“AIR” Sues Over Air Plan

An environmental group has sued state officials over what it calls a “flawed plan” to clean particulate matter from the San Joaquin Valley´s air. The “Association of Irritated Residents” sued the California Air Resources Board yesterday.

The group says the board violated state law by approving a plan developed by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. It says the plan won´t do enough to clean up the valley´s air, which is some of the most polluted in the nation.

State air board spokeswoman Gennet Paauwe refused to comment on the lawsuit, but said the current plan will do the job.

If regional officials don´t come up with a federally approvable plan by next year, the EPA has said it will take over. That could mean the valley would lose millions of dollars in federal highway funds.