SLO County Health Commission recommends re-vegetation of Oceano Dunes

[SHOWTIME]

SLO County Health Commission recommends re-vegetation of Oceano Dunes

Source:
SanLuisObispo.com
DuneGuide.com


The county’s chief health advisory body is urging the Board of Supervisors to
take “any and all” steps within its power to re-vegetate and stabilize the
Oceano Dunes – a move that could in theory lead to a temporary shutdown of
the recreational area.

The Health Commission on Monday night voted to send a letter to supervisors
recommending that they take immediate steps to address the public health
problem on the Nipomo Mesa being created in part by particulate matter that
blows on to the mesa from the dunes.

A study released last month by the county Air Pollution Control District, and
outlined for the Health Commission on Monday, documented the trajectory of
the particulates, which have been shown elsewhere to cause respiratory
distress, especially for the elderly, the young and those with pulmonary
problems.

There are as yet no epidemiological studies measuring specific health effects
on those who live on the Mesa.

The study concluded that break-up by off-highway vehicles of a natural crust
that forms on sand dunes and a lack of vegetative cover in areas where OHVs
are ridden are the primary causes of high particulate air pollution being blown
from the park to populated areas of the Nipomo Mesa.

Health commissioners on Monday expressed concern about the people who
live on the Mesa, several of whom testified in favor of acting aggressively to
curb the pollution.

“The right to breathe supersedes the right to recreate,” said one audience
member.

As to the economic impact of a temporary closure of the dunes, an audience
member said “I am not willing to risk my health for small business bottom line”
or “risk my life so people can have fun.”

Off-roaders in the State Vehicular Recreation Area are a powerful force
because of the money they bring in.

However, commissioners did not specifically recommend a shutdown. Instead
they advised supervisors to take action, leaving the question of what those
actions would be to the supervisors.

Several speakers said, however, that dune vegetation could not be brought
back to life without shutting down the dunes to off-roaders, at least
temporarily.

Some speakers questioned the science and results of the study, and noted
the lack of complete information about the effects of the wind-blown sand.


It is not clear exactly what supervisors have the power to do, commissioners
noted, since the off-riding area is under the control of state parks. But
commissioners said they want county supervisors to know that they consider
the roving particulate matter a pressing local public health problem.

The commission’s vote to send the letter was 6-0 with two abstentions.

Commissioners also urged supervisors to find ways to get out the word that
there is a health problem from the Dunes on the Mesa. Again, they left the
mechanics of that to supervisors.

The health study has drawn considerable public interest since its release. A
hundred people attended an informational meeting about it in Arroyo Grande
last week., and the Air Pollution Control District has scheduled a hearing
March 24.

[SHOWTIME]

this is the stupidest thing ive ever read.
i cant believe people are dumb enough
to go for all this bullshit.

[lilguy450]

this shit really pisses me off...first race gas and now pismo? wtf!!!! i gurantee that if they shut pismo down even temporarily that nipomo will either go bankrupt or turn into a ghost town

lots of people dont understand the amount of money pismo beach brings in..i mean you figure about 1000 reservations on a busy weekend at 20 to 30 bucks each? do the math thats about 30,000+ for just one weekend not including the amount of money they'll make on little things like gas and food and tickets

sorry for my rant i just hate this

[Autophysn]

Originally Posted by lilguy450

this shit really pisses me off...first race gas and now pismo? wtf!!!! i gurantee that if they shut pismo down even temporarily that nipomo will either go bankrupt or turn into a ghost town

lots of people dont understand the amount of money pismo beach brings in..i mean you figure about 1000 reservations on a busy weekend at 20 to 30 bucks each? do the math thats about 30,000+ for just one weekend not including the amount of money they'll make on little things like gas and food and tickets

sorry for my rant i just hate this

rant all you would like, but your right! Maybe this is exactly what they need. A chance to see just how much the local economy depends on dune recreation and it's benefits in currency.

But then again, most of the people pushing for this shit are uber duber wealthy as it is, so they may not care----sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[QuickSand]

They already have major vegetation areas that are closed off.
They do reopen some areas around winter but close em off again.
By choice they let us ride those areas. If them vegies are such an endangered species why the hell would they open that up for us to ride?

Originally Posted by lilguy450

this shit really pisses me off...first race gas and now pismo? wtf!!!! i gurantee that if they shut pismo down even temporarily that nipomo will either go bankrupt or turn into a ghost town

I agree with that, duners fund that town!

Originally Posted by SHOWTIME

the public health
problem on the Nipomo Mesa being created in part by particulate matter that
blows on to the mesa from the dunes.

What the hell is a particulate matter???

Railroad tracks run right thru those greens. Trains run all day/year long, I'm sure they kick up more exhaust/disturbance than an atv!


And I don't know about you guys but I breathe hella fine when I hit Pismo.
I come back to So Cal only to choke on smog...

[dellanini]

All I can see...is...we need to be "NERVOUS"...VERY NERVOUS!!!!!

[SHOWTIME]

Originally Posted by dellanini

All I can see...is...we need to be "NERVOUS"...VERY NERVOUS!!!!!

i totally agreee. i think sooner or later pismo is
gonna become a thing of the past. i hate it,
especially since i live 10 min away. its nice to have
a sand box this close. i wish they would just open it
all up and lets us ride but i dont see that happening.

[dunedog]

well the next time I haul out of the conoco refinery thats between the houses and the dunes I am gunna snap a few pics of whats going on there ! black coke dust, yellow sulfur in piles all of which is open to the weather and blows everywhere ! maybe thats why they have a big sign that says " no cameras " and how much you want bet the people that live on the Nipomo mesa that are complaining about this are members of you know who ! anyone want to bet on this ? oh and I must add the nipomo mesa is made of sand that has blow in from the dunes so technically they are living on " particulate matter "

[QuickSand]

Got a link to that refinery DuneDog? I'd like to see pics of that mess!
So they try to hide their junk behind atv emissions? wtf!

[dunedog]

I am sure they are major under scrutiny to ! but the thing is they have the $$ to fight these fools ! in fact most of the work I have been doing there is paving over dirt roads to help control the dust I would guess , but there is alot of crap stock piled in that plant !