Air Pollution in Merced County
By Mia Jauregui
What is air pollution? Why is Merced’s air quality poor? How does it affect Merced County? How will the Walmart Distribution Center add
to the air pollution? Why you should care Proposal
Overview
What is Air Pollution?
Is the introduction of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gas into the air
It is mainly caused by the combustion of fuels Factories, cars, trucks, etc…
Air Pollution
Is mainly caused by diesel trucks Is the most harmful to human health Annually, Merced ranks between the 90-100
percentile, which is the worst ranking possible
Particulate Matter
Why is Merced’s Air Quality so Poor?
Highway 99
According to Bonnie Holmes-Gen, who is a part of the American Lung Association, “some 80% of [Merced’s] harmful pollutants can be traced to transportation sources”
Bakersfield, Merced’s neighbor, was ranked 1st
Merced is ranked with the 2nd Worst Air Quality in the U.S.
How Does it Affect Merced County?
Air pollution is said to contribute to birth defects, cancer and ASTHMA
Affects
A disorder where ones airways swell and narrow constricting the passage of air
Allergies, over exertion
Asthma
56,000 children and adults with asthma in Merced
Asthma in Merced
How Will the Walmart Distribution Center Add to the Air Pollution?
The distribution center was proposed in 2005, but a group called the Alliance for Responsible Growth delayed construction through a law suit that claimed the city did not review the potential harmful effects to the environment
But as of now the project has been approved, although it will not be built for a few years
Alliance for Responsible Growth
1.2 Million-Square-Feet “the center would include a 17,000-square-
foot truck maintenance building with two underground oil storage tanks and a fueling station with two 20,000-gallon diesel fuel storage tanks”
It would also bring in an estimated 450 more diesel trucks daily
Distribution Center
Recently, the National Labor Relation Boards (NLRB) filed a complaint against Walmart claiming that Walmart has broken labor laws by punishing workers who considered to be a part of the strike that occurred in 2012
Why would Merced want to allow a company to establish themselves in the City when they abuse their employees
Walmart’s Reputation
Why You Should Care
Proposal
Sign My Petition to Stop Walmart
I will get signatures via social media and by asking people in the community to sign
Send to the City Council
If the City cannot stop the construction, then I will ask them to request that Walmart use clean diesel technologies or biodiesel
Plan B
Works Cited
Christie, Les. "10 Most Polluted Cities." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 24 Apr. 2013. Web. 02 May 2014. "Cars, Trucks, & Air Pollution | UCSUSA." Union of Concerned Scientists. Union of Concerned Scientists, 3 Sept. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. "Pollution Locator: Smog and Particulates: County Report." Scorecard: The Pollution Information Site. Good Guide, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.Jamieson, Dave. "Feds Charge Walmart With Breaking Labor Law In Black Friday Strikes." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 02 May 2014. "Major Freight Corridors." - FHWA Freight Management and Operations. United States Department of Transportation, 8 July 2013. Web. 02 May 2014. "Merced County Asthma Profile." Merced. California Breathing, 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 02 May 2014.Miller, Thaddeus. "Wal-Mart Likely to Delay Merced Distribution Center - The Sacramento Bee."The Sacramento Bee. The Sacramento Bee, 10 Dec. 2013. Web. 02 May 2014. "How an Online Petition Works." Change.org. Change.org, n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.