Title
The El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (District) recommending the Board, acting as the Air Quality Management Board of Directors, adopt Resolution 109-2022 authorizing Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) to:
1) Execute grant agreement G21-CAPP-08 accepting funding from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in the amount of $15,430 for the implementation of Assembly Bill 617 (AB617);
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 2026; and
3) Implement and expend the funds in accordance with agreement G21-CAPP-08, AB617 and CARB requirements.
FUNDING: California Air Resources Board.
Body
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.
The California Air Resources Board has selected the highest priority locations in the State for the deployment of community air monitoring systems. Additional locations will be selected on an ongoing basis. 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 requires CARB to establish a uniform statewide system of annual reporting of criteria pollutants and toxic air contaminants from stationary sources. AQMD will be continuing to conduct 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, Georgetown, Garden Valley, Pleasant Valley, Fairplay, Grizzly Flat, Pollock Pines and South Lake Tahoe. AB 617 funding may also be used for additional low cost particulate matter sensors to be located throughout the County.
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.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
On April 24, 2018, the Board approved the District's receipt of AB617 funding and approved a resolution authorizing the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute AB617 funding grant agreements through 2021, subject to approval of County Counsel and Risk Management.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Resolution has been approved by County Counsel and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This funding is authorized by Assembly Bill 109 from the California Air Resources Board. 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