The Legislature finds and declares as follows:

(a)  The Sacramento metropolitan region is a geographical and meteorological entity not reflected by political boundaries.

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(b)  The region has serious air pollution problems caused by the operation of more than 1,000,000 vehicles in the region, numerous stationary sources of air pollution, and atmospheric and meteorological conditions which are conducive to the formation of a variety of air pollutants.

(c)  Despite the implementation of improved emission controls on motor vehicles and stationary sources, rapid population growth and increases in vehicle miles traveled in the region are likely to result in worsening air pollution in future years.

(d)  The state and federal governments have adopted ambient air quality standards in order to protect public health, and it is in the public interest that those standards be attained as expeditiously as possible.

(e)  In order to achieve and maintain air quality standards and protect public health, a metropolitan air quality improvement strategy is required to be implemented in order to provide the maximum achievable reduction in emissions from existing sources and to provide for the maximum feasible reduction or mitigation of emissions resulting from population growth, increased vehicle mileage, and other new sources of emissions.

(f)  In order to successfully achieve improvements in air quality throughout the region, there is a need for greater coordination between land use and transportation planning decisions and the achievement of air quality goals.

(g)  In order to successfully develop and implement a comprehensive program for the attainment and maintenance of state and federal ambient air quality standards in the region, the air quality management district in the region must be delegated additional authority and responsibility from the state, particularly with respect to reducing motor vehicle emissions and expanding the use of cleaner burning fuels.

(h)  In order to successfully implement a coordinated air quality plan for the region, the responsibilities of local and regional authorities with respect to the implementation of air pollution control strategies, clean fuels programs, and motor vehicle use reduction measures should be fully integrated into an agency with countywide or regional authority, as determined by representatives of the affected county and city governments.

(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1541, Sec. 3.)