California Air Resources Board

SACRAMENTO – The chairwoman of the Air Resources Board, Jananne Sharpless, has received the state Lung Association's Clean Air Globe award, honoring her for contributing the most to clean air in California in the last year.

The presentation was made at the annual meeting of the American Lung Association of California, Sept. 14, in Burlingame.

Sharpless was cited for her leadership of the ARB, which in the last year continued to adopt precedent-setting emission limits for cleaner cars and fuels, as well as for her efforts to protect California's interests during Congressional drafting of the revised national Clean Air Act.

The Lung Association specifically noted the Board's adopted of new emission limits for cars that include mandatory production of "zero-emitting" electric models by 1998; standards requiring the reformulation of lower-polluting gasoline and a distribution network for cleaner-burning alternative fuels; and controls to limit exposure to highly toxic, potentially caner causing compounds, such as benzene and chromium.

Regarding the federal Clean Air Act, "It was her hand which helped protect state authority from (EPA) preemption, expanded the role of clean alternative fuels and insisted that offshore oil facilities in federal waters meet the same (air pollution) standards which are imposed on onshore facilities," said Dr. Charles Mittman, Lung Association president, in presenting the award.

"Although many others have received more credit and visibility for their efforts on behalf of clean air in California, no one has made a greater individual contribution to the cause," Mittman continued. "Jananne Sharpless' remarkable courage, tenacity and commitment deserve special recognition."

Sharpless has been chairwoman of the Board since 1985 and was reappointed by Governor Wilson in 1991.