SCAQMD Leaders

I was appalled to read about the effort to oust officials of the South Coast Air Quality Management District: Jim Lents and Barry Wallerstein, Pat Leyden and apparently some others not identified in the article (May 10).

I have argued against, and worked with, these fine people during their careers with the SCAQMD while I was part of Big Bad Oil (director, environmental sciences department, Unocal, retired). They have been real leaders in the progress that has been made in making the air cleaner.

As a lifelong conservative, I can only feel ashamed of the actions of those who think they are doing something worthwhile in trying to get rid of these leaders. If those individuals only took the time to read the federal statutes under which the SCAQMD must operate, they would then understand what the management of the agency must do--by law--regardless of the emotions of the minute.

CARLETON B. SCOTT