Sweeping restrictions on air pollution set for hearings.

DEVELOPERS, manufacturers, transportation companies and a whole host of other industries are casting concerned eyes on the draft clean air plan released last week by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The massive plan would cut most major pollutants by 50 percent over 10 years in the Los Angeles region to comply with state and federal clean air standards. To do so it puts forward hundreds of air pollution control measures on everything from shopping centers to pleasure craft to petroleum operations. Some measures the district could implement; others would have to be carried out by the state or federal governments.

The total cost of the plan is unknown, but if all of its elements were implemented it could run into the tens of billions of dollars. Air district officials contend that the health impacts from pollutants already cost a similar amount.

Over the next several months, the district will hold hearings and take comments from industry, environmentalists, planners and others as it revises the plan. The reactions from industry are expected to be harsh as many of the measures would impose additional costs or limit production.

Already. developers are concerned that their projects would be impacted by requiring emission controls on construction-related equipment and reductions of vehicle trips from completed projects. A similar set of proposals was enacted earlier this year in the San Joaquin Valley over builders' objections.

"We already have a lack of affordable product right now," said Mark Grey, director of environmental affairs for the Building Industry Association of Southern California. "The BIA is very concerned that new fees added on to the cost of new homes would make them even less affordable. It just doesn't make sense."

Grey said his organization favors market-based approaches towards cutting pollution from development projects, especially incentives for developers that do manage to cut emissions.

Other industries are also in the district's sights, especially in the energy producing and goods movement sectors. But many of these operations fall under federal jurisdiction, such as cargo ships or off-road vehicles. One example: a plan to place strict emission-control measures on recreational boats and yachts.

"Stricter regulations would probably increase prices for pleasure craft, which could make recreational boating less attainable for some income groups," said Harry Monahan, government relations consultant for the Southern California Marine Association. "We'll just have to see what they come up with."