Title
HEARING - Air Quality Management District (AQMD) recommending the Board, acting as the AQMD Board of Directors:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 226-2024, approving the State Implementation Plan Revision for the 2008 and 2015 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards for the Sacramento Federal Nonattainment Area - Proposed Contingency Measures and Reasoned Justification (SIP Revision); and
2) Direct staff to forward the SIP Revision to the California Air Resources Board for transmittal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a revision to the State Implementation Plan.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is located within the Sacramento Federal Nonattainment Area (SFNA), which is designated as a severe nonattainment area for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS and a serious nonattainment area for the 2015 8-hour NAAQS. However, the SFNA air districts requested a voluntary reclassification to severe nonattainment, as recent ambient air quality data and modeling conducted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) indicate that additional time is needed to meet the required standard. The attainment year for the SFNA is 2024 for the 2008 8-hour ozone standard and 2032 for the 2015 8-hour ozone standard, with milestone dates for the 2015 standard set for 2026 and 2029.
The Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) requires that nonattainment areas develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs), outlining strategies to meet the NAAQS through emission reductions. Sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9) of the CAA require these plans for ozone nonattainment areas classified as serious or higher to include contingency measures.
On June 15, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published a final disapproval for the SFNA’s 2008 8-hour ozone SIP because the SIP did not include contingency measures that would be triggered if the region failed to attain the 2008 standard.
AQMD is now on a regulatory clock to submit and obtain approval for a SIP revision that includes contingency measures to avoid USEPA sanctions. An emissions offset sanction, raising the offset ratio to 2:1 from the current 1.3:1, is set to take effect on January 17, 2025. If the revision is not approved by July 17, 2025, the region may face the loss of federal highway funds.
The SIP Revision determined that AQMD needs to amend Architectural Coatings rule to reduce VOC emissions should the region fail to attain the standards by the attainment date. The AQMD adopted revisions to Rule 215 - Architectural Coatings on July 16, 2024. Other than continuing to implement current programs, no additional obligations will be required of AQMD.
AQMD staff recommends that the Board conduct a public hearing to adopt the State Implementation Plan Revision for the 2008 and 2015 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards for the Sacramento Federal Nonattainment Area - Proposed Contingency Measures and Reasoned Justification (SIP Revision).
If approved, the SIP Revision will be forwarded to CARB and the USEPA for inclusion in the State Implementation Plan.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board of Directors may wholly approve, deny, or make further revisions to the proposed SIP Revision.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
July 16, 2024, Legistar file 24-1201, the Board adopted Resolution 123-2024 approving amendments to Rule 215, Architectural Coatings
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel approved the Resolution
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No financial impact to AQMD, the County or sources operating in the County.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk to obtain the Board Chair's signature on three (3) original Resolutions, and
2) Clerk to provide AQMD with two (2) signed copies of the Resolution to be forwarded to the California Air Resources Board.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Rania Serieh, Air Pollution Control Officer