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Regional Air Quality Council, 1445 Market, Suite 260, Denver CO, 80202,
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In This Issue:
At a special meeting on September 21, the Regional Air Quality Council approved a proposed plan for maintaining the federal carbon monoxide standard in the future. The plan is part of the RAQC's request for redesignation of the Denver area to attainment status for carbon monoxide.
The Council's approved plan will be proposed to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission on September 27. The Commission will hold a public hearing on the plan on December 16. The plan must be approved by the AQCC, the General Assembly, the Governor, and EPA before it can take effect.
The Denver area has not violated the carbon monoxide standard for over three years and can therefore seek attainment redesignation from EPA. As part of this effort, the RAQC developed a plan to maintain the standard, while also reducing some of the cost and convenience burdens on area motorists. The RAQC's proposed CO plan has three main elements:
- phasing down the oxygen content of wintertime gasoline to 1.5%, ultimately saving area motorists over $5 million per year;
- using on-road remote sensing technology as a "clean screen" method to exempt up to 40% of the vehicle population from routine vehicle testing, ultimately saving another $5 million in unnecessary testing costs. Combined with the current exemption for the first four model years, 60-70% of the vehicle fleet in the Denver could be exempted from routine testing by 2005.
- maintaining the current biennial, transient testing for vehicles that are not exempted.
In addition, the RAQC is also pursuing using remote sensing to identify high emitting vehicles on the road as well as improving enforcement of smoking vehicle laws and ordinances.
The RAQC will be seeking additional public input on the plan before it is finalized by the AQCC. Local governments seeking more information or a presentation on the plan should contact the RAQC office.
Jefferson County - A Telework Pilot Program
At its September 2nd meeting held at the Jefferson County Human Services Building, the members of the Regional Air Quality Council heard five presentations regarding local communities' clean air strategies. Nanette Neelan, Special projects coordinator for Jefferson County provided a presentation to the RAQC on its teleworking pilot program. The pilot program, slated to begin for 200 county employees in October of 1999, is designed to help the county be part of the transportation solution by allowing employees to work from home part time. Throughout the country 12 - 14 million workers telework.
While teleworking programs are usually begun in an effort to mitigate traffic congestion and improve air quality, the programs have the added impact of improving productivity and employee morale. In addition, in a competitive job market like Colorado's, teleworking programs can help with employee recruitment and retention.
Wheat Ridge - Improving the Pedestrian Friendliness of Wadsworth
While many communities throughout the region struggle with pressure to expand, Wheat Ridge has begun to take a serious look at re-development and ways to make already built areas more appealing, pedestrian friendly, and serve as more effective transportation corridors.
Councilman Ken Siler, with support from Mayor Gretchen Cerveny, presented information to the Council on Wheat Ridge's efforts to improve the Wadsworth Corridor through the City. Wheat Ridge's efforts center around keeping traffic on Wadsworth and out of neighborhoods, providing traffic mitigation in neighborhoods, and making Wadsworth more walkable through streetscaping and sidewalk improvements.
Jefferson County - A Partner with the State In Pollution Monitoring/Control
John Moody, Environmental Health Specialist for Jefferson County provided the Council with information on the County's Department of Health and Environment, and its role in protecting the public's health. Moody outlined the Department's role in inspection, issuance of burn permits, asbestos abatement, and complaint investigation. As Mr. Moody put it, the Department serves as the eyes and ears for the Air Pollution Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Golden - A Multi-Faceted Air Quality Approach
Joshua Epel, presented the council with an overview of the City of Golden's multi-faceted activities to improve air quality in the community. Golden is particularly concerned about summertime ozone pollution. While ozone is a regionally caused problem, some of the highest ozone readings in the metro region occur in the Golden area. As a result, Golden has been an active partner with the Regional Air Quality Council in implementing ozone reduction techniques and responding to ozone alerts. Golden has also been a long-time participant in the RAQC's street sand reduction program -- achieving an overall reduction of 44%.
Golden is concerned about transportation and its impact on air quality. The community has developed a pedestrian friendly environment which includes trails, bike paths, and multi-modal centers. Golden will also be undertaking a study of the air quality impacts of the proposed Northwest Parkway.
Lakewood - Planning for Improved Air Quality
Frank Gray, Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Lakewood presented the Council with information on techniques used in Lakewood to engage the public in discussion about air quality-friendly development. He pointed out that he viewed the role of his department as being significantly educational. As part of that educational effort, Jefferson County has developed a Citizen Planning Academy to acquaint its citizens with the difficulties of the planning process. Gray indicated that approximately 200 Lakewood citizens have attended the academy so far. Citizen participation in the academy has made an improvement in the quality of discussion in Lakewood regarding the development of new projects.
RAQC Member Profile - Commissioner Melanie WorleyMelanie Worley, a 15-year resident of Highlands Ranch, has served as a Douglas County Commissioner since January 1999. She was selected to fill a vacancy in District III; her current term expires in January 2001. Prior to her appointment as Commissioner, Ms. Worley served on the Douglas County Planning Commission for three years, and as chair from 1997 - 1998. Melanie is committed to seeking regional solutions to Metro Denver's transportation, infrastructure and air quality problems. She is an active member of the Denver Regional Council of Governments, serving on its Board of Directors, Executive Committee, transportation policy committee, and Metro Vision 2020 committee. Shortly after her appointment as County Commissioner, Governor Owens appointed her to serve on the Regional Air Quality Council.
Melanie is a strong advocate of intergovernmental cooperation and is committed to ensuring that local governments have a voice in air quality issues, both on regulatory and legislative levels. Melanie is active in Colorado Counties, Inc. And the National Association of Counties and serves on CCI and NACo's Transportation and Telecommunications Committees and CCI's Health and Human Services Committee.
October 7th RAQC Meeting in DenverThe October 7th RAQC meeting will be in Denver at 3 PM in the Chamber of Commerce Building, 1445 Market, 4th Floor Board Room. The Council will continue its discussion of the redesign of the inspection and maintenance program. In addition, the City of Denver will be making presentations to the RAQC on air quality and development in the Central Platte Valley, alternative de-icers, ozone reduction, and its mobile and stationary source programs. The Downtown Denver Partnership will be making a presentation on its Transportation Management Organization.