| 2009 |
California regulates leakage of potent greenhouse gases from large refrigeration systems that will reduce emissions equivalent to removing about 1.4 million cars from the road per year. |
| |
ARB adopts revised Forest Project Protocol which provides a foundation for measuring greenhouse gas reductions from forestlands. The protocol captures and stores millions of CO2 emissions every year through cost-effective, sustainable forestry practices. |
| |
ARB adopts new limits for air fresheners, paint thinners and multi-purpose solvents. The regulation will reduce the release of volatile organic compounds and prohibit the use of several toxic air contaminants. |
| |
ARB amends a landmark rule to reduce toxic emissions from the state’s estimated 180,000 off-road vehiclessuch as tractors and bulldozers used in construction, mining and other industries. The amendments help business owners comply with the 2007 regulation. |
| |
ARB passes a regulation mandating nearly 2,000 ocean-going shipsthat travel within 24 nautical miles off California's coast to use cleaner burning diesel fuel that reduces the emissions of oxides of sulfur and nitrogen and diesel particulate matter. The regulation aims to help coastal residents breathe cleaner air and reduce pollution in oceans and waterways. |
| |
ARB adopts new standards for car windows that block the sun's heat-producing rays that will help keep cars cooler, increase their fuel efficiency and reduce global warming pollution. |
| |
ARB adopted amendments to the Pavley regulations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in new passenger vehicles from 2009 through 2016. |
| |
ARB adopts the landfill methane control measure that will reduce 1.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the state's landmark fight against global warming. |
| |
ARB adopts the Low Carbon Fuel Standard aimed at diversifying fuels used for transportation which will achieve 16 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020. The regulation is described as the most important early-actions called for under AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act. |
| |
ARB adopts the tire pressure regulation that requires California's automotive maintenance industry to check tire pressure of every vehicle they service. The regulation will annually eliminate 700,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the state's fuel consumption by 75 million gallons and extend the average tire's useful life by 4,700 miles. |
| |
ARB adopts regulations to control, and in some cases phase out, potent chemicals used in the manufacture of computer chips and other industries that contribute to global warming at many times greater than carbon dioxide. |
| |
ARB adopts a regulation on do-it-yourself cans of automobile refrigerant. The regulation includes a deposit and recycling program that will cost an estimated $11 for each ton of greenhouse gases prevented from entering the atmosphere. |
| 2008 |
ARB adopts two critical regulations aimed at cleaning up harmful emissions from the estimated one million heavy-duty diesel trucks. One requires installation of diesel exhaust filters or engine replacement and the other requires installation of fuel efficient tires and aerodynamic devices. |
| |
ARB approves a landmark Scoping Plan, a central requirement of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The plan fights global warming and provides economic stimulus for jobs and a clean energy future. |
| |
ARB adopts new regulations that will reduce toxic gasoline emissions from outboard marine tanks and components by up to 4.2 tons per day by 2020, thus saving consumers about 4.6 gallons of gasoline per year in lost fuel. |
| |
ARB celebrates the launch of the clean trucks program with Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach. Drayage trucks will emit 75 percent less diesel particulate matter and 55,000 - 89,000 fewer tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. |
| |
ARB adopts a regulation requiring the use of lower sulfur content fuel which will eliminate 15 tons of diesel exhaust daily from ocean-going vessels. Both U.S. and foreign-flagged vessels are subject to the regulation which is the most stringent and comprehensive requirement for marine fuel-use in the world. |
| |
State presents Proposition 1B Bond funds in the amount of $5.6 million to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to clean up 80 percent smog forming and particulate matter emissions. Funds are used to retrofit older, dirty diesel fuel trucks with diesel particulate filters or replace engines. |
| |
ARB approves $200 million of the first installment of $1 billion in Proposition 1B funding among California's four trade corridors in a grand move to clean-up the air. Over the life of the program is estimated to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 26,900 tons and particulate matter by 1,800 tons. |
| |
ARB's Carl Moyer Program provides $8.2 million in incentives for cleaner diesel engines via projects that improve air quality in several air districts. |
| |
ARB approves the nation’s first regulation limiting emissions from air canisters which will annually remove the equivalent of 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, smog-forming volatile organic compounds by 2,000 tons and toxic air contaminants by over 70 tons. |
| |
