AB 617 Consultation Group 

In January 2018, CARB convened the AB 617 multi-stakeholder Consultation Group, chaired by CARB Board Member Dr. John Balmes, in part to fulfill the requirement in AB 617 that CARB consult with a range of stakeholders in developing the statewide strategy to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants in communities affected by a high cumulative exposure burden. Members of the Consultation Group include representatives of environmental justice organizations, air districts, industry, academia, public health organizations, and local government.  The Consultation Group played a significant role in informing the development of the current Program Blueprint which is the guidance document for the statewide strategy required by AB 617. 

In 2020 and 2021, a subset of Consultation Group members, with CARB contractual support, developed the People’s Blueprint which was released in September of 2021. The People’s Blueprint highlights the views and perspectives of environmental justice leaders who have been part of the early implementation of the Community Air Protection Program. The Consultation Group’s deliberation and discussion of the People’s Blueprint will inform the development of the Program Blueprint update.

In early 2022, CARB requested that the third-party facilitators supporting the Consultation Group conduct a situation assessment to develop recommendations to guide CARB in supporting the Consultation Group. The recommendations will serve as a roadmap for continued engagement with the Consultation Group, which is now co-chaired by Dr. Balmes and CARB Board Member and BAAQMD Board Member Davina Hurt.