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 200-2018 authorizing Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) to:
1) Execute Memorandum of Understanding with Amador County Air Pollution Control District to assist with program implementation in Amador County;
2) Execute agreements with participating contractors in Amador County 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;
3) Implement and expend the funds in accordance with the District MOU, as well as the CAPCOA MOU approved by the action of the Board of Supervisors on May 8, 2018; and
4) 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 with Amador County Air Pollution Control District to assist with program implementation in Amador County;
2) Execute agreements with participating contractors in Amador County 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;
3) Implement and expend the funds in accordance with the District MOU, as well as the CAPCOA MOU approved by the action of the Board of Supervisors on May 8, 2018; and
4) 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.
On May 8, 2018, the Board approved Resolution 084-2018 authorizing the District's Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) to execute a similar MOU with the Placer County Air Pollution Control District, allowing the District to administer Placer County's Woodsmoke Reduction Program. The District has been successful in administering the program for the benefit of Placer County and El Dorado County, and has allocated or paid out incentives totalling the entire amount available to Placer County for the program in this round of funding.
Of the $5 million initially appropriated by SB 1613, $100,000 has been allocated to Amador County Air Pollution Control District (APCD). Due to the success of our County's program and the District's successful administration of the Placer County program, Amador APCD requested our assistance with implementing the program in Amador County. On June 19, 2018, the Amador County APCD Board of Directors approved agenda item 4 which authorized the Amador APCO to enter into an agreement with the District to directing the Amador $100,000 allocation to El Dorado AQMD for the implementation of the program in Amador and El Dorado Counties. As compensation for assisting Amador, El Dorado AQMD will receive funding for administration (up to $10,000) and additional funding for replacements at households in EDC (up to $45,000).
ALTERNATIVES
If the Board chooses not to adopt the Resolution, the District will not be able to administer the Woodsmoke Reduction Program in Amador County and the emission reductions will not be realized in our region.
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