New car label makes it easier to choose clean, efficient transportation. The Environmental Performance Label, on all new vehicles manufactured after Jan. 1, 2009, gives consumers a tool to compare climate change and smog forming emissions |
| |
ARB receives an additional $48 million from AB 118 to comply with regulations aimed at cleaning up diesel emissions from an estimated 420,000 trucks and buses. These funds will help truckers pay for the engine retrofits, replacements, and other fuel efficient equipment. |
| |
ARB adopts new Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) rules. The measure puts up to 65,000 cleaner vehicles on the road by 2012. |
| |
The second E85 station opens to the public in Brentwood, funded in part by a $580,000 grant from ARB. Ethanol is a clean, renewable fuel that is a key component toward cleaner California air. |
| |
ARB offers rebates up to $5,000 to Californians who purchase or lease alternative fuel and electric vehicles. |
| |
ARB celebrates 40 years of clean-air success. |
| 2007 |
ARB
adopted greenhouse gas emissions limits to reflect 1990 levels, per the
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32) -- a roughly 25 percent
reduction by
2020. |
|
Annual
greenhouse gas mandatory reporting requirements are set for the largest
facilities in the state. |
|
Shore
power regulations require operators of certain types of ocean-going
vessels to
shut down their diesel auxiliary engines and hook up to shore power
while
docked at the state’s busiest ports. |
|
Diesel
port trucks that haul goods to and from ports and rail yards throughout
the
state will be required to have fewer emissions. |
|
ARB
adopted an Air Toxics Control Measure (ATCM) to reduce diesel emissions
from commercial ferries,
excursion
vessels, tugs and towboats. |
|
ARB
adopted the nation’s first regulation to prohibit indoor air cleaners
emitting
more than 0.050 ppm of ozone. |
|
ARB
approved the South Coast and
San Joaquin
Valley Air Quality Management Districts’ strategies to improve air
quality in
their regions. |
|
Auto
manufacturers must label vehicles to reflect smog and greenhouse gas
emissions,
helping consumers consider a vehicle’s environmental impact. |
|
Early
action strategies are proposed to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the
trucking
industry, greener ports, cement and semiconductor industries, clean
fuels and
consumer products. |
|
ARB
adopted an ATCM for formaldehyde in composite wood products. |
|
ARB
adopted stricter standards for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The 1-hour average state
standard for NO2
was lowered from 0.25 ppm to 0.18 ppm.
A
new annual average state standard was established for NO2
at 0.030
ppm. |
|
The
phase-out of perchloroethylene from dry cleaning processes will be
completed by
2023. |
| 2006 |
AB 32 signed. The
California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 establishes the
first-in-the-world comprehensive program of regulatory and market
mechanisms to achieve real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions in
greenhouse gases (GHG). It makes the ARB responsible for monitoring and
reducing GHG emissions. |
| |
AB 1811, directed
the ARB to develop a joint plan with the CA Energy Commission to spend
$25 million to provide incentives for the use and production of
alternative fuels. |
| |
California switched
to new ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. |
| |
The ports of Long
Beach and Los Angeles, in cooperation with the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the ARB, and the South Coast
Air Quality Management District (AQMD), developed the most
comprehensive plan in the US seaport history to reduce air pollution
and associated health risks generated from port-related operations. |
| |
ARB implemented the
Lower Emission School Bus Program to reduce children's exposure to both
cancer-causing and smog forming pollution. |
| |
ARB identified
environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or second hand smoke, as a toxic air
contaminant. |
| 2005 |
ARB adopted an air
toxic control measure (ATCM) for on-board cruise ship incineration. |
| |
ARB adopted
regulation limiting "unnecessary idling" of heavy diesel duty trucks
(HDDT). |
| |
ARB adopted
regulation requiring engine manufacturers to install on-board
diagnostic systems on HDDT engines beginning in 2010. Nitrogen
oxide emissions will be reduced by 110 tons/day. |
| |
ARB signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Union Pacific and Burlington
Northern Santa Fe Railroads to significantly reduce diesel emissions in
and around rail yards in CA. |
| |
ARB defined "large"
confined animal facilities. |
| |
ARB approved the
"Air Quality and Land Use Handbook: A Community Health Perspective". |
| |
ARB adopted new
8-hour ozone standard at 0.070 parts per million (ppm). |
| 2004 |
ARB adopted low
sulfur diesel fuel rules for intrastate locomotives and harbor craft. |
| |
ARB adopted the
nation's first "Greenhouse Gas" rule that requires automakers to begin
selling vehicles with reduced greenhouse gas emissions by
model year
2009. |
| |
Community Health
Air
Pollution Information System (CHAPIS) was unveiled. CHAPIS is
a
free web based tool to map various air pollution sources in
CA and
gives an itemized account of the sources' air emissions. |
| |
ARB adopted
Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks
idling controls. The regulation required Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks and
