SACRAMENTO, CA - The State Assembly approved legislation by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) to add two additional members to the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Assembly Bill (AB) 146 passed the Assembly 50-25 and moves to the State Senate for further review.

"The Sacramento region is the largest major metropolitan area in the state without designated representation on CARB. AB 146 will allow our region to have a voice in critical future decision-making to improve our local air quality," said Dickinson.

"The residents of the Sacramento region know that we have a very serious air pollution problem. They deserve representation at the ARB where so many critical decisions are made," said Larry Greene, Air Pollution Control Officer for the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District.

In order to meet stricter state and federal air quality standards, urban areas such as Sacramento have relied increasingly on statewide efforts undertaken in consultation with multiple state agencies, such as ARB, Caltrans, and the California Energy Commission. The region’s 2+million residents will benefit from having a seat at the ARB table as these collaborative efforts take shape at the state level.

Air districts play a vital role in ensuring that proposed ARB regulations can be sensibly implemented by local communities and businesses. The Sacramento region has been an innovative leader in fostering collaborative solutions on air quality challenges ranging from diesel particulate pollution to wood smoke to community education.

AB 146 is sponsored by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and is supported by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), The Cleaner Air Partnership, American Lung Association and Breathe California.

Further information about AB 146 is available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.

Contact: Kayte Fisher (916) 319-2009