Title
The El Dorado County Air Quality Management District recommending the Board, acting as the Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 070-2018 authorizing the acceptance of funding from the California Air Resources Board to implement the Community Air Protection Program. Estimated revenue for Fiscal Year 2018/19 is expected to be $30,565.
FUNDING: Funding authorized by Assembly Bill 109 from the California Air Resources Board.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
The El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (District) recommending the Board, acting as the Air Quality Management Board of Directors, adopt Resolution 070-2018 authorizing Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) to:
1) Execute grant agreement G17-CAPP-8 accepting initial funding from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in the estimated amount of $30,565 for the implementation of Assembly Bill 617 (AB617), subject to approval of County Counsel and Risk Management;
2) Execute any future grant or funding agreements with CARB and other necessary actions to receive additional funding to support the implementation of AB617 through the statutory term of the program; and
3) Implement and expend the funds in accordance with agreement G17-CAPP-8, AB617 and CARB requirements.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
AB 617 established the Community Air Protection Program (CAPP). CAPP is an element of the State’s Cap and Trade program. It is intended to comprehensively address emission impacts in local communities. The bill requires identification of communities that might be disproportionately impacted by emissions, development of Community Emission Reduction Plans, and deployment of emission monitoring to track the impact of implementing the plans.
During the first program year the California Air Resources Board will select approximately 10 of the highest priority locations in the State for the deployment of community air monitoring systems. Additional locations will be selected on an ongoing basis, by January 1, 2020, and every year thereafter. No El Dorado County communities are likely to be selected for the foreseeable future as the program is targeted for disadvantaged and low income communities near large metropolitan industrial areas.
AB 617 also requires districts that are nonattainment for one or more air pollutants to adopt an expedited schedule for the implementation of best available retrofit technology (BARCT). BARCT are pollution source emissions limitations based on the maximum degree of reduction achievable, taking into account the environmental, energy and economic impacts for each type of source. As El Dorado is nonattainment for the federal ozone standard, district staff will adopt a schedule and work to implement BARCT.
AB 617 requires CARB to establish a uniform statewide system of annual reporting of criteria pollutants and toxic air contaminants from stationary sources. AQMD will be conducting prioritization evaluations to determine which sources are subject to the reporting requirements and then assisting the subject source operators with reporting.
AB 617 funding may be used for emission reduction projects that meet the Carl Moyer program eligibility requirements and are located in or benefit a low income community. Low income communities that are at or below the 80 percent of statewide median income threshold, include portions of Diamond Springs, Placerville, Pollock Pines and South Lake Tahoe.
AB 617 funds will also be used for particulate matter sensors to be located at schools. Particulate matter sensors can provide real time site specific data that administrators can use to make recreational activity decisions when schools are significantly impacted by wildfire smoke.
ALTERNATIVES
If the Board chooses not to adopt the Resolution, the District will be still required to perform the actions required by AB617 with the use of existing funding sources.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Resolution has been approved by County Counsel and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The acceptance of this funding will allow the District to perform the tasks required by AB617 with little to no fiscal impact to existing District funding.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk to provide AQMD with a signed copy of the Resolution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Dave Johnston, Air Pollution Control Officer