Title
El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (District) recommending the Board, acting as the Air Quality Management Board of Directors, adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 084-2018 authorizing Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) to:
1) Execute Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) accepting initial Fiscal Year 2017-18 funding from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in the amount of $375,000 for the implementation of a Woodsmoke Reduction Pilot Program;
2) Execute Memorandum of Understanding with Placer County Air Pollution Control District to assist with program implementation in Placer County;
3) Execute agreements with participating contractors that install woodstoves to ensure old woodstoves are rendered inoperable and instruct residents on proper operation of new woodstove, pending approval from County Counsel and Risk Management;
4) Implement and expend the funds in accordance with the District/CAPCOA MOU; and
5) Execute any future grant or funding agreements with CAPCOA and other necessary actions to receive additional funding to support the implementation of the Woodsmoke Reduction Program through the statutory term of the program.
FUNDING: Funding authorized by Senate Bill 1613 from the California Air Resources Board.
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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 084-2018 authorizing Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) to:
1) Execute Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) accepting initial funding from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in the amount of $375,000 for the implementation of a Woodsmoke Reduction Pilot Program;
2) Execute Memorandum of Understanding with Placer County Air Pollution Control District to assist with program implementation in Placer County;
3) Execute agreements with participating contractors that install woodstoves to ensure old woodstoves are rendered inoperable and instruct residents on proper operation of new woodstove, pending approval from County Counsel and Risk Management;
4) Implement and expend the funds in accordance with the District/CAPCOA MOU; and
5) Execute any future grant or funding agreements with CAPCOA and other necessary actions to receive additional funding to support the implementation of the Woodsmoke Reduction Program through the statutory term of the program;
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On July 17, 2007, the Board approved an incentive program to reduce winter time particulate matter emissions by removing old wood burning fireplaces and stoves or replacing them with new clean burning EPA certified wood or pellet stoves. To date over 750 stoves have been replaced reducing criteria pollutant emissions by 183 tons and greenhouse gas emissions by 5,411 tons every year. It is estimated that 5,250 old stoves remain in the County.
On September 14, 2016, Senate Bill (SB) 1613 appropriated $5 million to the California Air Resources Board for the implementation of a statewide Woodsmoke Reduction Program. On October 11, 2017, SB 563 established a statewide Woodsmoke Reduction Program to be administered by CARB, in coordination with air districts with funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
CARB has developed Program Guidelines that have been incorporated into the grant agreement. The Guidelines state the program will maximize benefits to households in low income communities and to low income households. Low-income households and households located in low income communities are to be eligible to replace their old stove for little or no cost. These households will qualify for an enhanced incentive. Based upon average cost data acquired on the 750 stoves previously replaced, the maximum allowable enhanced incentive amount per replacement will be $3,000.
Households that are not low income or in low income communities will qualify for state funding at the incentive amounts in the current program ($500 -$900). Households replacing old woodstoves with new pellet stoves and those simply removing an old stove will not be eligible under this State program. They will continue to be eligible for the current AQMD subvention funded program. Rental households that were ineligible for the previous AQMD program will qualify for this new State program.
Of the $5 million appropriated by SB 1613, $250,000 has been allocated to El Dorado AQMD and $125,000 has been allocated to Placer County Air Pollution Control District (APCD). Due to the success of our program, Placer APCD requested our assistance with implementing the program in Placer County. On February 8, 2018, the Placer County APCD Board of Directors passed Resolution #18-03 which authorized the Placer APCD to direct their $125,000 allocation to El Dorado AQMD for the implementation of the program in Placer and El Dorado Counties. As compensation for assisting Placer, El Dorado AQMD will receive funding for administration (up to $11,875) and additional funding for replacements at households in EDC (up to $56,250).
Of the $5 million appropriated by SB 1613, $950,000 has not yet been allocated to an air district. In addition, several rural air districts have declined to accept their allocations. Once AQMD has expended the initial $375,000, we will be eligible to receive additional unallocated funding.
ALTERNATIVES
If the Board chooses not to adopt the Resolution, the District will not receive State funding, approximately 125 old woodstoves will not be replaced and the emission reductions will not be realized.
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 enhance the current woodsmoke program 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