News
News Releases & Air Alerts
2026 Vessel Speed Reduction Season Kicked off on Earth Day
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.
2025 Reports Show Voluntary Efforts Deliver Major Reductions in Whale Strike Risk, Noise, and Air Pollution
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.
APCD Gives 400 Air Purifiers to Old Town Goleta Residents
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.
Prescribed Burn Information
Prescribed Burn in Camino Cielo Ridge Area to Continue
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 29-May 1.
Prescribed Burn in Camino Cielo Ridge Area to Start Next Week
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
Prescribed Pile Burns in South County this Week
WHAT: Approximately 20 piles of cut vegetation (approximately four combined acres) will be burned as part of the San Antonio Creek pile burns.
WHEN: March 9-15, depending on conditions.
WHERE: San Antonio Creek area, near Highway 154. (see map)
Public Notices
Notice of Public Review and Request for Comments
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.
Public Notice: Proposed Budget – Public Workshop and Hearings
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
Public Notice – Air Quality Regulatory Measures that May Be Adopted or Amended in 2026
For a pdf of this public notice, please click here. State law (Health and Safety Code §40923) requires the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control
