ACTIVISTS SEE 'DEFIANT' SAN JOAQUIN AIR OFFICIALS OVER PERMIT AUDIT

Environmentalists are criticizing San Joaquin Valley air district officials for taking an allegedly "defiant" stance toward a state air board audit that seeks multiple improvements in the district's permitting program. Environmentalists fear the district's attitude may prevent critical pollution reduction in the extreme ozone nonattainment region and are pondering steps to change the district's position on the audit's permitting recommendations. But district officials are standing by their response to the audit, arguing that they have taken numerous steps to bolster...