SJ Valley residents - Is there an air pollution issue that concerns you? Let the SJVAPCD know!

This is directed toward residents of the San Joaquin Valley (the Valley), although it also applies to other California residents when their local air pollution control districts have similar meetings open to the public.

Photo Credit: SJVAPCD

Next month, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (the District) will be holding a virtual Permit Stakeholders Meeting on July 22nd at 1:30 PM. 

Now many people think such meetings only apply to businesses that require permits or are directly impacted by rules and regulations or consultants that work for those companies, however, residents of the Valley are considered to be permit stakeholders as well - their health, jobs, and environment are impacted by what the District does or does not do too!

So, if you have an air pollution concern that you don't think is being handled properly, or, if you simply want to learn more about what the District is doing and plans to do, then you need to register for this virtual meeting. It's free and open to the public.

The agenda for the meeting has yet to be made, but, if you have any topics that you would like the District to consider, then please send an email to Marissa Mak of the District at marissa.mak@valleyair.org.

By doing so, you will get the final agenda emailed to you along with a Zoom link a week prior to the meeting if you'd like to attend.

For further information, you may contact Ms. Mak at 661.392.5605 or check out the District's website at www.valleyair.org.

SJVAPCD releases Annual Report to the Community

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has just released its Annual Report to the Community and it is full of encouraging news to residents of the Valley. According to the report, the San Joaquin Valley showed record clean air improvements, marking 2025 as the cleanest year on record for numerous air quality parameters.

Photo Credit: SJVAPCD

For the first time, every air monitoring site in the District recorded PM2.5 readings below the federal 24-hour standard. Additionally, the District had the lowest number of exceedances of the ozone standard on record. 

As a result of the clean air efforts of the District, residents, businesses, public agencies, farmers, and community organizations, clean air improvements have resulted in more "Good" air quality days and a record low of only 5 "Unhealthy" days across all of the District's counties. As a point of reference, it was only ten years ago that the District experienced over 100 "Unhealthy" days and 20 years ago that the number exceeded 100 "Unhealthy" days - a remarkable improvement of the District's air quality.

According to Samir Sheikh, the District's Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO), "These improvements bring the Valley closer than ever to attaining the remaining federal health-based standards and represents real improvements in the air we breathe and tangible health benefits for the communities we serve."

Free printed copies can be ordered by emailing public.education@valleyair.org or calling (559) 230-6000.