HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/11/2020 - Air Quality 2020 Priorities - Air Quality Advisory BoardMEMORANDUM
Date: March 11, 2020
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Jakob Lindaas, AQAB Chair
CC: Air Quality Advisory Board; Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Re: Air Quality 2020 Priorities
The Air Quality Advisory .Board (AQAB) members appreciate and support City Council's priority to
improve the City's air quality. (City Council .Priorities - Improved Air Quality June 2019
https://www.fcgov.com/council/files/council-priorities.pdf?1.574094440). Continued progress on policies,
actions, and messaging around air quality issues can improve public health, the environment, and the
community's well-being. We think that a focus on the Following actions will result in the most rapid,
efficient, and equitable improvements to air quality in Fort Collins.
Enhanced air quality monitoring: We recommend the City explore ways to enhance its air quality
monitoring capabilities. Actions may include monitoring by the City itself, or working to support and
lobby County and State entities to augment existing air quality monitoring in and near Fort Collins. This
recommendation is consistent with the City Council's stated priorities on improving air quality. The
National Center for Atmospheric Research produced an assessment report in 2017
(https://www.fcgov.com/arrquality/reports) for the City of Fort Collins current ozone monitoring network
based on analysis of observations and model simulations.
The NCAR recommendations are as follows:
o Oil and gas emission sources, most of which are outside the City boundaries, are the main
contributors to locally produced Fort Collins ozone.
• A wind sensor should be added to Fort Collins west ozone monitoring site.
• A NOx sensor should be installed within City limits.
o Establishment of a measurement site South/South-East of the city — including ozone, wind, NOx
and (at least episodic) VOC measurements
• Establishment of a few key sites with continuous ozone, NOx, VOC and meteorological data
located at strategic sites.
Because many of the ozone precursor emission sources are outside the City, we encourage the City to lead
regional and state partners towards finding ways to reduce the emissions. Specifically, leaders from Fort
Collins could participate more directly in the stakeholder process of air quality legislation and regulations.
Identifying gaps in climate education
Climate Change is a defining global and local issue of our current generation, and a critical problem our
kids will have to face. We recommend expanding efforts to educate City residents, especially Youth,
about the threat posed by climate change, and the challenges and opportunities for our local area. Possible
actions include:
• Explore currently available educational options
• Developing a downloadable information packet aimed at Youth
• Harmonization with programs already in place (Parks and Recreation programs, etc.)
• Looking to other similar communities for ideas and best practices.
• More climate -related educational activities at events that children attend
• Working with the Youth Advisory Board to gain support and advocacy
• Develop public message campaigns linking air quality improvement to public benefit, reaching
diverse populations throughout the City
• Engaging youth via events like "invention fairs" that could be hosted by the City at a low cost and
judged by AQAB with other Board and Commission members
• Sending a representative to the school board to advise and recruit support
• Utilizing tools and partnerships already in place (ozone bench and CSU)
Quantifying transportation emissions
The transportation sector produces the majority of the air pollutant emissions within Fort Collins City
limits, which the City can directly influence. We encourage the City to continue to use the best available
methods and/or update current techniques to accurately quantify air pollutant emissions from
transportation (e.g. Nitrogen Oxides, Volatile Organic Compounds). The City can use insights from this
data to help guide transportation planning for the future, with added value in identifying the precise
tradeoffs between different transportation options. With better quantification of air pollutant emissions,
the City can assess costs, benefits, and tradeoffs of future policies intending to encourage more electric
vehicles, more public transportation, or more alternative modes of transport for example. Tools that the
City may use to do this exist in the "Transportation Air Quality Impacts Guidance Manual" produced for
the City in 2017.
Radon mitigation
Radon is the most prevalent indoor air pollutant in our City and can be effectively mitigated in most
cases. We believe more can be done to increase testing and mitigation of Radon in residential structures
throughout Fort Collins. Echoing this Board's recommendations in spring 2019 (see attached), we
recommend the City:
• Require radon testing and disclosure in residential house sales and residential rental
transactions
• Require all radon contractors and/or all persons performing radon mitigation work to be
certified
• Offer mitigation assistance based on staff recommendation for maximum gain
• Provide support for additional education and outreach ideas as presented by staff
*Note: The City's updated Air Quality Plan reflects these aforementioned priorities (among others),
although timelines and supporting resources have not all been identified.
