MINUTES
REGIONAL AIR QUALITY COUNCIL
Thursday, August 2, 2001
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jim Scherer,
CHAIRMANMEMBERS NOT IN ATTENDANCE:
Dennis Arfmann,
Holme Roberts & OwenOTHERS PRESENT:
Ken Lloyd, RAQC; Misty Howell, RAQC; Gerald Dilley, RAQC; Laura Hagg Nelson, RAQC; Annmarie Jensen, RAQC; Margy Christiansen; Shirleen Tucker, APCD; Doug Lempke, AQCC; Bob Lowdermilk, AQCC; Kerri Fiedler, EPA; Jim Paulmeno, T-REX; Dianna Orf, Colorado Mining Association; Mike Silverstein, APCD; Doug Lawson, AQCC; Amy Ford, T-REX; and George Gerstle, CDOT.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jim Scherer at 3:10 p.m. A quorum was present.
Approval of the Agenda
Theresa Donahue moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Don Parsons. Motion passed without objection.
Approval of the Minutes
Don Parsons moved to approve the minutes. Seconded by Jane Norton. Motion passed without objection.
Informational Items
Chairman:
None.
Executive Director:
Ken Lloyd informed Council that DRCOG, CDOT and RTD have updated their memorandum of agreement regarding transportation planning in the Denver region. Under the new agreement, a Regional Transportation Committee was formed. Ken was invited to be the RAQC’s representative and Jim Scherer the alternate on the Committee. Ken will keep Council updated.
Members:
Jane Norton gave Council an update on the HB 1402 implementation process. She informed Council that CDPHE and Department of Revenue have issued pre-qualification bid criteria to determine potential vendors for the I/M program. Those interested can access the RFQ at www.gssa.state.co.us. Responses are due by August 24, 2001.
Committees:
No Reports.
Report from Air Quality Control Commission
Doug Lempke, AQCC Technical Secretary, informed Council that Governor Owens has submitted the PM-10 Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request to EPA. He circulated the transmittal letter for Council’s information.
Public Comment and Discussion
None.
Update on 2001 Summer Ozone Program
Laura Hagg Nelson provided an update to Council on the Voluntary Ozone Reduction Program. There have been nine ozone alerts so far this season. The first elevated levels of ozone (above 85 parts per billion (ppb)) were recorded on July 5, 2001. The Rocky Flats North monitor recorded an 8-hour average of 87 ppb while the Chatfield Reservoir monitor recorded an 8-hour average of 89 ppb. The region has recorded five additional days above 80 ppb on June 18, July 1, July 4, July 7 and July 9.
As a point of comparison, by August 2 during the 2000 ozone season, 19 alerts were issued.
The "Put a Cap on Ozone" program has replaced more than 4,500 gas caps so far this ozone season. The RAQC also has hosted gas cap testing fairs at Roche Colorado, Hunter Douglas and Ball Corporation. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the RAQC will host a gas cap testing fair for CDPHE employees on August 15. On August 22, Clean Cities, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the RAQC will host a gas cap testing fair for NREL employees at Denver West Office Park.
On July 29, the RAQC placed posters in the interior of RTD buses. The posters will be carried on 100 buses for one month urging riders to reduce ozone pollution by not mowing on high ozone days, by taking mass transit, and by avoiding idling and stopping at the click when filling your tank with gas. In conjunction with RTD, the RAQC also developed exterior bus advertisements that RTD will place for free in the fall encouraging citizens to improve air quality. The ads feature photos of commuters carpooling, taking the bus or boarding light rail.
Finally, staff has secured a commitment from the Home Depot to co-sponsor a "Mow Down Pollution" lawnmower exchange program in 2002. Home Depot will help advertise and secure discounts for up to 2,000 new manual, electric or battery-operated lawnmowers. At select locations, citizens will be able to turn in their old, pre-1997 polluting lawnmowers for a an emission-free alternative. Staff also applied for a grant from the state Air Pollution Control Division to help offset staff and additional discount costs. The cities of Aurora, Denver and Golden expressed initial interest in helping to support and host exchange events and staff will seek additional local government sponsors.
Air Quality Aspects of the Transportation Expansion Project (T-REX)
Jim Paulmeno, Environmental Manager, and Amy Ford, Public Information Specialist, from the T-Rex project team provided an overview of requirements and initiatives that will be undertaken to mitigate possible air quality impacts from the construction project.
Ms. Ford spoke about the transportation demand management (TDM) funds that are available to help businesses cope with the construction process by offering subsidies and information on commute options. Three million dollars are available to help subsidize vanpools and bus passes.
She said that businesses have responded positively to the offers and expects more businesses to take advantage of these offers when construction begins this fall. The contractor also proposed something unique during the construction project–a lane dedicated to buses, vanpools
and carpools of three or more. This extra effort set them apart from the other bidder.Mr. Paulmeno discussed some of the tactics that the contractors will employ to mitigate air quality impacts–especially particulates.
The contractor will set up several temporary air quality monitors in the construction corridor. The contractor will have a Fugitive Emissions Control Plan to keep dust down at all times, including non-working hours, weekends and holidays. This includes paving all haul roads, revegetation or reclamation of disturbed ground, covering all construction trucks and watering to control dust.
Procedures and protocols have been outlined for consistency and compliance to the mitigation plan. If the contractor fails to meet environmental standards, the T-Rex oversight team is authorized to withhold progress payments.
Council discussed the impact of the temporary monitors on the monitoring network. Ken Lloyd asked if the contractor had an early warning system to help prevent exceedances. Mr. Paulmeno indicated there is a working group which is meeting to discuss these types of issues. The RAQC indicated staff should participate on this committee.
Bob Lowdermilk, Air Quality Control Commissioner, inquired if the T-REX team had any discussions with the Utah group who have experience with design build projects. Mr. Paulmeno indicated that the team that prepared the RFP talked with them.
Additional information on the project is available at www.trexproject.com.
Proposal to Establish a Diesel Shareholder Subcommittee
Jerry Dilley gave Council an update on local diesel issues. Staff recommended Council approve a proposal to form a Diesel Stakeholder Work Group to investigate a number of diesel issues and make recommendations to the RAQC and the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC). The workgroup would be co-chaired by the RAQC and AQCC.
The work group will look at many diesel issues, including the following:
Dave Sladek agreed to co-chair the committee. If Council approves of the committee formation then a formal presentation will be made to the AQCC on August 16. The work group will investigate issues and make recommendations to the RAQC and AQCC by April 1, 2002.
Don Parsons moved to establish a diesel stakeholders subcommittee with Dave Sladek as the RAQC’s co-chair. Seconded by Melanie Worley. Motion passed without objection.
Once the AQCC concurs with forming the committee (since it will be chaired jointly by the RAQC and AQCC) at their monthly meeting on August 16, the schedule of meetings will be set.
Invitations to participate will be sent out to the trucking industry, engine manufacturers, construction industry, RTD, oil companies, delivery, school bus, and state and local government fleet operators, waste haulers, environmental and health organizations and any other interested parties.
There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.