Ken Lloyd, RAQC; Misty Howell, RAQC; Gerald Dilley, RAQC; Sara O’Keefe, RAQC; Steve McCannon, RAQC; Jim Brandon, ESP; John Van Kirk, City of Aurora; Lucy Nolan, Ethanol Management; Jeff May, DRCOG; Christine Johnson, Xcel Energy; Gerald Faudel, Frontier Oil; Cindy Copeland, Environmental Defense; Casey Shpall, AG’s Office; Shirleen Tucker, CDPHE; Margie Perkins, CDPHE; and Mike Silverstein, APCD.

The meeting was called to order by Chair Jim Scherer at 3:10 p.m. A quorum was not present at the meeting.

Approval of Agenda and Minutes

Jim Scherer indicated that he believes accurate messages regarding Denver’s air quality issues are not getting out to the public via the media. He has asked Ken to set up some meetings with the newspaper staff to help clarify the facts and messages.

Ken Lloyd reminded Council that the next RAQC meetings would be on February 5 and March 4. After the EAC ozone plan is approved by the AQCC in March, Council may want to go back to meeting every other month.

Committees

None.

Members

None.

None.

Results from Initial Photochemical Dispersion Modeling

Ken Lloyd gave Council an update on the photochemical modeling. He indicated that the June 2002 episode meets the EPA performance goals, but the model is consistently underpredicting, which understates the effectiveness of control strategies. He stated that EPA guidance allows a weight of evidence analysis to be used with modeling results to show attainment. He reviewed the tons per day reductions for VOC and NOx for each of the control scenarios. He further reviewed the relative reduction factors resulting from the modeling.

Ken outlined the modeling results for 2007 design values for all controls by monitor site and individual controls for Rocky Flats. He also summarized the sensitivity analyses for the controls.

Next Steps

Mike Silverstein, APCD, summarized the additional modeling that needs to be completed. The results of the additional modeling should be available the last week of January. The control strategies will need to be packaged for the final modeling attainment run. These results are expected by February 10. The draft technical support document will be available by February 10^th also.

Update on Nonattainment Area Boundaries

Mike Silverstein, APCD, stated that EPA has recommended 11-counties as the 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. The Governor will respond with confirmation or adjustments to the boundaries. Mike indicated that any adjustments must have technical merit. Comments on this issue can be sent to the APCD by January 23^rd. CDPHE will submit comments to the Governor’s office by January 30^th. The Governor is expected to submit his comments to EPA by February 6^th.

Mike indicated that CDPHE is requesting that the new counties join the Early Action Compact. CDPHE is facilitating meetings with county commissioners from Elbert, Larimer, Morgan and Weld counties. Joining the EAC ensures a nonattainment designation will be deferred for all counties.

Mike reviewed the scheduled public meetings:

There was discussion regarding whether or not the RAQC should submit comments to the Governor on the boundary issue. The RAQC needs to look at the effects of a larger boundary if the EAC fails and the region is in nonattainment. Council asked staff to look at this issue and bring information to the February meeting.

Council discussed the best way to inform legislators of the importance of the EAC. Margie Perkins indicated that this is a Governor’s initiative and the CDPHE lobbyists are working to keep the Legislators updated on the issue.

Adjournment

There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.