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Assemblywoman Galgiani: A variety of solutions can add up to benefit farmers

Posted by: Maven on February 16, 2010 at 6:41 am

galgianiFrom the Modesto Bee:

“On Jan. 28, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) met to consider amending the regulations concerning diesel engines used in water well drilling rigs.

The CARB hearing was the culmination of work by me, the Assembly Agriculture Committee, the California Groundwater Association (CGA), and the results of the amendments to my AB 1416.

In early 2009, the CGA, a 450-member association of water well drilling and pump contractors, suppliers and manufacturers, geologists, engineers, hydrologists, government employees and others, asked me to help rejuvenate negotiations with the CARB that had stalled due to constraints of the Federal Clean Air Act.

New air quality regulations by the CARB would require all drilling rigs to be retrofitted with new diesel engines that emit lower levels of pollutants. Not only would this take all rigs out of service during the retrofitting, but limited availability of the engines would probably created a backlog and inflated costs. Thus the number of rigs operating would be dramatically decreased at the very time that the demand for them has increased due to the drought and federal court constraints pumping water from the Delta.

I was pleased to help, having seen the effects that the drought, compounded by the recession and the delta reductions, was having on farmers, community water systems and rural homeowners in my district and across the state. … “

Continue reading this commentary at the Modesto Bee by clicking here.

February 16, 2010 · Filed Under Agriculture, Groundwater

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