interstate bus
operators to shut their engines down after five minutes of
non-essential idling. The regulation affected more than 400,000 trucks
and buses registered in CA and all out-of-state trucks and buses
operating in CA. |
| 2003 |
ARB adopted a
regulation banning of all outdoor residential waste burning. The
regulation went into effect January 1, 2004. |
| |
ARB adopted new
diesel fuel standards. The rule required greater than 95% reduction in
the amount of sulfur in diesel fuel. |
| 2002 |
ARB adopted an ATCM
to reduce pollution from school bus idling. |
| |
ARB adopted new
particulate matter standards. The new annual-average standard for PM10
is 20 ug/m³ and for PM 2.5 is 12 ug/m³. The 24-hour standard of 50
ug/m³ for PM 10 is retained as well as the 24-hour average standard for
sulfates at 25 ug/m³. |
| 2001 |
Zero-emission
vehicle mandate was upheld, with modified requirements. Automakers were
required to produce between 4,450 and 15,450 zero-emission cars
starting in 2003. |
| |
ARB joined a new
private/public fuel cell collaborative seeking to reduce demand on
California's electrical grid by encouraging commercialization of
stationary fuel cells. |
| |
ARB adopted new
rules that limit public exposure to asbestos-laden dust from
construction and quarry sites. These measures will better protect
Californians from the potential threat of cancer, asbestosis, and
mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. |
| |
New standards were
passed to reduce diesel soot and smog forming emissions by 90% from new
large diesel engines. The new standards take effect with the 2007 model
year and affect engines that power big rig trucks, trash trucks,
delivery vans, and other large vehicles. |
| |
The ARB adopted new
Environmental Justice Policies to ensure that residents of low-income
and minority communities receive equal consideration under all ARB
regulations and programs. |
| 2000 |
California's
population grows to 34 million with 23.4 million registered vehicles in
the state. Annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reaches 280 billion
miles. Cumulative California vehicle emissions for nitrogen oxides and
hydrocarbons are about 1.2 million tons per year. This is 200,000
tons/year less than 1990 despite an increase in VMT of 40 billion miles
per year. |
| |
The South Coast Air
Quality Management District's maximum one-hour ozone concentration
recorded is 0.18 parts per million. The area has no Stage 1 Smog Alerts
(0.20 ppm ozone) this year, down from 42 Alerts in 1990. |
| |
Six communities are
chosen for Children's Environmental Health Protection Program.
Community studies in Boyle Heights, Wilmington (Los Angeles), Fruitvale
(Oakland), Barrio Logan (San Diego), Crockett (Contra Costa County) and
Fresno aim to improve our understanding of the impact of air pollution
on children's health and development. |
| |
A long-term
children's health study funded by the ARB revealed that exposure to
high air pollution levels can slow down the lung function growth rate
of children by up to 10 percent. |
| |
ARB approved a
comprehensive plan to reduce harmful particulate matter emissions from
diesel powered equipment. |
| |
The Board voted
unanimously to keep the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate in place. |
| |
ARB amended the
state's agricultural burning guidelines to reduce the public health
impact of smoke from controlled burns. |
| |
ARB adopted
regulations to further reduce air pollution from transit buses
operating in CA. |
| 1999 |
The California Fuel
Cell Partnership, a public-private venture to demonstrate fuel cell
vehicles in CA, formally began. The Partnership includes auto
manufactures, energy providers, fuel cell manufacturers and the State
of California. |
| |
ARB adopted a new
regulation that reduces by over 70% the smog-forming emissions from
portable gas cans. |
| |
ARB adopted consumer
products rules cut smog-forming emissions and volatile organic
compounds from an estimated 2,500 common household products ranging
from nail polish remover to glass cleaners. |
| |
ARB approved a new
set of gasoline rules that will bad the additive MTBE while preserving
all the air-quality benefits obtained from the state's cleaner-burning
gasoline program. |
| 1998 |
ARB identified
diesel particulate emissions as a toxic air contaminant. |
| |
ARB amended off-road
engine regulations for lawn mowers, weed trimmers and other small
engine power tools. |
| |
ARB adopted LEVII
emission standards for most mini vans, pickup trucks and sport utility
vehicles up to 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight to reduce emissions to
passenger car levels by 2007. |
| |
Marine engine
regulations were adopted to greatly reduce smog-forming emissions and
water pollution from outboard engines and personal watercraft. |
| 1996 |
The SCAQMD's maximum
one-hour ozone concentration recorded is 0.24 pm, 59% improvement from
1965. The area exceeded Stage 1 Smog Alerts (0.20 ppm ozone) on 7 days
this year. This is an improvement of 111 days or a 94% reduction as
compared to 1975. |
| |
Big seven automakers
commit to manufacture and sell Zero Emission Vehicles. |
| |
CA's Phase II
Cleaner Burning Gasoline (CBG) came to market. CBG reduces
lung-damaging ozone and ozone precursors by 300 tons/day, as well as
reducing airborne toxic chemicals like benzene that can cause cancer.
