Section 40950 Of Article 1. General Provisions From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 26. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 11. >> Article 1.
40950
. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a) The Sacramento metropolitan region is a geographical and
meteorological entity not reflected by political boundaries.
(b) The region has serious air pollution problems caused by the
operation of more than 1,000,000 vehicles in the region, numerous
stationary sources of air pollution, and atmospheric and
meteorological conditions which are conducive to the formation of a
variety of air pollutants.
(c) Despite the implementation of improved emission controls on
motor vehicles and stationary sources, rapid population growth and
increases in vehicle miles traveled in the region are likely to
result in worsening air pollution in future years.
(d) The state and federal governments have adopted ambient air
quality standards in order to protect public health, and it is in the
public interest that those standards be attained as expeditiously as
possible.
(e) In order to achieve and maintain air quality standards and
protect public health, a metropolitan air quality improvement
strategy is required to be implemented in order to provide the
maximum achievable reduction in emissions from existing sources and
to provide for the maximum feasible reduction or mitigation of
emissions resulting from population growth, increased vehicle
mileage, and other new sources of emissions.
(f) In order to successfully achieve improvements in air quality
throughout the region, there is a need for greater coordination
between land use and transportation planning decisions and the
achievement of air quality goals.
(g) In order to successfully develop and implement a comprehensive
program for the attainment and maintenance of state and federal
ambient air quality standards in the region, the air quality
management district in the region must be delegated additional
authority and responsibility from the state, particularly with
respect to reducing motor vehicle emissions and expanding the use of
cleaner burning fuels.
(h) In order to successfully implement a coordinated air quality
plan for the region, the responsibilities of local and regional
authorities with respect to the implementation of air pollution
control strategies, clean fuels programs, and motor vehicle use
reduction measures should be fully integrated into an agency with
countywide or regional authority, as determined by representatives of
the affected county and city governments.