AQMD officials were on hand to honor
the individuals, companies, and communities who have contributed the most to
cleaner air during the past year.
As smog season draws to a close, the greater four-county Los Angeles
metropolitan area has exceeded the federal health standard for ozone on 40 days,
compared to 41 days in all of 1999 and 62 days in 1998. The number of days is
down nearly 40% from 1998.
"We’re making great progress toward healthier air," said South
Coast Air Quality Management District Chairman William A. Burke, "thanks to
the countless contributions of businesses, communities, and individuals
throughout Southern California. Our progress is based on a great consensus that
each of us must do what it takes to achieve cleaner air."
The winners of the 12th Annual Clean Air Awards arrived in a
school bus retrofitted with a filter that virtually eliminates diesel soot. They
were announced at a news conference in Pershing Square surrounded by a display
of "air-friendly" technologies including clean air vehicles, electric
lawn and gardening equipment, solar roof shingles, electric bikes, and an array
of clean consumer products. Students from a local school environmental club and
exhibits representing the award winners were on hand.
AQMD honored the winners at its annual Clean Air Awards luncheon at the Regal
Biltmore Hotel across the street in downtown Los Angeles. More than 300 people
gathered to celebrate the winners’ achievements.
"Air friendly" innovators were awarded in several categories as
follows:
Advancement of Air Pollution Technology
Bristol Park Industries of Culver City, Calif., for manufacturing an
energy saving device registered as the Wattman® Lighting Voltage Controller.
The device reduces energy consumption from streetlights, stadiums, warehouses,
parking lots, service stations, and manufacturing facilities.
Honda R&D of Torrance, Calif., for introducing the 2000 Honda Accord
EX sedan, the first gasoline-powered super ultra low emissions vehicle in the
world, well ahead of the 2004 California low-emission standards. The super ultra
low emissions standard calls for an 86% reduction in hydrocarbon emissions
compared to the California low emission vehicle standard and a 90% reduction in
nitrogen oxides, the two key ingredients of the region’s air pollution.
Deluxe Laboratories, a major film laboratory in Hollywood, Calif., for
eliminating the use of perchloroethylene, a toxic chemical that may cause
cancer. The company is doing this by designing and building machines that do not
use perchloroethylene or any other toxic chemical for film cleaning and printing
processes, reducing total toxic emissions by 90%.
Public Education on Air Quality Issues
Dr. Darlene K. Stoner, a resident of Pomona and professor at California
State University, San Bernardino, for dedicating some 30 years to environmental
education. Stoner has promoted environmental education curricula as developer of
the master’s degree program in environmental education at Cal State San
Bernardino, as founding director of the Network for Environmental Science
Teaching, and as a member of the Think Earth Environmental Education Program
board. She also has transformed the annual Inland Empire Environmental Expo from
a small community festival into the largest event of its kind in the region.
Model Community Achievements
The City of Santa Monica, Calif., for developing a Sustainable City
Program involving many air quality improvements in its resource conservation,
transportation, pollution prevention, public health protection, and community
and economic development programs. Key to its efforts has been to promote the
use of alternative forms of transportation, including walking, bicycling, public
transit, and ridesharing.
The City of Calabasas, Calif., for creating a public/private partnership
to develop and implement a comprehensive alternative-vehicle fueling
infrastructure for public and private use. In addition, the city has acquired
new compressed natural gas vehicles for its fleet and transit programs.
Promotion of Good Environmental Stewardship
Joe Whang, owner of Cypress Plaza Cleaners, Orange County’s only wet
cleaner, located in Cypress, Calif. Whang took it upon himself to examine
less-polluting options to traditional dry cleaning for clothes and settled on
wet cleaning, which cleans garmets using water and special detergents in a
carefully controlled process, instead of toxic perchloroethylene.
Honorable Mentions
Radtech International, a Bethesda, Md., trade association promoting the
use of ultraviolet/electron beam industrial materials, which eliminate
smog-forming compounds;
Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, Calif., for achieving
throughout its ridesharing program an average vehicle ridership of 1.65
employees per car arriving to work;
UCLA Transportation Services in Los Angeles for a fleet of
on-campus buses and shuttle vans that runs entirely on compressed natural gas;
City of West Covina, Calif., for adding electric vehicle charging
stations in various locations, such as government buildings, parking structures,
and shopping centers; and
Martin Ledwitz, environmental spokesman for Southern California Edison in
Rosemead, Calif., for his work in environmental teaching at UCLA and help in
expanding the Air and Waste Management Association, a professional group,
abroad.
AQMD Chairman William Burke also saluted the General Motors Corp. for making
the first contribution to AQMD’s Adopt-A-School-Bus program in the sum of
$250,000. Money contributed to the program will be used to reduce cancer-causing
diesel emissions from Southland school buses.
"No doubt, this year’s winners represent the best and brightest in the
effort to achieve cleaner air," said Burke. "Yet we recognize that for
every winner there have been literally thousands of efforts by businesses,
public agencies, community organizations, public interest groups, clubs, and
individuals."
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