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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 08/17/2020 AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR August 17, 2020 5:30 – 8:00 pm Remote meeting, via Zoom 8/17/20 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:30pm 2. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present − Matt Tribby - Chair − Jim Dennison − Harry Edwards − Karen Artell − Jason Miller − Greg Clark − Nina Forsyth − Wayne Chuang − Emily Bitler • Staff Members Present − Cassie Archuleta, Staff Liaison • Guests − Presenters - Mike Silverstein, Executive Director of RAQC, and Dr. Jeff Collett, RAQC Board member − Public - Vara Vissa 3. AGENDA REVIEW a. AQAB membership changes a. The board is now at full membership of 9 persons 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION • Vara Vissa lives in Fort Collins at Taft Hill and Trilby where several construction projects are proposed to create the Larimer County Wasteshed. She is concerned about increased traffic and air quality issues that will be created by those projects. Also, she is concerned that many citizens in that area have not been notified of the potential impact of the project. She cited several documents that City boards and departments have created (e.g., City of Fort Collins Fugitive Dust Guidance and Transportation Air Quality Impact Guidance Manual) and she AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 8/17 /20 – MINUTES Page 2 suggested they be used to help address issues of concern regarding air quality. After discussion with the Board, Vara indicated she would submit written comments on these issues for the Board's consideration and action. The Board previously considered and offered recommendations on the new Wasteshed plans and could review those recommendations. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. As the board has not met with a quorum since January, January and July minutes required approval. − It was moved and seconded to approve the January 27, 2020, minutes as presented. Minutes were approved 6-0, with 3 abstaining. − It was moved and seconded to approve the July 20, 2020, minutes including comments and edits. Minutes were approved 5-0, with 4 abstaining. 6. PREVIOUS BUSINESS a. For the benefit of the 3 new members, Board liaison Cassie Archuleta briefly outlined some issues the AQAB board has been discussing. − Covid and AQ updates - provided an AQ memo to council regarding particle pollution, outdoor burning and Covid. Also, the City's Healthy Homes program is providing information regarding indoor air quality. − The 2021 budget - Will be public on September 1. Then there will be a series of council discussions before approval on November 1. The board asked to see what the budget is making available for air quality efforts. Cassie will submit a summary after the budget is made public. − Community conversations - "Our Climate Future" virtual workshops are underway to discuss the City's efforts such as local food, energy, resilience, and air quality with the community, and encouraged AQAB board members to attend the air quality discussion if available. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. PRESENTATION by Mike Silverstein, Executive Director of the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and Dr. Jeff Collett, RAQC Board members, and Atmospheric Science Department Head at CSU − The RAQC is the lead planning agency for the Denver Metro/North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment area, whose primary responsibilities are to plan, educate, implement public/private projects, including climate strategies, and represent and assist local governments in the air quality planning process in order to reduce emissions. Also provides educational programs AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 8/17 /20 – MINUTES Page 3 around alternative fuel programs and emission control strategies like teleworking and e-commerce. − Summertime ozone is created almost entirely by human activity and our surrounding environment here in the north front range. Most of the ozone in our area has come to us from somewhere else, which is difficult to model and identify. Ozone damages crops and vegetation and causes human health issues. − The north front range is in the "serious” non-attainment area category because we are not achieving the compliance standards fast enough. − There have been numerous emissions control programs across the state for many years. However, even though it appears our ambient VOC emissions are reducing, our geological situation in this area blocks breezes that dissipate ozone, so it builds up. − 2020 is our last year to comply with the ozone standard before our area is downgraded to the "severe” non-attainment area category. The Fort Collins area is doing better than other Colorado cities this summer, but everyone in the area needs to comply with the standard. − Right now, regional wildfire smoke is causing our levels to rise, but those may become excluded events under the standard. − Over time, our monitoring sites have graphed a reducing trend in exceedances in summertime ozone, but activities related to ozone are increasing, such as population growth, oil and gas development, and vehicle miles travelled. However, we are making some small progress reducing daily VOC emissions even with massive growth in our area. − The RAQC has an ozone planning timeline to attain the ozone standard by 2024, which will require more stringent emission control strategies including business trip reductions, and increased vehicle and fuel efficiencies. − The RAQC invites input from Front Range cities regarding the SIP planning process. b. Questions and comments by board members − How can the AQAB help the RAQC, and have any other regional city boards provided input and insights to the RAQC? − The best place to provide input is for individual board members to participate in RAQC workgroups and help with RAQC outreach. Also, the AQAB is invited to present to the RAQC what FC is doing to improve air quality. AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 8/17 /20 – MINUTES Page 4 − Heard rumor the state's Air Pollution Control Division has been issuing illegal oil and gas drilling permits. − The RAQC doesn't deal with oil and gas permitting. They support the State and doesn't believe they are issuing illegal permits. There is an AQCC rulemaking coming up which includes updates to oil and gas emissions regulations including pre-production monitoring requirements and the RAQC will be weighing in on this. − What is the relationship between RAQC and EPA? − Not much more than the RAQC ozone plan which must meet EPA oversight requirements. The state of Colorado has a more consistent relationship with EPA at the federal level, and it also has some regulations that are tougher than EPA. − Does the RAQC have quantitative data on how effective their educational programs have been? − There is no real way to put numbers to pollution reduction caused by people that have heard their message and acted accordingly. − They will send the AQAB the RAQC's annual report so Fort Collins can help spread their message. − What is the most effective use of our time and effort to tackle common challenges in air quality? − A suggestion is to keep working at electrifying transportation and oil and gas drilling. − The RAQC appreciates the efforts Fort Collins is making to improve air quality. − The AQAB asked the city to send the RAQC a list of actions Fort Collins is taking and requests that the RAQC weigh in on those actions and make recommendations on which would be most effective. − The RAQC has a current program through Home Depot to encourage purchase of an electric lawnmower and how effective is it. − As the City's proposed 2021 budget is finalized, the AQAB can also communicate to Council where it would like money spent to improve air quality. 8. BOARD MEMBER AND STAFF REPORTS AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 8/17 /20 – MINUTES Page 5 a. Board member updates, comments, and announcements − Platte River has announced retirement of coal fired unit by 2030.This should help Fort Collins achieve its climate goals. − The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission meets on August 24 and is accepting public comment on its Mission Change rulemaking. − Exxon Mobil announced it is making a transformational change in its business model to focus more on renewables mainly because of reduction in demand which could have a positive effect to reduce oil and gas production. − Reminder - September 17 and 18 hearing for AQCC regarding oil and gas emissions − In November, staff will be presenting land use options to Council regarding zoning and setbacks as regulatory options for siting new oil and gas facilities. It was noted AQAB could come to Council in October for recommendations on the budget and again in November to present the AQAB's recommendations to Council on oil and gas. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. 6-month Calendar review Items proposed for September meeting include continuation of the RAQC conversation regarding City/RAQC collaboration, the 2021 work plan, and a possible budget recommendation. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 pm.