Lake County >> The American Lung Association (ALA) named Lake County the Cleanest County in the Nation for the third year in a row in its annual State of the Air 2015 Report, released on Wednesday.
State and local area air quality are graded on an A through F scale by comparing local ozone and small-particulate concentrations with the federal air quality standards. Although many areas, especially within California, were given failing grades, Lake County passed with flying colors.
Lake County received a “B” grade for ozone, an “A” grade for short term particulate pollution and is ranked the Cleanest County in the Nation for annual particulate average concentrations for an unprecedented third consecutive year. Out of California’s 58 counties, Lake County is one of only eight counties in that did not record any days of particulate matter exceeding the mark from 2011 through 2013. This impressive record has been documented by continuous air quality monitoring, which showed that fine particulate in the air never exceeded allowable levels during that time.
The report presents data showing what the residents of Lake County actually are breathing on a daily basis. It does not exclude wildfire impacts or other natural events that may be removed when determining the county’s attainment status. Despite the Wye, Walker, and Scotts fires, the residents of Lake County overall still enjoy the cleanest air in the nation.
The ALA grades are the latest recognition of a long history of air quality accomplishments in Lake County. Strong local support for clean air measures has enabled the county to comply in full with not only the federal clean air standards, but also with the more rigorous California standards for ozone and other air pollutants for the past 24 consecutive years. No other air district in California can match that record.
Douglas Gearhart, air pollution control officer of the Lake County Air Quality Management District (LCAQMD), attributes the success of the program to strong community support, cooperation of local agencies, fire protection districts, CAL FIRE, the agricultural community, industry, the district Board of Superivsors, and to the dedication and hard work of LCAQMD staff.
“It is great to have our local community’s efforts nationally recognized,” he noted. “To be ranked number one for three consecutive years is unprecedented, and something our community should be proud of and enjoy.”
