NEW DEADLINE FOR IMPROVING AIR REGION HAS 3 YEARS TO CREATE SOOT PLAN.

Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer

Southern California, with the nation's worst air pollution problem, faces a new deadline to make dramatic cuts in tailpipe emissions and diesel exhaust under fine-soot health standards finalized Friday.

Within three years, the region must develop a plan explaining how it will cut fine particulate matter. The deadline is 2010, but Los Angeles is expected to get a five-year extension because the pollution problem is so bad.

With a growing population, more cars on the road and the anticipated doubling of diesel trucks and ships at the ports, air quality officials admit the deadline is close and the work monumental.

``There's no question it's going to be a challenge,'' said Matt Haber, deputy director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Pacific region. ``I think South Coast can do it, but they really will put their thinking caps on and develop the plan in the next three years.''

In total, the EPA determined that some 223 counties in 20 states, plus the District of Columbia, fail to meet the new standards aimed at cutting the microscopic specks of pollution that have been linked to respiratory disease, asthma and heart attacks.

Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley both have the highest levels of fine particulate matter.

The rules address fine particulate matter, which are specks formed from soot, dust and liquid droplets 2.5 micrometers in diameter. That's approximately one-thirtieth the size of a human hair, small enough to lodge deep in the lungs. Fine particulate matter creates haze on the horizon and is a year-round problem in Southern California.

Vehicle exhaust, soot from diesel combustion and wood-burning fireplaces, and chemicals from industrial smokestacks are the main ingredients of fine particulate matter.

Rules to cut diesel exhaust from new trucks in 2007 and from new construction equipment in 2010 should help. But air officials said Long Angeles International Airport and the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports will be key targets.

``The ports are the single largest fixed source of air pollution and probably the single largest source of nitrogen oxides and diesel soot, both of which are major contributors to PM2.5,'' said Sam Atwood, spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Mayor James Hahn has promised to hold Los Angeles Port pollution to 2001 levels in the face of an anticipated doubling of ship traffic in the next 20 years.

``By capping pollution at 2001 levels, the mayor is basically saying, Port, if you want to grow, you have to come up with new technologies with lower emissions,'' said Doane Liu, deputy mayor.

The mayor and environmentalists have also pushed for shipping companies to install electric power systems to use at the dock instead of burning diesel fuel, which could cut three tons of nitrogen oxides and one ton of particulate matter per ship.

``That's a huge contribution when you have 18 ships coming to port a day,'' said Todd Campbell, policy director at the Coalition for Clean Air.

``It's becoming increasingly clear that if you are living next to one of these major trade corridors you are at risk, not only for cancer, but for respiratory ailments, like asthma.''

The EPA announcement Friday starts a new clock. Regions now have three years to develop plans explaining how they'll meet the fine particulate matter health standard. The deadline is 2010; however regions with really bad air, such as Los Angeles, will be able to apply for a five-year extension.

The new standards were unveiled in 1997 by the Clinton administration, but were delayed by court challenges by the industry. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the limits in 2001.

Kerry Cavanaugh, [phone]

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com