SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY — Of the hundreds of new laws that went into effect on New Year’s Day, one piece of legislation that was first passed by the state legislature more than 20 years ago is finally in place.
It bans open agricultural burning on all San Joaquin Valley farms and vineyards, supported by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
The legislation, Senate Bill 705 , was first signed into law in 2003 to help phase out ag burning because “It is an important contributor to the persistent air quality issues that the San Joaquin Valley faces,” a CARB spokesperson told CBS13 in a statement.
The San Joaquin Valley has some of the worst air quality in the nation which fails to meet federal health standards for both ozone and particulate pollution, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
It would take until January 1, 2025, for the burning ban to finally be in full effect with a few exceptions outlined by the enforcing agency, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.