News

This page features excerpts from news about environmental justice advocacy in the San Joaquin Valley and links to their original sources. Use the features on the right to sort by topic, news source, date, key word or author. You may also subscribe to receive the news by e-mail or through an rss reader. Please note that links to original sources may expire over time.

CVAQ Radio Program: Clearing the Air, August 2015

California Approves Nitrate Removal Technology for Drinking Water Treatment

The State Water Resources Control Board of California conditionally approved nitrate removal technology from Microvi Biotechnologies, according to a press release.

The technology went through months of testing before receiving the acceptance, noted the release. The conditional approval was given by the board’s Division of Drinking Water.

“We’re excited that the state of California, with its incredibly high standards, has conditionally approved our technology to treat drinking water…

In California, People of Color Are Hit Hardest By Environmental Hazards

The people of the San Joaquin Valley are feeling some of the worst health effects of California’s drought. The lack of moisture has exacerbated existing air-quality problems in the state’s agricultural heartland, affecting those suffering from asthma—which could be up to nearly a quarter of the population. Nitrate levels from agricultural runoff are creeping up in the groundwater supplies of many communities, leaving what little water is left undrinkable…

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Push to change Clean Air Act Air Pollution Control District wants revision

The federal Clean Air Act could spell “economic devastation” for the San Joaquin Valley unless a series of changes are made, air quality regulators say…

Online screening tool reveals racial disparities in environmental health hazards

An online tool used to help identify which California communities are hit hardest by environmental hazards reveals significant disparities by race, according to an analysis by researchers at UC Berkeley and the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Study shows racial disparities in environmental health hazards

An online tool used to help identify which California communities are hit hardest by environmental hazards reveals significant disparities by race, according to an analysis by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)…

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Cumulative Environmental Health Impacts in California: Evidence From a Statewide Environmental Justice Screening Tool

Communities of color in the United States often reside in neighborhoods with worse air quality, more environmental hazards, and fewer health-promoting environmental amenities such as parks. This unequal distribution of exposures may contribute to racial/ethnic health disparities in environmentally sensitive diseases such as cancer and asthma. Research has shown that communities of color in California experience higher cancer risk from toxic air contaminants and higher average levels of nitrate contamination in their drinking water6 and that they live closer to hazardous waste sites and traffic…

Garbage Going Greener

Manteca is going to spend money to save money.
Faced with draconian state requirements regarding burying less garbage as well as tighter air quality standards for the Northern San Joaquin Valley, Manteca is getting ready to deploy a cutting edge solid waste collection and disposal strategy…

Implications of, and CARB’s Response to, the 2015 California Climate Change Legislative Session

Immediately after Governor Brown’s State of the State address, where he announced big climate change goals, 2015 shaped up to be bigger than 2006 when the granddaddy of all climate bills, AB 32, was passed and signed, and subsequently altered the course for a major world economy…

Speaker Atkins’ Bill to Increase Diversity on ARB Passes Legislature

Legislation by Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins to ensure diversity on the state Air Resources Board passed the Legislature and is pending the Governor’s approval…