Title
El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the Department of Transportation recommending the Board:
1) Acting as the AQMD Board of Directors, authorize the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute an amendment to Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 6907 increasing Targeted Airshed Grant funding by $11,959.75 for a new total of $994,643 and amending the scope for County Department of Transportation for the paving of previously unpaved roadways in the area of the County roadwork projects with no change to the term; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute the amendment to MOU 6907 on behalf of the Department of Transportation.
FUNDING: Targeted Airshed Grant funding.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The federal Targeted Airshed Grant ("TAG") program assists local, state, and tribal air pollution control agencies with developing plans and conducting projects to reduce air pollution in non-attainment areas that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) determines are the top five most polluted areas relative to ozone, annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The overall goal of the TAG Program is to reduce air pollution in the nation’s areas with the highest levels of ozone and PM2.5 ambient air concentrations.
The Sacramento Region Non Attainment Area (which includes all or part of El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo, and Solano counties) was designated as a Non Attainment Area for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard ("NAAQS") in 2009. EPA has determined the region is among the top five most polluted areas in the U.S. relative to the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS and is eligible for TAG funding. The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District ("SMAQMD"), El Dorado County Air Quality Management District ("AQMD"), Placer County Air Pollution Control District, and Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District joined together to apply for these grants to achieve the overall goal of the TAG Program of reducing ambient PM2.5 air concentrations for our communities' residents.
On June 23, 2021 the EPA approved TAG Cooperative Agreement 98T10501 with the SMAQMD, in which AQMD is named an eligible subrecipient. On March 16, 2022, AQMD and SMAQMD entered into Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") 2021-00000054, which defined each party’s role in the performance and administration of the work approved by TAG Cooperative Agreement 98T10501.
On June 16, 2022, the EPA approved a second TAG Cooperative Agreement 98T36001 with SMAQMD, in which the AQMD was named an eligible subrecipient. On September 15, 2022, AQMD and SMAQMD entered into MOU 2022-00000038, which defined each party’s role in the performance and administration of the work approved by TAG Cooperative Agreement 98T36001.
Road dust accounts for 6% of directly emitted PM2.5 emissions in the Sacramento Region Non Attainment Area. In both TAG grants, the EPA approved the use of funding to pave (double chip seal) approximately 49,911 linear feet (9.45 linear miles) of currently unpaved roadways in the Federal PM2.5 Non Attainment Area portion of El Dorado County. A total $994,643.00 in funding is available for reimbursement for these projects. TAG grant 98T10501 originally funded the paving for segments of Bear Creek Road, Oriental Street, and Sand Ridge Road. TAG grant 98T36001 originally funded the paving for segments of South Street, Luneman Road, Mount Murphy Road, Russel Hollow Road, Tullis Mine Road, and Sweeney Road.
The Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between AQMD and the El Dorado County Department of Transportation ("EDC DOT") approved on October 25, 2022 outlines the maximum grant amounts for each road segment, and the responsibilities and requirements of both parties in order to receive and transfer the TAG funding awarded in the two grants. When eligible road paving projects are completed, EDC DOT submits invoices and other required documentation to AQMD, AQMD will bill SMAQMD on a quarterly basis, SMAQMD reimburses AQMD, and this funding is transferred via journal entry to EDC DOT.
Most of these funded road projects have been completed by EDC DOT, and the actual square footage of the paving required (and reimbursement amounts) have been recalculated, resulting in a surplus of TAG funding remaining. This amendment to the MOU will correct the total TAG amount available (from $982,683.25 to $994,643.00) which was incorrect on the original MOU due to a clerical error. Additionally, this amendment will update the paving quantities and funding amounts for the completed roadways, and add Mameluke Hill Road and a portion of Cable Road to the list of roadway projects to be funded with the remaining surplus TAG funding.
ALTERNATIVES
If amendment is not approved and executed, the Department of Transportation will not be able to use this TAG funding for Mameluke Hill Road and Cable Road and only a portion of costs for some previously paved roads will be eligible for reimbursement.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
March 8, 2022, Legistar file 22-0159, approved AQMD's acceptance of up to $2,314,560 of TAG funding to fund roadway paving and woodstove replacement projects; authorized the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute the subrecipient MOU with SMAQMD.
August 16, 2022, Legistar file 22-1296, approved AQMD's acceptance of up to $971,890 of TAG funding to fund roadway paving, residential biomass chipping, and woodstove replacement projects; authorized the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute the subrecipient MOU with SMAQMD
October 25, 2022, Legistar file 22-1840, approved and authorized the Air Pollution Control Officer and the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute a Memorandum of Understanding in the amount of $982,683.25 of TAG funding for County roadwork projects through July 30, 2027.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Department of Transportation staff was involved in the drafting and approval of this amendment.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No impact on Net County Cost. Transfers TAG funding already allocated to the AQMD.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board shall:
1) Obtain the Chair of the Board of Supervisor's signature on two (2) originals of the amendment, and forward these originals to AQMD for execution by the Air Pollution Control Officer; and
2) Forward a copy of the Board Minute Action to AQMD.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Infrastructure / Safe & Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Rania Serieh, Air Pollution Control Officer, Air Quality Management District
Rafael Martinez, Director, Department of Transportation