Earth Day marked several important milestones for California’s coast, benefiting both people in coastal counties and marine life. On April 22, Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS) launched the 2026 voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Season, now along the entire California coast as set forth in California Assembly Bill 14, authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom last year.
WHAT: The U.S. Forest Service for the Los Padres National Forest has scheduled prescribed burning in the Camino Cielo Ridge Area near Painted Cave Road and Highway 154.
WHEN: April 27-29
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) has issued three draft federal Part 70 permits for E&B Natural Resources Management Corporation (E&B) facilities that are part of the South Cuyama Stationary Source.
The South Cuyama Stationary Source is an oil and gas production operation located approximately three miles southwest of the town of New Cuyama. The South Cuyama Stationary Source is considered a major source for emissions of reactive organic compounds and carbon monoxide.
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS) is proud to report the 2025 Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Season results from the efforts of participating shipping lines. Over the VSR Season, from May 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026, 787 participating vessels traveled more than 481,000 nautical miles at whale-safer speeds of 10 knots or less. This is up from approximately 425,900 nautical miles and 743 participating vessels in the 2024 VSR Season.
SOUTH CENTRAL COAST BASINWIDE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL COUNCIL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICERS Karl Tupper, APCOSan Luis Obispo County APCD Ali Ghasemi, APCOVentura County APCD Aeron Arlin Genet, APCOSanta Barbara County APCD COUNCIL MEMBERS Kate Secrest, ChairCouncilmember, City of Arroyo GrandeSan Luis Obispo CountyAlternate: Mark Dariz, Council Member, City of Atascadero
SOUTH CENTRAL COAST BASINWIDE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL COUNCIL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICERS Karl Tupper, APCO San Luis Obispo County APCD Ali Ghasemi, APCO Ventura County APCD Aeron Arlin Genet, APCO Santa Barbara County APCD COUNCIL MEMBERS Kate Secrest, Chair Councilmember, City of Arroyo Grande San Luis Obispo County Alternate: Mark
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) will hold a virtual public workshop and two public hearings on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27
Closed Session Conference with Labor Negotiators (Gov. Code §54957.6) District-designated representative: Aeron Arlin Genet. Employee organizations: Engineering & Technicians Association; Service Employees International Union, Local 620; and unrepresented employees, management and confidential. Approval of Minutes (opens in a new tab) – Approve minutes of the January 15, 2026 meeting. Update
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) staff distributed 400 air purifiers to residents of Old Town Goleta on Saturday, as part of APCD’s Clean Air Rooms Program. The air purifiers were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, limited to one per household, and proof of address was required to participate. Air purifiers help keep indoor air clean — creating a “clean air room” — when wildfire smoke is affecting air quality,
Eligible residents of Old Town Goleta — as defined by this State of California map — who weren’t able to attend Saturday’s event can now fill out an online application to have a free air purifier shipped directly to their home.
The Hearing Board Nominating Committee is a standing committee which consists of five members of the Board of Directors, with a representative from each supervisorial district. Appointments are made at the beginning of each calendar year. The purpose of the Hearing Board Nominating Committee is to make nominations for appointments to
