Announcements____________________________________________
Open Burning on SRA land Closes April 28, 2025
The Kern County Fire Department announced open burning of hazard reduction fuels on SRA land will close on Monday, April 28, 2025.
Be advised: Fire hazard reduction open burning requires a burn burmit. Burn Permits can be obtained online through Community Connect. Community Connect can be accessed by clicking the link below, or through the Hazard Reduction Pile Burning Permit Application widget on the sidebar. Instruction for obtaining a burn permit can be found by clicking the link below.
Hazard Reduction Burn Permit Instructions
Link for obtaining Hazard Reduction Burn Permit
California Portland Cement Company’s Title V Permit Renewal
Pursuant to District Rule 201.1 (Permits to Operate for Sources Subject to Title of the Federal Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990) [Title V], a Federal Part 70 Permit has been drafted to the CalPortland Company for the California Portland Cement Company, located at 9350 Oak Creek Road near Mojave, CA.
PERMITTING ACTION: The District will be issuing a Title V Permit to Operate renewal for this facility. The purpose of this permitting action is to update the facility’s previous Title V permit. No significant modifications have occurred to the permit. Once issued by the District and the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), this permit will be valid for five years.
PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES: Copies of the Title V draft permit and Technical Support Document/ engineering analysis (TSD) are available through the links below. The District’s analysis includes a statement of legal and factual basis for the proposed conditions and references to applicable statutory and regulatory provisions. Federal enforceable conditions in this permit are subject to public review. Other permit conditions are enforceable by the District only and are not subject to this public review process.
Comments can be submitted in writing to the District’s Administrative office or via email to: sandovalm@kerncounty.com. All comments must be received by 5:00 PM on May 23, 2025. Members of the public may request the Air Pollution Control Officer preside over a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public oral comments. Issues raised during the public comment period will be addressed in writing by the District before the renewal permit is issued. The permit and all comments will be forwarded to US EPA Region IX and will be available for review after the 30-day public review process is complete. For question, please telephone Miguel Sandoval, at 661-862-5250.
CalPortland Draft Title V Permit Renewal
CalPortland Technical Support Document (TSD)
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Rebate Program
The District receives AB 2766 funds through an “air quality impact” fee collected by the DMV. Revenues generated from AB 2766 are used to reduce air pollution generated from motor vehicles and their related activities.
The District allocates a substantial portion of its AB 2766 funds to the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Rebate Program. The ZEV Rebate Program incentivizes Eastern Kern County residents to reduce their motor vehicle emissions by purchasing a zero-emissions automobile.
Eligible applicants will receive a Rebate of up to $4,000, not exceeding 25% of the total cost of purchasing a new ZEV with an EPA Smog Score of 10. All ZEV Rebate Program applications will be processed in the order they are received. ZEV Rebates are awarded first-come first-served until program funds have been exhausted.
Click Here for Guidelines and Application
Hearing Board Vacancy 2/20/2025
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that one unscheduled vacancy has occurred on the five-member Variance Hearing Board. The District is soliciting candidates willing to serve in this position. The District is required to try to fill this position with an attorney or medical professional, as we do not currently have these professions represented on the five-person Hearing Board, however, all general public candidates will be considered.
Any person interested in being considered to fill said vacancy should file a written statement requesting to serve on the Hearing Board, addressed to: Cristina Bolton, Clerk of the Board of Directors, EKAPCD, 2700 M St., Ste. 302, Bakersfield, CA 93301. Submit the statement as soon as possible, please include the candidate’s name, address, telephone number, brief statement of work experience, education, and other qualifications.
Click here for complete details
Health Effects of Inhaling Smoke
Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood and other organic matter burns. The biggest health threat from smoke comes from fine particles. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Fine particles also can aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases and are even linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions.
People with asthma, heart disease, lung disease, older adults, and children are at greater risk of being affected by smoke. If you are healthy, you're usually not at a major risk from smoke but it's still a good idea to avoid breathing smoke if you can help it. It's important to limit your exposure to smoke, especially if you may be susceptible.
How to tell if smoke is affecting you:
Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, headaches, stinging eyes or a runny nose. If you have heart or lung disease, smoke might make your symptoms worse. People with heart disease might experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, or fatigue. People with lung disease may not be able to breathe as deeply or as vigorously as usual, and they may experience symptoms such as coughing, phlegm, chest discomfort, wheezing and shortness of breath. When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms.
Protect yourself:
Watch local news and weather stations, pay attention to health warning and air quality reports, you can also use the EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI). Use common sense; if it looks smoky outside, it's probably not a good time to mow the lawn, go for a run, or let children play outside.
If your advised to stay indoors take steps to keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed. Run an air conditioner if needed but make the fresh air intake is closed and the filter is clean. Do not use a swamp cooler as it will pull in lots of smoke from outside. If your house becomes to hot to be comfortable seek alternative shelter. If it is cool outside try to avoid anything that produces heat from burning such as a fireplace, gas logs, or a gas stove.
Residential Wood Burning
Many Eastern Kern County residents
use woodstoves and fireplaces to heat
their homes.
If you burn please remember to do so
as cleanly as possible.
Never burn household waste in your
woodstove or fireplace and only burn
clean, dry, seasoned wood, and maintain
a hot fire.
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Homeowner Guide
