The already complicated process for developing a dust-control strategy for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreational Area has hit another snag.
On Dec. 3, the San Luis Obispo County Planning Department approved a minor-use permit for the state’s two-year plan to install five 30-foot air monitoring towers, which would be used to measure wind patterns around Oceano and Nipomo.
But in mid-December, a number of Nipomo Mesa residents—after urging the county air quality board to make their health concerns the highest priority
—appealed the decision to let the state conduct the supplementary study.
Now the project is on hold until the application goes to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors for further review, possibly in March, said county planner Paul Sittig. He added that there’s also a possibility the county decision could be appealed to the California Coastal Commission.
“Since there are so many parties of interest in this issue, there’s a distinct possibility it could reach the commission,” Sittig said.
Nipomo Mesa residents claim particulate matter kicked up by off-road vehicles at the Oceano Dunes is causing them health problems such as asthma and chronic sinus and bronchial infections.
In February 2010, the Air Pollution Control District released a study naming off-highway vehicles on the dunes as the primary culprit behind poor air quality downwind at the Nipomo Mesa. During high winds, air quality there exceeds state standards for particulate matter (fine dust) in the air, which poses health risks.
In March 2010, county health commissioners recommended the board of supervisors take “any and all actions that it has available” to stabilize the dunes and inform residents in communities downwind of the park of those potential health risks.
In response, the county created two committees—one technical and one an oversight group—consisting of representatives from the county, the Air Pollution Control District, and State Parks, to design dust control projects at the dunes.
Appellants of the county’s decision approving the State Parks wind monitoring study allege the state’s project is an attempt to undermine the county’s existing study. They also claim taxpayer costs are unclear, wind-monitoring stations are visually intrusive, the project’s goals aren’t specific, and the wording of the project leaves the door open to similar future projects.
Calls to State Parks for comment weren’t returned as of press time.
The project would erect two wind-monitoring stations within the dunes recreation area, two south of Oso Flaco Creek, and one at the Cal Fire station next to the ConocoPhillips refinery.
This article appears in Dec 30, 2010 – Jan 6, 2011.
