Title
El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and Department of Transportation recommending the Board:
1) Acting as the AQMD Board of Directors, authorize the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with El Dorado County for $982,683.25 in Targeted Airshed Grant funding for County roadwork projects for a term commencing upon full execution and terminating July 30, 2027;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the MOU; and
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the associated budget transfer to accommodate the receipt and expenditure of $144,286 in TAG funding for road projects for Fiscal Year 2022-23. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Targeted Airshed Grant.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The federal Targeted Airshed Grant ("TAG") program assists local, state, and tribal air pollution control agencies with developing plans and conducting projects to reduce air pollution in non-attainment areas that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) determines are the top five most polluted areas relative to ozone, annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The overall goal of the TAG Program is to reduce air pollution in the nation’s areas with the highest levels of ozone and PM2.5 ambient air concentrations.
The Sacramento Region Non Attainment Area (which includes all or part of El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo, and Solano counties) was designated as a Non Attainment Area for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard ("NAAQS") in 2009. EPA has determined the region is among the top five most polluted areas in the U.S. relative to the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS and is eligible for TAG funding. The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District ("SMAQMD"), El Dorado County Air Quality Management District ("AQMD"), Placer County Air Pollution Control District, and Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District joined together to apply for these grants to achieve the overall goal of the TAG Program of reducing ambient PM2.5 air concentrations for our communities' residents.
On June 23, 2021 the EPA approved TAG Cooperative Agreement 98T10501 with the SMAQMD, in which AQMD is named an eligible subrecipient. On March 16, 2022, AQMD and SMAQMD entered into Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") 2021-00000054, which defined each party’s role in the performance and administration of the work approved by TAG Cooperative Agreement 98T10501.
On June 16, 2022, the EPA approved a second TAG Cooperative Agreement 98T36001 with SMAQMD, in which the AQMD was named an eligible subrecipient. On September 15, 2022, AQMD and SMAQMD entered into MOU 2022-00000038, which defined each party’s role in the performance and administration of the work approved by TAG Cooperative Agreement 98T36001.
Road dust accounts for 6% of directly emitted PM2.5 emissions in the Sacramento Region Non Attainment Area. In both TAG grants, the EPA approved the use of funding to pave (double chip seal) approximately 49,911 linear feet (9.45 linear miles) of currently unpaved roadways in the Federal PM2.5 Non Attainment Area portion of El Dorado County. A total $982,683.25 in funding is available for reimbursement for these projects. TAG grant 98T10501 funds the paving for segments of Bear Creek Road, Oriental Street, and Sand Ridge Road. TAG grant 98T36001 funds the paving for segments of South Street, Luneman Road, Mount Murphy Road, Russel Hollow Road, Tullis Mine Road, and Sweeney Road.
This Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between AQMD and the El Dorado County Department of Transportation ("EDC DOT") outlines the maximum grant amounts for each road segment, and the responsibilities and requirements of both parties in order to receive and transfer the TAG funding awarded in the two grants. When eligible road paving projects are completed, EDC DOT will submit invoices and other required documentation to AQMD, AQMD will bill SMAQMD on a quarterly basis, SMAQMD will reimburse AQMD, and this funding will then be transferred to EDC DOT.
ALTERNATIVES
If this MOU and budget transfer are not approved, TAG funding will not be available to the Department of Transportation to pave these currently unpaved roads in El Dorado County, and granted funding will not be received from the EPA.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
March 8, 2022 - Board of Directors of AQMD approved AQMD's acceptance of up to $2,314,560 of TAG funding to fund roadway paving and woodstove replacement projects; authorized the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute the subrecipient MOU with SMAQMD.
August 16, 2022 - Board of Directors of AQMD approved AQMD's acceptance of up to $971,890 of TAG funding to fund roadway paving, residential biomass chipping, and woodstove replacement projects; authorized the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute the subrecipient MOU with SMAQMD.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Department of Transportation - Maintenance and Operations Division
CAO - Community Development Services Administration Division
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
AQMD receives TAG funding through agreements with SMAQMD, and then transfers funds to reimburse EDC AQMD for eligible road paving costs as approved in the awarded TAG grants. The total amount for the MOU is $971,890 for work that will take place over the next several years.
The Budget Transfer increases AQMD Federal Revenue and Operating Transfers Out by $144,286 and increases DOT Operating Transfers In and Road Maintenance Construction by the same amount to accommodate the receipt and transfer of the TAG funds for road projects that DOT staff anticipate being completed in Fiscal Year 2022-23.
Future TAG revenue, transfers, and expenditures will be included in AQMD and DOT's regular budget approval processes starting in Fiscal Year 2023-24.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board shall:
1. Obtain the Chair's signature on two (2) originals of the MOU, and forward these originals to AQMD for the Air Pollution Control Officer's signature; and
2. Obtain the Chair's signature on the original Budget Transfer, and forward the original budget transfer to the Auditor/Controller's office for processing; and
3. Forward a copy of the minute action to AQMD.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Dave Johnston, Air Pollution Control Officer