Resource Appendices
Additional ozone and air quality monitoring resources:
• Air Quality Control Commission: https:/lwww.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/agcc
• Regional Air Quality Council: https://ragc.org/
• Recent Review paper: "Air quality impacts from oil and natural gas development in Colorado",
link here: Mips://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.398
• Detlev I-lelmig's monitoring at Boulder Reservoir and a recent contract with the City of
Longmont for 2 monitoring stations. http://instaar.colorado.edu/arl/boulder reservoir.html
• Recent Colorado Public Radio report detailed inaccurate methane data from CDPI-IE's Denver
and Platteville monitoring sites. Dr. Hehnig's monitoring, which includes methane, VOCs and
nitrogen oxides, from oil and gas operations, as well as secondary pollutants, such as ozone, and
is publicly available 24/7 in real time. https://www.cpr.org/2019/1.2/05/colorado-talks-a-mean-
game-on-methane-bad-data-no-best-practices-sav-otherwise/
• Longmont City Council Meeting March 5, 2019:
Dr. Helrig's presentation to Longmont Council
http://webapp.ci.1o1W,nlont.cO.us/tntgviewer.aspx?meetid=] 148&doctype=AGENDA
• Boulder County Government Panel Discussion Jan. 16, 2020:
hit ps://www.bouldercount .ora/environment/air/ozone/
Discussed impacts of air quality on public health and the ]ink to climate change, with this panel of
scientific and policy experts:
o Brenda Ekwurzel, Director of Science, Union of Concerned Scientists
o John Putnam, Director of Environmental Programs, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
o Detlev Helmig, Associate Research Professor, Institute of Alpine and Arctic Research (INSTAAR)
o Gabrielle Petron, Research Scientist, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
Additional Radon resources:
• CDPHE Radon website: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/radon-and-your-health
• Radon from a Physician's Perspective: help://www.certi.us/CDPHE DO/Part4.lrtml
• EPA Radon Success Case Studies: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-
11 /documents/success_stories.pdf
• Key Radon Statistics: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-small-cell-Tung-cancer/about/key-
statistics.html
• Radon Map: https:llwww.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/zonemapcolor.pdf
• CDC suggestions for easy things to do to protect your health:
https://www.cdc.gov/family/minutes/index.htm
tirof
trins
MEMORANDUM
Date: April 24, 2019
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Arsineh Hecobian, AQAB Chair
CC: Air Quality Advisory Board
Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Re: Air Quality Advisory Board: Radon Program Recommendations
Environmental Services
222 LaPorte Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221-6600
fcgov. com/environmentalservices
Long term exposure to Radon can be deadly'. Radon is an odorless, colorless, and radioactive gas
that occurs naturally. It can seep into buildings and accumulate in areas that are not properly
ventilated. Radon is the second -leading cause of lung cancer in smokers in the United States and the
leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers2. Indeed, there is a 50% increased risk of having lung
cancer after 15 years of exposure to radon at USEPA's action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L)3.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women each year'. In Colorado we
have high levels of radon in our soils', which based on points presented above makes radon
awareness, testing, and mitigation important in reducing occurrences of lung cancer and improving
quality of life in our state.
The good news is that when elevated radon levels are found in a house, they can be reduced'.
Testing for radon levels in houses is inexpensive and easy'. Based on information provided to AQAB
from the City of Fort Collins staff, our existing radon programs are only partially successful in
encouraging residential radon testing and mitigation. Thus, our recommendations, following solutions
provided by the City of Fort Collins staff in a presentation on February 25, 2019 are:
• Require radon testing and disclosure in residential house sales and residential rental
transactions
• Require all radon contractors and/or all persons performing radon mitigation work to be
certified
• Offer mitigation assistance based on staff recommendation for maximum gain
• Provide support for additional education and outreach ideas as presented by staff
More details on each bullet point are provided below:
Require radon testing and disclosure in residential house sales and residential rental
transactions
This is not a call to test all residential structures but will eventually result in testing most, which is
important as Colorado and Fort Collins is located on a high radon zone (USEPA zone 1). In the latest
1 https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-11/documents/success_stories.pdf
2 https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/radon-and-your-health
http://www.certi, us/CDPHE_DO/Part4.htmi
4 https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-small-cell-lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/zonemapcolor.pdf
6 https://www.cdc.gov/family/minutes/index.htrn
Fort of
survey of Fort Collins residents where houses tested above the recommended action level for radon,
36% of those with elevated levels did not perform any mitigation action. Also, many houses are never
tested, as currently the test is voluntary. Staff has observed in the past that when homeowners test
and have high radon levels, they will frequently proceed with mitigation, so the requirement during
home sales will inevitably result in a much better rate of cancer avoidance. In addition, in keeping with
the well established premise of environmental right -to -know, tenants should be provided with the
information so they can make their own decisions on where it is best to live.
Require all radon contractors and/or all persons performing radon mitigation work to be
certified
This is not a requirement for the certification of all individuals conducting radon mitigation work, but for
the presence of one certified individual in the company. This model is currently being followed by
companies who are certified via the National Radon Proficiency Program'.
Offer mitigation assistance based on staff recommendation for maximum gain
Fort Collins has historically had a loan assistance program that covered, among other things, radon
mitigation (zero interest loans)8. Unfortunately, this program was cancelled this year. The AQAB
members recommend reinstatement of this or a similar program (any combination or one of loans,
rebates, or grants as recommended by City of Fort Collins staff) that can be used to assist the public
in addressing radon mitigation costs specifically.
Provide support for additional education and outreach ideas as presented by staff
The current plans for education on the serious nature of radon in houses in Fort Collins can be greatly
improved. The City of Fort Collins staff have already started to address some of the gaps in the radon
education program but much more can be done if they are provided with sufficient resources. Another
challenging aspect of addressing radon is evaluating the cost/benefit aspect of testing and mitigating
radon when compared to saving lives, hospital visits, workdays missed, etc. The City of Fort Collins
did not have adequate resources to address this during this phase. Having results from a cost benefit
analysis would be very helpful in clarifying the direction of action for radon testing and mitigation in
Fort Collins and thus improving air quality and life experience for the residents of our City.
https://certifiedradonpros.org/co.html
e https://www.fcgov.com/utilities/img/site_specific/uploads/zilch_loan_appl'Ication.pdf