Title
HEARING: Acting as the Board of Directors for the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District:
Air Quality Management District (AQMD) recommending the Board adopt Resolution 185-2013 to:
1) Determine that the PM2.5 Implementation/Maintenance Plan and Re-Designation Request (Plan) for El Dorado County is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
2) Approve the PM2.5 Implementation/Maintenance Plan and Re-designation Request for the Sacramento Federal Nonattainment Area (SFNA); and
3) Authorize staff to forward the PM2.5 Implementation/Maintenance Plan and Re-designation Request for the Sacramento Region and all necessary supporting documents to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for submittal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a revision to the California State Implementation Plan (SIP), to make minor corrections to the Plan and take other actions necessary to fulfill the intent of this Resolution.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
No impact to Net County Cost.
Background
Particulate matter is (PM) is a significant form of pollution which stems from the mixture of solid and liquid particles in the ambient air. Particles originate from a variety of activities and processes, including the chemical reaction of atmospheric gases, fuel combustion, smoke, road dust, and vehicle exhaust. Studies have linked PM exposure to a variety of significant health problems. As a result, the EPA establishes acceptable PM standards, and determines when cities and counties in particular regions have attained those standards.
Based on air quality data from 2006 to 2008, the EPA officially designated Sacramento County, Solano County, and portions of Yolo, Placer, and El Dorado Counties as "non-attainment" for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) on December 14, 2009 creating the Sacramento Federal Nonattainment Area (SFNA).
The four air districts within the SFNA, along with CARB and EPA, implemented control measures to reduce PM2.5 emissions and PM2.5 precursor emissions. One of the most important control measures was implemented by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) prohibiting wood burning (interior and exterior) when poor air quality is forecast (SMAQMD Rule 421). El Dorado County does not have a similar rule.
Based on air quality data from 2011 and 2012, the EPA officially determined that the SFNA had attained the PM2.5 standard on August 14, 2013. (Federal Register, Volume 78, No. 135, July 15, 2013, p.42018). The purpose of this Plan is to request that EPA redesignate the SFNA to attainment and to fulfill the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for redesignation to attainment for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
The Plan showed that no new control measures are required to continue to attain the PM2.5 NAAQS. If successful, EPA's redesignation of the SFNA to attainment would replace federal nonattainment area permitting requirements with less stringent attainment area requirements.
The PM2.5 Plan was approved by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) on October 24, 2013 and Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD) on November 13, 2013. Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) will hold a public hearing on the Plan on February 13, 2014.
Reason for Recommendation
This Plan complies with the federal Clean Air Act requirements pertaining to PM2.5 nonattainment areas. This notice, the public hearing, and the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements of Clean Air Act Subparts 1 and 4 including Sections 107, 109, 110, 172, 173, 175A, 176, 182, 189, 319 and associated regulations including Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, 51, and 58. Upon adoption by the Board of Directors, the Plan will be forwarded to the California Air Resources Board for approval and submitted to EPA as a revision to the State Implementation Plan.
Additionally, CEQA requires government agencies in California to evaluate environmental impacts before approval of an action. It exempts an action by a regulatory agency for the protection of the environment and an action by a lead agency that has no possibility of resulting in a significant adverse effect on the environment. District staff finds that this Plan satisfies these requirements and proposes a NOE under CEQA.
Action to be taken following Board approval
AQMD staff to forward the PM2.5 Implementation/Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request for the Sacramento Federal Nonattainment Area (SFNA); and all necessary supporting documents to the California Air Resources Board for submittal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a revision to the California State Implementation Plan.
Contact
Dave Johnston, x 7578
Concurrences
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution.