California receives funds to improve air quality

California has been allocated a total of $10,943,940 to help the state's industrial figures clean up their practices and in turn, improve air quality.

Overall, the sum amounts to one-third of the funds made available through the 2008 Federal Farm Bill, which is designed to help conservation projects among farmers and agricultural industries in the US.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) will allocate the money to the state.

Ed Burton, state conservationist of the NRCS, explained: "California has led the nation in pioneering ways to partner with agricultural organizations and regulatory agencies to identify technical and organizational ways to protect the air."

He added that "new and innovative methods" will be adopted to make sure "everyone can clearly see the full splendour of California's landscapes".

Elsewhere, Du Shaozhong, spokesman for the Beijing environment protection bureau, assured China's citizens and tourists that the city would continue to work to maintain good air quality as the city's 2008 Olympic year has drawn to a close.