South Coast Air Quality District board ousts longtime executive officer

The South Coast Air Quality Management District board voted narrowly Friday to dismiss longtime Executive Officer Barry Wallerstein despite pleas from environmentalists who rallied to his defense.

Board members did not publicly discuss their decision, which was made behind closed doors, but aounced a 7-6 vote in favor of his removal. They named Chief Financial Officer Michael O’Kelly to temporarily lead the agency, which regulates pollution in a four-county region of Southe Califoia including some of the most polluted neighborhoods near the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Wallerstein’s severance payments either will be distributed in one lump sum of 18 months base pay without benefits, or a year of pay with benefits, the board decided in a 10-2 vote.

Environmentalists from across the region, including Torrance, Long Beach and Wilmington, lobbied for Wallerstein to remain in place.

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Wallerstein was AQMD’s executive officer since 1997. He had been with the agency since 1984.

Although he received high marks from many local elected officials — mostly Democrats — a new Republican majority on the AQMD board appears intent on moving the agency in a different direction, possibly leaning toward pollution-control policies more friendly to businesses.

Environmentalists went on the alert when news of Wallerstein’s possible ouster broke. The Coalition for Clean Air issued a statement saying its leadership is “greatly conceed about the future of air quality in the region and the motives behind such a move.’’

Under Wallerstein’s watch, “days exceeding the 2008 federal ozone standard have dropped by one-third,’’ according to the coalition. “Today, for the first time, new clean air technologies provide us a viable path to meeting air quality standards.’’

Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Sheila Kuehl issued a joint statement Thursday calling for Wallerstein to be retained by the board.

“The agency’s website states that it is “committed to protecting the health of residents, while remaining sensitive to businesses,’’ they said.

“Today, however, it appears that the SCAQMD board may be moving toward compromising that mission, weighing economic conces more heavily than the agency’s core mission of protecting public health.

“We strongly believe that the health and safety of every resident of Los Angeles County must continue to be front-and-center of the agency’s efforts. We do not wish to see a rollback of SCAQMD’s safeguards and standards and urge the board to reaffirm its commitment to its core mission.’’

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also threw his support Wallerstein.

“Under Barry and his staff’s impressive leadership, SCAQMD has become a world leader in air quality management, and I will do everything possible to ensure future leadership upholds that reputation and resists rolling back existing regulations that protect the air we breathe,’’ he said. “We must stay on ambitious path forward that prioritizes the health of our communities, creates green jobs and businesses and advances zero-emission vehicles.’’

Wallerstein is the second leader of an environmental protection agency in Califoia to be ousted this year. Califoia Coastal Commission Executive Director Charles Lester was fired last month in a move that sparked outrage among environmentalists. Commission members said the termination revolved around leadership — not environmental — issues.

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