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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/22/2022 - AIR QUALITY OVERVIEWDATE: STAFF: February 22, 2022 Cassie Archuleta, Environmental Sustainability Manager WORK SESSION ITEM City Council SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Air Quality Overview. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to provide an overview of the Fort Collins Air Quality Program, which includes a range of multi-disciplinary activities such as air quality monitoring, emission reduction and resiliency strategies. F ort Collins faces challenges related to population growth and the associated air quality concerns that come with transportation demand, and other residential, commercial and industrial pollution sources. Included here are highlights from ongoing programs, new focus areas in 2022, and initial implementation of new Council investments related to air quality monitoring, outreach and engagement. These efforts directly advance Council’s priority to Improve Air Quality and align with additional priorities by including regional coordination (advance regionalism), reducing transportation emissions (advance transit), and reducing emissions overall (climate emergency). GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED 1. What feedback do Councilmembers have regarding current air quality priorities and programs? 2. Would Councilmembers like a further deep dive on any specific topic? BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION For more than 25 years, the City has been actively involved in addressing air pollution at a lo cal level and working regionally and beyond to address air pollution on a larger scale. In many respects, increased awareness, improvements in technology and new and evolving regulations have led to improvements, but continuing efforts remain necessary. Some key motivations for continued and enhanced efforts include: •Fort Collins lies within an ozone non-attainment area, meaning ground-level ozone concentrations often exceed federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health risk -based exposure limits. •Compounded impacts of poor air quality and COVID -19 have highlighted disparities in health impacts for our most vulnerable individuals, where air quality surveys indicate that one quarter of Fort Collins households report a member with a respiratory condition such as asthma. •Daily population in Fort Collins increases by 28% due to commuter traffic, which is driven, at least in part, by a lack of housing options that are affordable to community members. •Localized impacts of particle pollution from dust and smoke (e.g., construction and wood fires) can create nuisance issues and health concerns near sources. •Studies show that people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, and indoor air pollution is often much worse than outdoor air pollution. •Climate change may contribute to increased air quality risks, such as increased emissions from wildfires and more high heat days that can contribute to ozone formation and particulate pollution. February 22, 2022 Page 2 STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT The City’s efforts related to improving air quality are guided by: • Current Council priorities, which include improving air quality, and advancing regionalism; • The 2019 update to the Air Quality Plan, which aligns with 2019 updates to City Plan, Transportation Master Plan and Transit Master Plan; and • The 2021 Our Climate Future (OCF) plan, which includes an updated Climate Action Plan, Energy Policy, and Road to Zero Waste Plan. Additionally, the City’s air quality efforts are far reaching and are also reflected in planning documents such as th e Strategic Plan, the City’s Municipal Sustainability and Adaptation Plan (MSAP), the Housing Strategic Plan, the Fort Collins’ Recovery Plan, and others. WHAT CAN WE MEASURE AND MODEL? Monitoring and reporting of pollution data contributes to increased awareness of air quality issues and identifies opportunities to improve local air quality conditions. Measured data are also used to forecast future air quality impacts, such as ozone alert days, and to determine compliance with Federal and State standards . Air quality monitoring data, real-time visibility camera images and air quality alerts are available through www.fcgov.com/aqdata <http://www.fcgov.com/aqdata>. For 2022, Council adopted BFO Offers 48.13 and 48.15, which included funding for enhanced re gional monitoring efforts in alignment with community priorities discussions, regional partnerships, and grant opportunities. Efforts in initial stages of implementation include: • Participation as a pilot community for a grant awarded to CSU, which includes a monitoring and messaging partnership with the City to support research related to a concept called “smoke -ready” communities including installation of additional low-cost particulate monitoring sensors and increased efforts to better communicate the health risks from smoke exposure; • Coordination with a group (AQEarth) that was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes coordination with the City to explore monitoring and messaging for school programs; • Preparation of an EPA monitoring grant application (as summarized in 2/17/22 Council memo), in collaboration with Larimer County, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE), CSU and several community organizations, targeting air toxics and ozone precursors in underserved communities in northern Colorado ($500K over 3-years); • Exploration of use of enhanced monitoring funds for continuous air quality monitoring efforts near oil and gas production and storage sites within the City to better track and report concerns related to spills and leaks; and • To inform longer term community driven objectives and priorities, and