Farm Bureau offers support to County on Quantification Settlement Agreement
By: David Steffen

Imperial County Farm Bureau President Mark McBroom said the bureau supports the county’s work to prevent negative air-quality impacts stemming from the Quantification Settlement Agreement.

McBroom made the statements to the Board of Supervisors during Tuesday’s meeting. He said the Farm Bureau is composed of local farmers and businesses and it has no litigation in the QSA lawsuit.

“That is why Imperial County Farm Bureau would like to publicly show our support to the county for your efforts in taking the lead to stand up for the residents of Imperial County, and fighting against the negative air-quality impacts as a result of the QSA,” he said.

McBroom said the Farm Bureau feels that air quality is a vital issue for the welfare of the Valley. He said the Farm Bureau would assist the county in its efforts, as necessary.

“We would also like to offer our resources and help in any way,” he said.

District 4 Supervisor Gary Wyatt said he was receptive of McBroom’s remarks at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

“We appreciate their support,” Wyatt said. “The county’s position on the QSA has been quite clear for quite a long time.”

Louis Fuentes, chairman of the board, said the board and Farm Bureau see eye-to-eye on the issues of air quality.

“If the Farm Bureau and any other organizations have similar concerns regarding air quality, obviously we’re on the same page,” Fuentes said.

He also said the county has always been prepared to go over any concerns with the Imperial Irrigation District regarding the QSA.

“The county has been very willing to sit down with IID to discuss other concerns we have and share some of the concerns the Air Pollution Control District has been talking about, and we hope we can do that fairly soon, jointly,” he said.

McBroom said the Farm Bureau will seek to cooperate with the county on QSA and air-quality issues.

“We look forward to and hope you will take this time to meet with us and discuss these issues, which you are representing on our behalf,” he said.