This is equivalent to taking 3.5 million cars off the road. |
| |
CA's State
Implementation Plan for ozone was approved by USEPA on September 26,
1996. |
| 1995 |
Total registered
vehicles reached 26 million and vehicle miles traveled is 271 billion.
Cumulative California auto emissions for NOx and HC are about 1.1
million tons/year, a 31% reduction compared to 1970 levels, despite a
137% increase in vehicle miles traveled from 1970 levels. Statewide
averaged for NOx and HC emissions per vehicle reduced respectively by
58% and 80% from 1970 levels. |
| 1994 |
US Court ordered
USEPA to develop Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for numerous
non-attainment areas in CA. |
| |
CA "SIPs the FIP"
with submittal a more cost effective State Implementation Plan to USEPA. |
| |
Smog Check II signed
into law following lengthy negotiations with the USEPA, designed to
meet the requirements of the Federal Clean Air Act as amended in 1990.
This program targeted vehicles which pollute at least 2 to 25 times
more than the average vehicle and requires repairs and retesting of
offending vehicles. |
| 1993 |
ARB enacted new
standards for cleaner diesel fuel, resulting in a reduction of diesel
particulate emissions by approximately 14 tons/day, 80 tons/day less
SOx and 70 tons/day NOx emissions. Diesel busses and trucks are a major
source of NOx emissions. |
| |
CA fuel came to
market. |
| |
SCAQMD adopted its
Regional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM) program for NOx and SOx. |
| 1992 |
Phase I CA cleaning
burning gasoline came to market. The result was 220 tons less of
reactive organic gases (ROG) released every day (6 percent reduction),
and elimination of the use of lead in gasoline. ARB required the
addition of oxygenates in gasoline to cut carbon monoxide emissions by
10%. |
| 1990 |
CA's population
reached 30 million people. Total registered vehicles reached 23 million
and vehicle miles traveled is 242 billion. Cumulative California
vehicle emissions for NOx and HC are about 1.4 million tons/year. This
is 200,000 tons/year less than in 1980 despite a rise of 87 billion in
VMT. |
| |
The SCAQMD's maximum
one-hour ozone concentration recorded is 0.33 ppm. The area exceeded
Stage 1 Smog Alerts (0.20 ppm ozone) on 42 days this year, an
improvement of 41 days since 1985. |
| |
ARB approved
standards for cleaner burning gasoline and low and zero emission
vehicles. |
| |
The CAA Amendments
of 1990 were signed into law by President George W. Bush. They relied
largely on elements of the CCAA, and required a number of new programs
aimed at curbing urban ozone, rural acid rain, stratospheric ozone,
toxic air pollutant emissions and vehicle emissions, and establishes a
new, uniform national permit system. |
| 1988 |
CCAA was
signed by Governor Deukmejian. The Act set forth the framework for how
air quality will be managed in California for the next 20 years. |
| |
ARB
adopted regulations effective on 1994 model cars requiring they be
equipped with on-board computer systems to monitor emission performance
and alert owners when there is a problem. |
| 1985 |
The SCQMD's maximum
one-hour ozone concentration recorded is 0.39 ppm. The area exceeded
Stage 1 Smog Alerts (0.20 ppm ozone) on 83 days this year, an
improvement of 19 days since 1980. |
| 1984 |
CA Smog
Check Program went into effect identifying vehicles in need of
maintenance and to assure the effectiveness of their emission control
systems on a biennial basis |
| 1980 |
CA's population
reached 24 million people. Total registered vehicles surpassed 17
million and vehicle miles traveled is 155 billion. Cumulative CA
vehicle emissions for NOx and HC remain at 1970 levels of 1.6 million
tons/year despite a rise of 45 billion in VMT over these 10 years. |
| 1977 |
Federal Clean Air
Act Amendments of 1977 were enacted. Required the review of all
National Ambient Air Quality Standards by 1980. |
| 1976 |
The South Coast Air
Quality Management District was formed. It included portions of Los
Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. |
| |
The Toxic Substances
Control Act was established by Congress in response to an increasing
awareness of toxic substances used by industry. |
| |
ARB limited lead in
gasoline. |
| |
Volvo introduced
1977 year car billed as "Smog-Free". Featured the first three-way
catalytic converter to control HC, NOx, and CO emissions. |
| 1975 |
The SCAQMD's maximum
one-hour ozone concentration recorded was 0.39 ppm. The area exceeded
Stage 1 smog alerts (0.20 ppm) on 118 days. |
| |
The first two-way
