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In This Issue: Regional Air Quality Council Considers State Auditor's Report on Inspection/Maintenance Program
Regional Air Quality Council
Considers State Auditor’s Report on Inspection/Maintenance Program
At the RAQC Board meeting on December 9, 1999, staff from the Office of the State Auditor presented the results of the recently completed audit of the state’s vehicle inspection/maintenance program.
The report questioned the effectiveness of the current
emissions testing program and concluded that the program can be eliminated or
significantly modified while still maintaining the federal carbon monoxide
standard.
Staff from the RAQC and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), who participated on the technical review panel for the study, questioned several aspects and conclusions of the report. In particular, staff was concerned with the methodology used to determine emissions in the future and the impact on continued maintenance of federal air quality standards. CDPHE cautioned that eliminating the inspection and maintenance program and oxygenated fuels program in 2001 may jeopardize compliance with the requirements for the State Implementation Plan. It may also hinder Colorado’s ability to demonstrate compliance with federal transportation conformity requirements.
The report provided some recommendations on modifications
to the inspection and maintenance program, recommending more attention to high
emitting vehicles. In fact, the
RAQC has been examining ways for dealing with high emitting
vehicles--recognizing that these vehicles most frequently are owned by those
least likely to be able to afford repairs.
The State Auditor’s Report will be helpful in the future
as the RAQC evaluates options for
making further revisions to these programs.
On January 10, 2000, the AQCC will hold a public hearing on the RAQC’s carbon monoxide maintenance plan and redesignation request at 9:00 a.m., 1445 Market Street.
RAQC Approves 2000 Workplan and
Budget
At its December meeting, the Regional Air Quality Council approved its year 2000 work program and budget. Priorities in 2000 include the continued work on maintenance plans for carbon monoxide and PM-10 and the second year of the ozone awareness campaign.
The plan also includes a series of efforts designed to
provide resources to local governments. In
addition to the specific local government work program, the Council will
continue outreach to local governments on forthcoming changes to carbon
monoxide, ozone and particulate matter.
Specific elements of the workplan that affect local
governments include:
Encouraging local programs for repair and removal of
high emitting and smoking vehicles;
Providing technical and information assistance to local
road maintenance officials to continue to meet street sweeping and sanding
requirements of Regulation 16;
Coordinating the transportation and air quality
planning activities to ensure continued transportation conformity;
Voluntary ozone reduction efforts with local
governments and their citizens; and
Outreach to local governments regarding changes in
inspection and maintenance, oxygenated fuels, PM-10 and ozone State
Implementation plans.
The RAQC’s 2000 budget maintains a strong funding
commitment from local governments throughout the region. Local governments will contribute more than $235,000 or approximately 40
percent of the RAQC’s 2000 budget. Local
elected officials, or local staff with questions regarding the workplan elements
are encouraged to contact the RAQC.
On Tuesday November 30th, the Denver metro region
experienced its first exceedance of the federal standard for carbon monoxide
since December, 1995. According to
EPA regulations, a region must have
two exceedances per calendar year before it violates the federal standard.
“While much progress has been made in reducing the carbon
monoxide from automobiles, the November 30th occurrence shows we can still
experience certain weather conditions that trap the carbon monoxide emissions
close to the ground. This is when
we usually see high carbon monoxide readings,” said Ken Lloyd, the RAQC’s
executive director.
To continue plans to pursue redesignation as an attainment
area for carbon monoxide, the metro region must not exceed the standard of 9
parts per million for the rest of the year. The reading on November 30th was 9.5 parts per million at the monitor on
Speer and Auraria in downtown Denver.
RAQC Member Profile -
Jim Scherer brings an outstanding and varied background to the Regional Air Quality Council. Currently, he is serving as executive director of Corridor Alliance for a Rapid Transit Solution, an association of municipalities and individuals on the I-70 corridor, which is looking at a high speed monorail solution to the congestion on I-70.
From 1970 - 1982, Jim owned and operated a car rental and
leasing business. His most prominent role
in the metro area was as a state legislator from Idaho Springs representing
Jefferson, Clear Creek, Gilpin and Summit counties from 1982-1986. He then served as the regional administrator of Region VIII of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency from 1987 to 1992.
After his tenure as EPA administrator, he spent five years
as an environmental advisor and team leader in foreign countries. He and his wife Donna spent nearly two years in Prague, Czech Republic,
and three years in Jakarta, Indonesia, helping the governments develop and
implement environmental regulations. Jim
and Donna have been married for 35 years and have three children all living in
the Denver metropolitan area.
Laura Hagg Nelson -
Laura Hagg Nelson was hired in November as the Public Involvement and Communications Specialist and will serve as the staff contact for local governments.
She directs project planning and management of various public outreach and education efforts for the Council. She oversees the RAQC's communication efforts such as the web site, newsletters, educational flyers, press releases and briefing materials.
Previously, Laura worked as a Research Analyst in
Governmental Affairs for Public Service Company of Colorado, where she was
responsible for researching and analyzing legislation, writing legislative fact
sheets and serving as a liaison among state legislators, company executives and
employees. She also worked as a Policy Associate for the National Conference of
State Legislatures, helping to develop state energy, natural disaster and solid
waste policy.
While earning her Masters in Public Affairs at the University of Colorado, Denver, she worked as a management intern in the city manager's office at the City of Westminster. She earned a B.A. in History with honors from Smith College. Laura can be reached at (303) 629-5450, ext. 220 or by E-mail, lhnelson@raqc.org.
Agendas and minutes from the RAQC Board meetings are now online on the RAQC’s web site at www.raqc.org by clicking on the Council button on the menu bar. The Local Government Clean Air Monthly is also available, by clicking on Links and More on the menu bar.
The next Air Exchange Newsletter will be mailed in mid-January. The Air Exchange will be accessible on the website by early next year.
January Regional Air Quality Council
Meeting to be in Douglas County
The January meeting of the Regional Air Quality Council will be Thursday, January 6, 2000 at 3:00 p.m., at the Highlands Ranch Recreation Center, Eastridge Room, 9568 South University Blvd. The agenda includes presentations on the Highlands Ranch “Ranch Rider” shuttle on demand service and the Douglas County Concurrency ordinance. A complete agenda will be available one week before the meeting on the RAQC’s website.
Happy Holidays!