Ken Lloyd, RAQC; Misty Howell, RAQC; Gerald Dilley, RAQC; Kerri Fiedler, EPA; Margy Christiansen; Jim Brandon, ESP; Shirleen Tucker, APCD; Stan Dempsey, CPA; Doug Lempke, AQCC; Bob Lowermilk, AQCC; Chris Dann, APCD; Steve Arnold, APCD; Margie Perkins, APCD; Pat Reddy, ACPD; Frank Johnson, AG’s Office; Tim Russ, EPA; Jerry Gallagher, J. Gallagher & Associates; Jeff Kimes, EPA; John Van Kirk, City of Aurora; Howard Rothman, CDPHE; Christine Johnson, Xcel Energy; Karen Miller, Royal Crest Dairy; Patty Stulp, Ethanol Management Company; Lucy Nolan, Ethanol Management Company; and Larry Volmert, Holland & Hart.

The meeting was called to order by Chair Jim Scherer at 3:05 p.m. A quorum was present at 3:20 p.m.

The Council and audience introduced themselves.

None.

None.

Committees

None.

Members

None.

None.

CO Maintenance Plan

Ken Lloyd informed Council that the AQCC unanimously adopted the CO maintenance plan revision in June. The plan has been submitted to Legislative Council per HB1340 and will be considered by Legislative Council in September. After approval the Governor will be able to send the plan to EPA for approval.

Repair Your Air Campaign

Ken Lloyd gave Council an overview of the program. He indicated the program had a slow start due to some issues with the clean screen vans. Over 19,000 usable vehicle records have been recorded through remote sensing. Of those 267 high HC and over 400 CO vehicles have been identified. Currently, there are twelve HC participants in the program. There has been a six percent response to the first wave of letters that were sent out. Staff is following up with the others who have been identified.

There was discussion on how to get more participation.

Shirleen Tucker informed the Council that there are now three clean screen vans on the road. This will help to get more data for the Repair Your Air Campaign.

Clean Air Fleets

Ken Lloyd reviewed the status of the Clean Air Fleets program and gave Council the program outreach folder. The retrofit and alternate fuels program has begun. The RAQC has received several applications that are being reviewed by the Clean Air Fleets’ Program Advisory Team.

Staff has been working the school districts to get commitments for converting school bus fleets. The RAQC has applied for $500,000 grant with EPA specifically for school bus retrofits and alternate fuels projects.

There may also be funding available this fall through DRCOG’s TIP process.

Ken Lloyd gave an overview of the summer 2003 monitoring values . Ken explained that the region violated the standard at three separate monitors. He showed a comparison of the number of alerts called each season. As of August 6, there have been 32 ozone alerts during the 2003 season. There were 20 in 2002 and 13 in 2001.

Another chart that Ken discussed showed the ozone values greater than 85 and 80 ppb by date. The chart showed that multiple monitors had high readings during the July 11 & 12 episode as well as other days later in July.

There was discussion on the July 11 & 12 episode. Ken related that this the most severe episode in the region in 17 years. The 1-hour values were their highest since 1986.

Ken discussed the similarities and differences between the 1998 and 2003 ozone seasons.

Presentation on ozone and meteorological conditions during July episodes

Pat Reddy, CDPHE Meteorologist, presented information that explained the high concentrations of ozone on July 11 and 12. He showed Council how the "Denver cyclone" moves air into the metro area. He indicated it is rare to get a inversion so close to the ground with high summer temperatures.

There was discussion regarding whether the Weld county flash emissions were included in the air mix data. Mr. Reddy indicated those emissions would be part of the mix. Steve Arnold indicated the APCD is checking into the flash emissions.

Margie Perkins, Director APCD, explained that the APCD is conducting a study to get real ambient data for precursor emissions. The objectives are to verify past monitoring data, take some new samples, and gain perspective on time periods. This study will help to show that how real data and modeling data relate.

Status of Early Action Compact Implementation Activities and Upcoming Schedule

Ken Lloyd updated Council on the status of the EAC. He stated that the meteorological modeling and emissions inventories for 2002 base case and 2007 base case have been completed. The consultant is on target for the 2002 base case photochemical modeling, which is scheduled for completion at the end of August.

Ken indicated the strategy analysis to quantify emission reductions of mobile sources, point sources, voluntary programs and prescribed fire emissions is in various stages.

The modeling review panel will meet in September to review the base case modeling and continue to meet throughout the fall for ongoing technical review of the consultant’s work. The larger stakeholder group will meet in October to review the base case modeling results. The larger group will meet in October/November to develop strategy scenarios and again in December to develop control case scenario modeling. The group will meet in January to make recommendations that will be forwarded to the RAQC Board.

Ken laid out the schedule for meeting the milestones of the EAC. The RAQC will consider the recommendations in January or February, approve the draft Ozone Action Plan in March, and submit the proposed plan to the AQCC by March 31. The General Assembly will need to give pre-approval of the plan during the 2004 session in order to submit the plan to EPA by the December 2004 deadline. The AQCC will adopt the final plan and regulation as a SIP revision in fall 2004. The Governor will submit the SIP revisions to EPA by December 31, 2004.

There was discussion on the issue of legislative pre-approval. Council will have to work with legislators so they understand the issues and the EPA timelines. Council agreed it is important to keep legislators involved in the process as it moves forward.

Overview of EPA’s proposed implementation rule (May 2003) and comparison with EAC time lines and requirements

Ken Lloyd informed Council that EPA proposed an implementation rule outlining the measures non-attainment areas will have to take once designated. He provided a chart that compared the two options under consideration by EPA along with the time frame and requirements of the Early Action Compact. Council reviewed what each option might mean for the Denver region. There was discussion on the effect of each option on transportation conformity. EPA will have a final rule by December 2003.

There was some discussion on EPA’s reasoning for revoking the 1-hour ozone standard.

Stan Dempsey, Colorado Petroleum Association, asked if Rocky Mountain National Park is part of the modeling domain under the EAC. Ken indicated that it is included, but there has been no discussion as to what to do with the information. Currently, the National Park is outside the ozone maintenance plan area. Ken stated that any non-attainment boundaries will probably be larger than the current boundaries.

There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.