Review of Oceano Dunes dust control coming

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• Officials proceed with Oceano Dunes dust rule work

  Officials proceed with Oceano Dunes dust rule work

  Despite two legal challenges, local agencies are moving full speed ahead to implement a new requirement to reduce dust blowing off Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

  State Parks is working to set up some mobile monitoring stations in the Dunes that will measure dust levels during the windy springtime when dust emissions are highest, said Dunes Superintendent Andy Zilke.

  Meanwhile, the county Air Pollution Control District is beginning a separate project to establish a series of temporary monitoring stations on the Nipomo Mesa that will allow the district to map the dust plume coming off the park, said Larry Allen, air pollution control officer.

• Finding out what is in the air over the Nipomo Mesa

  Finding out what is in the air over the Nipomo Mesa

  Temporary monitoring stations will take samples around the Nipomo Mesa in March, April and May looking for dust particles during the windy season

• Oceano Dunes enthusiasts sue air board on dust rule

  Oceano Dunes enthusiasts sue air board on dust rule

  A group of off-highway vehicle users has sued the county Air Pollution Control District in an effort to overturn a new rule controlling dust emissions from the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

  Friends of Oceano Dunes filed the lawsuit Jan. 4 in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. It asks the court to throw out the dust rule adopted by the air district’s Board of Directors on Nov. 16 and prevent its implementation.

  The case has been assigned to Judge Charles S. Crandall.

• Government Watch: A roundup of this week’s agendas

  Government Watch: A roundup of this week’s agendas

  Arroyo Grande City Council. Meets Tuesday. 473-5400. Presentation of 2011 report by the Northern Cities Management Area technical group, which conducts groundwater monitoring in the northern portion of the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin; third quarter budget review.

  Grover Beach City Council. Meets today. 473-4567. Proposal to contract police services from Arroyo Grande; review request for proposal for street sweeping services; fate of a city-owned parcel at 920 Brighton St. that’s now a community garden, and direct staff to return with potential relocation sites for the garden.

  Morro Bay City Council. Meets Tuesday. 772-6200. Hearing on whether the Morro Bay Tourism Business Improvement District, which taxes hotel receipts to fund tourism promotion, should continue; discussion of local sport fishing businesses; discussion on allocations of community promotions committee funds; update on street paving and rehabilitation program.

• High winds trigger dust alerts

  High winds trigger dust alerts

  It’s springtime, and that means windy days. County officials have begun issuing health advisories for the windiest days, warning people in the Oceano Dunes and Nipomo Mesa areas of high dust levels.

  The warnings typically come every week or so and last several days. They are triggered by high wind conditions that are likely to generate unhealthy particulate levels as dust blows off the dunes and onto the Nipomo Mesa.

  During the advisories, county officials recommend that people minimize outdoor activity when blowing dust is visible. High particulate levels typically peak from 1 to 5 p.m.