LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLEAN AIR MONTHLY:
A monthly newsletter for local governments about air quality
November 1999

Text-only version. Published by the Regional Air Quality Council, 1445 Market, Suite 260, Denver CO, 80202, 303-629-5450
www.raqc.org
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In This Issue: Regional Air Quality Council Meets in Adams County - Reviews Federal Planning Requirements for Year 2000.

 

RAQC Hears Presentation Regarding the Status of New National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Ken Lloyd, Executive Director of the Regional Air Quality Council, gave the RAQC board an overview of a series of complex legal and technical federal issues that will affect air quality planning for the Denver area. A synopsis of that presentation is summarized below.

Ozone

In June 1998, after having developed a new ozone standard based on an 8-hour value, the federal EPA revoked its old one-hour standard for areas that met the one-hour standard, including the Denver area. 

In May 1999, a federal Court of Appeals ruled that the new, more-stringent 8-hour ozone standard could not be enforced and needed further justification.  However, the Court did not vacate the new standard, but remanded the decision to EPA for more justification. 

EPA plans to appeal the Court of Appeals decision to the Supreme Court.  In the meantime, EPA has proposed reinstating the old standard.  To be designated as attainment for that standard, those areas previously designated as non-attainment for ozone are being asked to develop maintenance plans.

The process of reinstating a previously-revoked standard is new to both EPA and to the region. The Denver metro region has not violated the one-hour ozone standard since 1988, and had previously submitted a request for redesignation as attainment under the old standard.  Therefore, the RAQC board voted to ask EPA, in reinstating the standard, to separately determine those areas that are non-attainment, rather than simply to reinstate those areas that were previously designated as non-attainment. The response to this request will determine if the region is required to do a new maintenance plan for ozone to meet the one-hour ozone standard.

Because the court did not vacate the new 8-hour ozone standard, EPA still plans to designate areas  that violate the 8-hour standard.  The metro region has been barely under that standard for the last two years.

Therefore, the need to continue voluntary ozone control strategies still remains strong, in spite of the region’s success in meeting the less-stringent one-hour ozone standard. 

Particulate Matter

In its May decision, the Court of Appeals has held that the new PM10 standard recently developed by EPA be vacated because it overlapped with the PM 2.5 standard.  EPA will not appeal the Court’s decision, therefore, the old PM10 standard will continue to apply.  However, because the court’s decision addressed specifically the overlap between the PM10 and PM 2.5 standards, EPA may move forward with developing a new course particle standard in the future. 

The current process for developing a PM10 maintenance plan requires the same level of modeling for a maintenance plan as for a non-attainment SIP.  However, EPA is considering a “low-hurdle” maintenance plan for qualifying areas.

The RAQC voted to proceed with the development of the PM10 maintenance plan to start the process of allowing the region to be designated as “attainment” for PM10.

Carbon Monoxide Subcommittee Discusses High Emitter and Smoking Vehicles

Upon continued review of the problem of high emitting and smoking vehicles, the Council is moving forward with a white paper that will include options, costs, implementation issues and voluntary actions that can be taken.  The white paper will lay out the issues for the legislature and executive branch should they desire to take further action. 

In addition, the subcommittee recommended that RAQC work with local governments to set up smoking vehicle enforcement efforts similar to those being implemented in the City and County of Denver.

Thornton’s Air Quality Efforts

Jeff Coder, Thornton’s Development Director and Mason Staub from Thornton’s Street Maintenance Department, gave the Regional Air Quality Council an overview of some of the actions taken by the City of Thornton that have had a positive impact on air quality.  Coder presented information on the City’s Growth Pacing ordinance.  The ordinance provides for a mix of development and is intended to improve the character of the community as well as reduce congestion.  It has accomplished these objectives and has contributed to better air by limiting sprawl.

Staub presented information which included a comparison of sanding reductions and practices for the cities and counties of the metro region.  Since 1988, the City of Thornton has undertaken a successful street maintenance program that has reduced street sand by 74%.

Northeast Metro Pollution Prevention Alliance

Carol Maclennan  of the Tri-County Health Department and Dennis Creamer of Conoco made a presentation to the RAQC on the work of the Northeast Metro Pollution Prevention Alliance (NEMPPA).  NEMPPA is a public/private venture created  to bring awareness of pollution prevention concepts to the northeast Denver metropolitan area.  Their goal is to provide the foundation and develop a process for small businesses and the community to work together on environmental issues. 

Through a grant from the EPA, NEMPPA has done initial work to determine those industry sectors which are most prevalent and which are of most concern to the communities in the area.  In responding to these identified concerns, NEMPPA has held two technical workshops, an annual household chemical roundup, and continues to work to develop pollution prevention opportunities for small and medium sized businesses.  NEMPPA will continue to work with trade organizations and small businesses to educate and encourage the use of pollution prevention techniques. 

Future efforts include a pollution prevention resource center, pollution prevention education in schools and a pollution prevention awards program. 

CO Plan Hearing Scheduled

The Air Quality Control Commission has set a hearing for January 10, 2000, to adopt the Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan revisions and changes to regulations 11 and 13.  For further information, contact the RAQC office.

RAQC Member Profile -Shirleen Tucker

Shirleen Tucker is the Chairman of the Regional Air Quality Council. She is committed to working with local governments to improve air quality in the metro area and  believes “the previous RAQC has provided an excellent foundation for ongoing work through the Blueprint for Clean Air.”

Shirleen served  in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1986 thru 1998, representing Lakewood. In the legislature, she served as Chairman of the Local Government, Transportation and Energy, and Capital Development Committees. She sponsored legislation establishing the Northern Front Range Air Quality Study, a comprehensive study providing scientific data and analysis of Denver’s brown cloud problem.  She served on the Technical Advisory Panel for the 3-year duration of the study.

Shirleen has been honored for her legislative work by a variety of organizations.  She  has also been active in a variety of community activities designed to help her community and the region be a better place to live.

She serves in a leadership capacity with the Jefferson Foundation, the West Chamber of Commerce, Red Rocks Community College Foundation,  the Colorado Pollution Prevention Advisory Board and is a founding member of the Colorado State Parks Foundation.

She views her work as Chairman of the RAQC as an extension of her community involvement. Shirleen would like local public officials to know that her door is always open and she would be happy to discuss air quality issues or concerns.

December RAQC Meeting Date Changed

The next RAQC meeting will be held on December 9th at 3:00 p.m. at the Denver Chamber of Commerce Building, 1445 Market Street, 4th floor conference room. Agenda items include: