Lung Health News, Spring / Summer 2003
Severe cuts to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) are being proposed to help balance the budget, which would hamper all aspects of its operation.
OEHHA is a critical, independent scientific entity within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA) that helps develop state air quality standards, review toxic air contaminants in indoor and outdoor air, and determine priority contaminants of particular concern to children’s environmental health and other key programs.
OEHHA’s scientific work and expertise are critical to the ability of the California Air Resources Board to continue progress in air pollution regulation and improved air quality, and needed to maintain California’s role as a national and international leader in environmental and public health.
The American Lung Association of California is joining forces with legislative allies to develop a budget solution that restores needed funding for OEHHA’s critical scientific work and establishes a stable source of funding for the agency in future years.
