Criminal Justice: Clean Air Act, Thesis

More than 90% of California's population which is estimated to be 33 million residing in areas having bad air quality? The CARB in concert with the local air pollution control districts are in the process of regulating fresh and existing sources of pollution with the aim to control emissions. The Enforcement Division -- ED of the Board has included more and more serious responsibilities in every area of the State inspecting heavy duty vehicles, smoke emissions. Besides, it prevents school buses running on diesel from idling for too long a period very close to the tender lungs of children.

The CARB Enforcement Program during 1997 speaks of its illustrious achievement. These are (i) Closure of citations in 3442 cases (ii) Total penalties collected is $29,850,475 (iii) 3253 cases of mobile source / citations closed for more than $8.7M. (iv) 50 diesel fleet cases terminated for more than $3.1M. (v) 12 prohibited motorcycle and off-highway leisure vehicle cases terminated for more than $3.7M. (vi) Inspections conducted in commercial vehicles and school bus idling with violations detections of more than 350 for more than $97,000. Making remarks of the biggest cases of 2007, the Chairman of ARB, Mary Nichols declared that the added impacts of a lot of small, spread over violations in air quality is certain to compromise air quality as much as massive and more visible infringements. In order to discharge the responsibilities, ARB has since implemented a comprehensive program of planning, regulation development and enforcement which is an intricate procedure which entwine air quality research, assessment and modeling; the formulation and espousing acts by means of a system which permits for public input. (Air Resources Board: 2007 Annual Enforcement Report)

The program is implemented through regular outreach to regulators and industries that are regulated by means of training and compliance assistance. The ultimate component which is enforcement makes sure that these endeavors attain the expected reductions in emissions and places all the participants on equal footing. Some of the major enforcement programs are (i) Mobile Source Enforcement Branch -- MSEB implements programs to lower gaseous, particulate and exhaust emissions from diesel and commercial trucks and busies. (ii) Stationery Source Enforcement Branch -- SSEB looks into and makes cases connected with motor vehicle fuels and consumer products for assisting in the development of air quality, toxic exposure. (iii) the Training and Compliance Assistance Branch -- TCAB renders training and informative materials in favor of ARB staff, sir districts as also industry for enhancing enforcement and also to promote adherence. (Air Resources Board: 2007 Annual Enforcement Report) References Air Resources Board. 2007 Annual Enforcement Report. 2008. Bellenger, Gail. What is the Clean Water Act? 2002. N.A. The Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act. National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals. Clean Communities on the Move. 2005. Office of Inspector General. Water Enforcement: State Enforcement of Clean Water Act Dischargers Can Be More Effective. 2001. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. RCRA Enforcement Process and Authorities. 2009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Enforcement. 2009. .....