Community Air Protection Program Blueprint

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The Community Air Protection Program Blueprint (Program Blueprint) collectively refers to the Program’s process for meeting AB 617’s requirements to develop a statewide strategy and monitoring plan for CARB Board consideration by October 1, 2018. The Program Blueprint was adopted by the CARB Board in September 2018. The Program Blueprint specifically outlines the process for identifying impacted communities, statewide strategies to reduce emissions of criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants, as well as criteria for development of community emissions reduction programs and community air monitoring plans.

Blueprint 2.0 was approved in October 2023 and reflects the experience and lessons learned since the beginning of the Community Air Protection Program.

Community Air Protection Program Training - CARB has developed a series of online trainings to support community members, air districts, and the public in understanding and participating in the Community Air Protection Program. To view the full set of online trainings, visit Community Air Protection Program Training.

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Program Blueprint Documents (October 2018)

Final Blueprint	The Final Community Air Protection Blueprint
Appendix A	Preface for the Appendices
Appendix B	Identification, Assessment, and Selection of Communities
Appendix C	Criteria for Community Emissions Reduction Programs
Appendix D	Statewide Actions
Appendix E	Statewide Air Monitoring Plan
Appendix F	Statewide Strategies, Tools, and Resources
Appendix G	CEQA Environmental Analysis
Appendix H	Assembly Bill 617
Appendix I	Glossary
Appendix J	CARB Governing Board Resolutions
Appendices	Appendices A through J (all inclusive)
Final Blueprint with Appendices	Blueprint plus all the appendices

Public Comments Received

Board Meeting Comment Log

The comment period closed on September 24, 2018. You can view the public comments received at the Board Meeting Comment Log.

California Environmental Quality Act Related Documents (September 2018)

Final Environmental Analysis	Final Environmental Analysis for the Community Air Protection Program Blueprint
Response to Comments (CEQA)	Response to Comments on the Draft Environmental Analysis
Supplemental Response to Comments (CEQA)	Supplemental Response to Comments on the Draft Environmental Analysis

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet (May 2020)	Community Air Protection Overview
Fact Sheet (August 2018)	Community Air Protection Program Blueprint and the initial staff recommended communities to the Board for the first-year communities to be selected for community air monitoring and/or community emissions reduction programs

Summary of Comments for the Community Air Protection Program

View Summary of Comments and Responses

Compilation of comment themes, recommendations and responses for the Community Air Protection Program.

Resource Center

A Resource Center is being developed by CARB staff to complement the requirements for community air monitoring and community emissions reduction programs. Once completed, the Resource Center will be comprised of a list of documents, tools, and information to support effective implementation of the Program.

Background

AB 617, authored by Assembly Member Cristina Garcia and signed into law by Governor Brown on July 26, 2017, provides a new community-focused action framework to improve air quality in communities most impacted by air pollution. The bill recognizes that while California has seen tremendous improvement in air quality, some communities still suffer greater impacts than others. It is these communities that require special attention and accelerated action. AB 617 builds on the foundation of existing air quality legislation and programs, providing additional tools to target actions in communities that bear the greatest burdens.

Specifically the legislation sets out a planning framework that includes:

Community-level air quality monitoring
A state strategy and community specific emission reduction plans
An expedited schedule for the installation of the cleanest controls on industrial facilities
Enhanced requirements for the reporting of emissions data
Increased penalty provisions for polluters
Grants to local community groups to support active engagement in developing solutions for their communities

Community Air Protection Program Related Resources for Development of the 2018 Program Blueprint

Final Draft Blueprint (August 24, 2018)	Staff released a Final Draft Program Blueprint to obtain advice and feedback on our initial Program proposal to continue guiding our efforts going forward to developing a final proposal for CARB Board consideration in September 2018.
Draft Blueprint (June 7, 2018)	Staff released a Draft Program Blueprint to obtain advice and feedback on our initial Program proposal to continue guiding our efforts going forward to developing a final proposal for CARB Board consideration in September 2018.
Concept Paper (February 7, 2018)	Previously released document outlining preliminary Program concepts.
Draft Selection Process (February 7, 2018)	The Draft Process and Criteria for 2018 Community Selections outlining how community recommendations will be submitted from community members and air districts.