in alignment with the Council priority to advance regionalism, the City is also beginning conversations with Larimer County to form a regio nal community advisory group to inform a regional monitoring plan driven by regional objectives and priorities. Data Summaries Two of the pollutants monitored in Fort Collins, ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are regulated by the EPA and are considered priority air pollutants due to routinely high measurements and associated health impacts. The table below summarizes the number of days that were measured for each pollutant in 2020 and 2021 per the Air Quality Index (AQI), which is a scale used by the EPA to communicate current and forecasted air pollution levels, and potential health impacts. Categories represent increasingly harmful impacts, where “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” means air pollution related health effects may disproportio nately affect older adults, children and those with heart or respiratory conditions, and increasingly unhealthy categories might affect the general population. February 22, 2022 Page 3 In summary, for ozone: • Why do we care? Ozone is a respiratory irritant that can damage lung tissue and affect plant growth. • Where does it come from? Ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but rather forms when pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) react in sunlight to produce ozone. For our region, ozone alerts are typical in Fort Collins and unhealthy measurements are usually recorded in summer months on hot, stagnant days with little wind when emissions can get trapped against the foothills. • How are we doing? Fort Collins, along with much of the Northern Front Range, does not meet national air quality standards for ozone. 2021 was a record year for number of ozone alerts and higher ozone measurements, mainly influenced by oil and gas operations and traffic. For particulate matter: • Why do we care? Fine particles (PM 2.5, or particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter) can get deep into lungs and bloodstream and are the main cause of reduced visibility or haze. • Where does it come from? The highest values are often influenced by regional and l ocal wildfires during summer and fall seasons, and temperature inversions in the wintertime which can trap emissions such as wood smoke near the surface. • How are we doing? In 2020, the region experienced some of the highest particulate measurements in o ver 20-years, where measurements were impacted by the Cameron Peak fire which was the largest regional wildfire in Colorado history. WHAT CAN WE CONTROL? Air pollution is a complex issue with many contributing factors, and pollution does not follow juris dictional boundaries. City programs related to pollution sources focus on what we can influence regionally, and what we can control more locally. City and community efforts to combat climate change are also closely related to air quality improvements, as many of the same sources that emit greenhouse gases also emit air pollutants. For regional concerns, in alignment with the Legislative Policy Agenda, the City participated in rulemakings at the State level related to ozone non-attainment, regional haze and oil and gas sources. Currently, due to the Federal non-attainment status for ozone, the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) is in the process of updating a State Implementation Plan (SIP) which will include new State regulations to reduce emissions that c ontribute to ozone. More locally, focus areas for sources within the City’s scope of influence are described below. Oil and Gas Studies have shown that regional emissions transported from oil and gas operations, such as Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions from pipes, valves, and storage tanks, are one of the largest contributors to high February 22, 2022 Page 4 ground level ozone measurements in Fort Collins. Within the City, there is one oil and gas operator, and very little space available for new operations. For existing local operations, community members have expressed continuing concern about leaks and spills as the operations are near residential areas. Per current efforts: • Related to regional impacts, the City has participated in a series of comprehensive State an d County rulemakings, such as setbacks for new wells, air quality monitoring requirements and financial assurances. • For local impacts, the City is working towards adopting comprehensive regulations for oil and gas operations, per new local authority granted through the adoption of Senate Bill 19-181 in April 2019. A work session is planned for March 22, 2022. Vehicles, Transportation and Idling Locally, transportation sources are the second largest contributor to ozone causing pollutants, and the second largest contributor to the City’s greenhouse gas emission inventory. As the population in Fort Collins and along the northern Front Range continues to increase, strategies and actions that support reduced Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMTs) along with improved vehicle efficiencies and cleaner sources of energy for electric vehicles are key to reducing pollution. Related to current planning efforts: • In 2019, the City completed updates to City Plan, Transportation Master Plan and the Transit Master Plan. As noted in the updated City Plan, the City will continue to implement transportation and land planning efforts in ways that reduce emissions by reducing the need to drive (e.g., denser multi -use development) and enhancing opportunities for alternative modes of transportation (e.g., walking, biking and transit). • In 2019, the City also completed an Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap <https://www.fcgov.com/transportationplanning/ev-readiness-roadmap> to capitalize on the importance of