California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA)

I told you all last month that we needed to lighten up in 2010, and that we should leave it to the enviro groups and CARB to provide our entertainment through the internet and newspapers. What I did not realize at the time, nor did I mention, was radio. It turns out that the John and Ken Stimulating Talk Radio Show (KFI 640 in LA and KNEW 910 in the Bay), has provided the truth about what has been missing from the general public’s knowledge and understanding for way too long.

I had just recently become aware that they had been discussing CARB, and, while returning from Sacramento one rainy Friday, I turned to KNEW 910 AM and I start hearing issues and speakers that no newspapers or even FOX TV is following. For a short time the signal came in very strong, and, when they said “Lee Brown from the California Dump Truck Owners Association will be on next,” it was all I could do to keep my hands steady on the wheel. I haven’t stopped talking about this since.

John and Ken are the greatest allies we could possibly have. These guys tell it like it really is, with a great deal of humor and sarcasm. I even purchased an AM radio for the house, so I could listen to them without having to sit in my car. I suggest that you all listen to what they are saying, and you need to tell everyone you know, including local politicians.

Now, back to reality: this would be humorous if it wasn’t so aggravating. CARB held a meeting on quite a few different issues on January 28, and I wanted to speak during the last session of the day under “Open Comments.” What I wanted to specifically address was the research quoted by CARB relating to the issue of PM2.5, specifically in California, and its health effects. CDTOA has requested this information numerous times from the UC President Yudof, Professors’ Krewski and Jerrett, and even the Health Effect Institute, which paid for some of these studies. And not surprisingly, we continue to get stone-walled and fed excuses that are non-responsive and totally irresponsible. I wanted to make the CARB board members aware of our efforts and the lack of response.

For the first time ever, I carefully stuck to my script, realizing that, with my newfound PhD from my School of Hard Knocks, it was critical that I speak to this issue only. You would think that, if the science and studies were so clear and settled and the information was undeniable, then what are they so afraid of, we believe, is the truth. The truth is that in fact CARB has forced business and tax payers pay hundreds of billions of dollars for fuel and equipment based on a big fat lie about the health effects of diesel emissions.

Below is a copy of what I said:

Good Afternoon, my name is Betty Plowman and I’m associated with the California Dump Truck Owners Association.

I present to each of you copies of letters which were sent to UC President Mark Yudof and UC Dr. Michael Jerrett, requesting the California-specific relationship between PM2.5 and Premature Deaths. These letters were sent by both regular and email on January 6, 2010, as well as numerous follow-up telephone calls, and I sadly report today that there has been no response from these government employees.

There is serious disagreement among the scientific community regarding the relationship between PM2.5 and premature deaths, especially in California. Evidence from six independent sources indicates there is NO relationship. Three of these sources originate from the 2000 and 2009 Health Effects Institute reports that UC Professor, Dr. Jerrett co-authored.

Clarification of the California-specific evidence from these sources would resolve this issue and Dr. Jerrett is the California scientist in the best position to clarify these results. A detailed request was made to Dr. Jerrett as part of a July 11, 2008 CARB teleconference and this request was repeated and expanded upon in December 10, 2008 public comments to CARB. Dr. Jerrett has failed to respond to these requests, in spite of the fact that the underlying data used in his research for Health Effects Institute (HEI) is subject minimally to the disclosure requirements of the Federal Data Access Act.

Because of the lack of response from Dr. Jerrett, the Hein Tran fraud issue, as well as the catastrophic consequences this rule is having on California businesses, we urge you to assist us in our endeavor to bring transparency to the science used to enact these diesel engine rules.

Having since viewed my presentation posted by CDTOA on YouTube, I offer my sincere apologies for being not only boring, but also not my usual animated self. For the first time, my arms were not waving in the air, nor did I look up at the Board. However, the information given to them caused quite a bit of conversation, and once again Dr. Telles asked some serious questions about California specific studies relating to PM2.5. However, the following quote by CARB Chair Nichols is telling as she responded to the many question concerning the science and health effects to Californians in relationship to diesel. She actually said, “Even if there was zero mortality, if there is an air quality standard based on any public health issue, we still have to come up with regulations to meet it.”

She, in my opinion is saying – I know that the science doesn’t support any deaths here, but the EPA standard or SIP says we have to clean the air and this is the way we have chosen to do it – screw the small business people, the construction and transportation industries, anyone else who owns a diesel engine and the science thing really doesn’t matter to us either.

The writing is on the wall here. If science proves that there are no premature deaths in California due to PM2.5, well we have enough other illnesses they can blame on diesel exhaust such as asthma, heart disease and strokes. It won’t be too long until in-grown hairs, mental illness and obesity also make the list.

And while our state continues to run deficits in the billions ($21+ and counting), CARB has now announced yet another new study which has a price-tag of $400,000. They will now begin studying cow flatulence by installing computerized monitors throughout the state on selected dairy farms, of course in the name of “global warming.” Watch out milk drinkers and dairy farmers, you are next.

I’m sorry to say I can’t make this stuff up. It is all true and it is just the tip of the CARB iceberg of nuisance anti-business regulations that we have allowed them to pass.
Enough is enough; we all need to stop this – now!
Betty