catalytic converters came into use as part of the ARB's Motor Vehicle
Emission Control Program. |
| |
The California Air
Pollution Control Officers Association was created. |
| |
USEPA Working Group
established to develop strategies for State Implementation Plan
activities. |
| 1973 |
OPEC oil embargo
resulted in rising fuel cost, the use of smaller, more efficient
automobiles, and more cost conservative use of fuel by industry and
corresponding lower air emissions. |
| 1972 |
CA submitted its
State Implementation Plan to USEPA. It was rejected. |
| 1971 |
ARB adopted the
first automobile NOx standards in the nation. |
| |
USEPA promulgated
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulates,
photochemical oxidants (including ozone), hydrocarbons, carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. |
| |
ARB adopted
guidelines to control agricultural burning. |
| 1970 |
CA's population
reached 20 million people. Total registered vehicles exceeded 12
million and vMT was 110 billion. Cumulative CA vehicle emissions for
NOx and HCs were 1.6 million tons/year. |
| |
The SCAQMD's maximum
one-hour ozone concentration recorded was 0.58 ppm, nearly five times
greater than the health-based national standard of <0.12 ppm
that would be adopted in 1971. |
| |
Backyard burning was
banned in selected areas of California. |
| |
National
Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) was signed. |
| |
USEPA was created to
protect all aspects of the environment. |
| |
The first Earth Day
was held on April 22, 1970. |
| |
Federal New Source
Performance Standards for opacity were published. |
| |
Federal Clean Air
Act Amendments of 1970 were enacted. They served as the principal
source of statutory authority for controlling air pollution.
Established the basic US program for controlling air pollution. |
| 1969 |
Air Quality
Standards were set by the new ARB for total suspended particulates,
photochemical oxidants, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon
monoxide. |
| 1968 |
Dr. Arie J.
Haagen-Smit was appointed Chairman of the Air Resources Board by
Governor Ronald Reagan. First meeting of the State Board was held in
Sacramento on February 8, 1968. |
| |
Santa Cruz and
Monterey counties combined to form the Monterey County Unified Air
Pollution Control District. |
| 1967 |
The California Air
Resources Board was created from the merging of the California Motor
Vehicle Pollution Control Board and the Bureau of Air Sanitation and
its Laboratory. The Mulford-Carrell Air Resources Act was signed into
law by Governor Ronald Reagan. |
| |
Federal Air Quality
Act of 1967 was enacted. It established a framework for defining "air
quality control regions" based on meteorological and topographical
factors of air pollution. It allowed the State of California a waiver
to set and enforce its own emissions standards for new vehicles based
on California's unique need for more stringent controls. |
| 1966 |
Auto tailpipe
emission standards for HC and CO were adopted by the California Motor
Vehicle Pollution Control Board. First of their kind in the nation. |
| 1965 |
Reliable
measurements of ozone concentrations began to be recorded. The maximum
one-hour ozone concentration for the year in the South Coast Air Basin
was 0.58 ppm. |
| |
Federal Clean Air
Act of 1963 was amended by the Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act
of 1965. Direct regulation of air pollution by the federal government
is provided for, and the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
was directed to establish auto emission standards. |
| 1964 |
Chrysler exhaust
control system was approved by the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control
Board. Four other independent companies also received approvals. |
| 1963 |
Positive Crankscase
Ventilation requirement of 1961 went into effect on domestic passenger
vehicles for sale in California. |
| |
First Federal Clean
Air Act of 1963 was enacted. Empowered the Secretary of the federal
Health, Education, and Welfare to define air quality criteria based on
scientific studies. Provided grants to state and local air pollution
control districts. |
| 1962 |
Rachel Carson's
"Silent Spring" was published. It brought to the public's attention of
the disruptive impact humans have upon the earth's fragile ecosystems. |
| 1961 |
The first automotive
emissions control technology in the nation, Positive Crankcase
Ventilation, was mandated by the California Motor Vehicle State Bureau
of Air Sanitation to control hydrocarbon crankcase emissions. Positive
Crankcase Ventilation withdraws blow-by gases from the crankcase and
