Sacramento Now Sixth Smoggiest Region, But Improvement Is in the Air

American Lung Association Report Contains Some Good News: We're on Our Way to Federal Attainment

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 1 -- Although the Sacramento region climbed to No. 6 on the list of the most ozone-polluted U.S. metropolitan areas, there is a clearer picture: We're on our way to attaining the cleaner air levels mandated by the federal government, the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails announced today as it kicked off Clean Air Month.

That progress is literally where the rubber meets the road, because if the 2005 deadline isn't met, Washington, D.C. will cut transportation funding for the region in a move that will affect anyone who drives throughout the greater Sacramento area.

Besides the ranking as sixth worst in the nation for air quality, up from 10th last year and 12th in 2001, the "State of the Air 2003" report gave the Sacramento-Yolo metropolitan area -- which includes Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and El Dorado counties -- a grade of "F" for the fourth straight year.

However, Sacramento County's scores have improved, from 29.8 last year to 26.5 this year. The scores are calculated based on the number of days air quality in the region fails to meet federal standards during a two-year period.

"Our ranking in this year's report isn't a very good indication of the improvements we have made," said Lisa Pereira, president of the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails Board of Directors. "If area residents can continue to help in our fight against smog, we will reach the federal goal."

The fact that Sacramento received a higher ranking even though its air quality improved can be attributed to several factors, including climate. The summers used for the testing were milder for other smoggy regions than in Sacramento. During hot temperatures, smog is usually worse.

If the Sacramento region doesn't meet the federal deadline, it stands to lose $680 million in funding from the U.S. government, according to the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, or SACOG. The newest air quality measurements show the effort is yielding results.

When it comes to the "F" grade, the Sacramento region has plenty of company. Four of the top five smoggiest metropolitan areas are in California, with Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County leading the list, followed by Fresno, Bakersfield, Visalia-Tulare-Porterville and the Texas region of Houston-Galveston-Brazoria. The Merced region is No. 7.

The scientific measurements used for the State of the Air report were collected between 1999 and 2001, but are the latest available because of the time it takes to analyze them. For more information or to view the report in its entirety visit the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails on the Web at www.saclung.org.

The May 1 report marks the beginning of the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trail's Clean Air Month. On May 12, at the Clean Air Awards Luncheon, the Sacramento-based organization will honor four groups or individuals who have made a difference in the region's air quality. The work of these groups has made Sacramento a better place to breathe by addressing land-use issues in our region, working to make the region more accessible to walkers, promoting transit-friendly communities, and working toward communities with small and large green open spaces.

One of the awards to be given out at this year's luncheon honors the promising news made earlier this year when a group of government and clean-air officials got legislation passed that extends tougher Smog Check II requirements to cover the San Francisco Bay Area.

"Smog Check II in the Bay Area has the potential to have a significant impact on our air quality because Bay Area motorists will be driving cleaner cars through our region, and because air pollution from the Bay Area can degrade the air quality in Sacramento," said Jude Lamare, manager of the Cleaner Air Partnership in Sacramento.

  Other Clean Air Award winners are:
  -- Anne Geraghty and WALK Sacramento, which won the Clean Air Citizen
     Group/Individual Award for their work in making walking a key strategy
     in this region's transportation plan;
  -- The California Fuel Cell Partnership, which won the Clean Air Business
     Award for all of the work they have done to help make zero and
     near-zero emission vehicles a reality for our very near future.
  -- Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), which won the Clean Air
     Government Award for achieving 9.8 tons of NOx reduction and for
     implementing programs that are expected to reduce NOx emissions by 40
     tons per year.

The American Lung Association and affiliates such as Sacramento-Emigrant Trails have been fighting lung disease for nearly 100 years. We provide educational programs, community service, advocacy and research. Christmas Seals and other voluntary contributions support the American Lung Association's activities. For more information, visit our Web site: www.saclung.org.