returns them with the fresh air and fuel mixture in the cylinders. |
| 1960 |
CA's population
reached 16 million people. Total registered vehicles approached 8
million and VMT was 71 billion. |
| |
The Motor Vehicle
Pollution Control Board was established. Primary function was to test
and certify devices for installation on cars for sale in California. |
| |
Federal Motor
Vehicle Act of 1960 was enacted. Required federal research to address
air pollution from motor vehicles. |
| 1959 |
CA enacted
legislation requiring the state Department of Public Health establish
air quality standards and necessary controls for motor vehicle
emissions. The first statewide air quality standards were set by the
Department of Public Health for total suspended particulates,
photochemical oxidants, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon
monoxide. |
| 1956 |
"Killer Fog"
enveloped London, England resulting in 1,000 deaths above normal. |
| |
Interstate Highway
Act of 1956 passed, paving the way for increased highway construction. |
| 1955 |
Federal Air
Pollution Control Act of 1955 was enacted, providing for research and
technical assistance and authorizing the Secretary of Health, Education
and Welfare to work towards a better understanding of the causes and
effects of air pollution. |
| |
The Bay Area Air
Pollution Control District was established. It included the counties of
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa
Clara, and portions of Solano and Sonoma counties. |
| |
Los Angeles County
Motor Vehicle Pollution Control laboratory began within the Los Angeles
APCD. |
| |
The Bureau of Air
Sanitation was formed within the State Department of Public Health. |
| 1953 |
Los Angeles County
started "Smoke School Program" for black smoke, beginning the
standardization of "Visible Emission Programs" nationwide. |
| 1952 |
Over 4,000 deaths
attributed to "Killer Fog" in London, England. |
| |
Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit
discovered the nature and causes of photochemical smog. He determines
that nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in the presence of ultraviolet
radiation from the sun forms smog (a key component of which is ozone). |
| 1950 |
CA's population
reached 11 million people. Total registered vehicles in California
exceeded 4.5 million and VMT was 44.5 billion. |
| |
More than 100
electric transit systems were replaced with buses in 45 US cities
including Los Angeles. |
| |
CA's Rule 50A
passed, limiting smoke based upon the Ringelmann System. |
| 1948 |
Donora, Pennsylvania
air pollution episode kills 20 people, numerous animals and half of the
town's 12,000 residents became ill due to uncontrolled emissions from
industrial facilities. |
| 1947 |
June 10, 1947,
California Governor Earl Warren signs into law the Air Pollution
Control Act, authorizing the creation of an Air Pollution
Control District in every county of the state. |
| |
The Los Angeles
County Air Pollution Control District was established. It was the first
of its kind in the nation. |
| |
CA officially
adopted the Ringelmann System, which measured the opacity of smoke
rising from stacks and other sources. |
| 1946 |
Raymond R.Tucker
studies the Los Angeles area's smog problem and recommends that
county-wide collaboration is needed. |
| 1945 |
World War II Ended
-- Urban sprawl began to take root in much of the U.S. |
| |
The City of Los
Angeles began its air pollution control program, establishing the
Bureau of Smoke Control in its health department. |
| 1943 |
First recognized
episodes of smog occur in Los Angeles in the summer of 1943. Visibility
is only three blocks and people suffer from smarting
eyes, respiratory discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. The phenomenon is
termed a "gas attack" and blamed on a nearby
butadiene plant. The situation does not improve when the plant is shut
down. See video clip. |
| 1940 |
CA's population
reached 7 million people. Number of registered vehicles in California
approached 2.8 million and the total VMT was 24 billion. |
| 1939 |
| World War II Begins
-- Explosion of California's population soon to occur to meet the needs
of the war. |
|
| 1938 |
Sulfur Dioxide and
Dust Fall Air Sampling stations are set up in the United States (U.S.)
under the Federal Works Progress Administration. |
| 1930 |
CA's population was
less than 6 million people. Total registered vehicles reached 2 million. |
| |
Meuse Valley,
Belgium air inversion results in 60 dead and thousands sick from
exposure to industrial air emissions. |