shifting fuel and technologies. • Continued planning will include updates to the City’s Active Modes (e.g., Bicycle and Pedestrian) Plan. One specific topic of interest, vehicle idling, is an aspect of emissions that is not the biggest emitter overall but can cause nuisance and health concerns in close proximity to combustion engines. Efforts aimed at reducing unnecessary idling include: • Anti-idling signs are available by request for any school or local businesses. • The City sends outreach letters in response to complaints about excessive idling in neighborhoods. • Planning and zoning requirements limit the number of drive -thru businesses, which can contribute to emissions from idling; and • New in 2022, with the emerging prominence of grocery pick -up locations, staff is exploring potential outreach in alignment with grocers. For regulations, City policy prohibits unnecessary idling of City vehicles for more than 30 -seconds, and State regulations prohibit idling in unattended vehicles. Other communities, such as Aspen <https://www.cityofaspen.com/355/Idling-Vehicles>, have explored broader restrictions on idling, and have indicated challenges in compliance and enforcement. Non-Road Engines A non-road engine is an internal combustion or gas turbine engine used for purposes other than a vehicle operated on public roadways. This includes a wide range of uses such as equipment used for lawn and garden maintenance, snow removal, and portable energy generators. Locally, non-road engine sources are the third largest local contributor to ozone causing pollutants, where pollution from these types of engines comes from the by-products of the combustion process (exhaust) and from evaporation of the fuel itself. Implementation actions have included incentive programs such as rebates to enco urage low maintenance landscaping and electric equipment options, and municipal efforts to lead by example in replacing City owned gas-powered lawn and garden equipment with electric (battery) powered equipment. Future options for additional focus and investments might include: February 22, 2022 Page 5 • Additional investments in municipal equipment. To date, the Parks Department (Parks, Forestry, Cemeteries and Golf) have achieved 56% conversion to electric equipment, Natural Areas is 85% and the Gardens on Spring Creek is 100% electric. • Update purchasing policies for work contracted by the City to increase weighting and emphasis on sustainability factors in Request for Proposals (RFPs), such as use of electric lawn and garden equipment for the City’s third-party contracts. • Install and maintain infrastructure to provide electric power options at City facilities for food trucks and other small engine sources. The prominence of food trucks in Fort Collins comes with portable power needs, which often includes gas or diesel generators. Some food truck events and gatherings are conducted in City recreation areas, such as City Park and Fossil Creek Community Park. Particulate Emissions While the primary contributions to particle emissions are regional and include large wildfires in and out of State, there are sources of particulate emissions that are more localized and can cause concern in close proximity to emission sources. Examples of City regulations related to these types of sources include: • Limitations on smoking in public areas; • Limited opacity, or visual emission, requirements for indoor fireplaces; • Restrictions on particulate emissions (Fugitive Dust), where owners and operators of dust generating activities are required to incorporate control strategies to reduce off-property transport of fugitive dust; • 2019 updates to air pollution nuisance code related to outdoor residential wood burning, requiring a 10 p.m. curfew and a 15-foot setback requirement for locating wood fires away from adjacent property lines; and • An executive order to temporarily ban outdoor residential wood fires in 2020, prompted by large regional wildfires. More recently, compounded air quality and respiratory impacts from both smoke and COVID19 have prompted some community feedback requesting t hat outdoor burning restrictions be revisited to consider a full ban. Additionally, the recent Marshall Fire has brought new attention to fire sources in urban areas due to intersecting fire safety and air pollution concerns. HOW CAN WE PROMOTE RESILIENCE? While regional and local air quality controls continually evolve to better prevent and mitigate air quality concerns, adaptation strategies remain necessary to promote resilience in response to continuing air quality concerns and a changing climate. For the City, resilience efforts include increasing awareness of health risks associated with air quality concerns, sharing information about pollution events, and providing tools for community members to limit pollutants indoors and protect themselves when o utdoor air quality conditions are poor. Specific focus areas related to resiliency in 2022 include: • In alignment with BFO offer 48.16, the City is in the process of hiring a new air quality education and outreach position. This new position will support increased demand to raise awareness regarding air quality issues, increased connections to under-represented parts of the community, encourage and promote civic engagement opportunities related to air quality issues, and shift behaviors to reduce emissions. • The City also has a long-standing Healthy Homes program (established in 2011), with a volunteer base that provides information and resources that support clean indoor air. In 2021, the EPA awarded the City $200K to develop and pilot implementation of updated, comprehensive and streamlined residential housing assistance programs that align indoor air quality and energy efficiency efforts to better support health, comfort, and resilience at home. NEXT STEPS With new 2022 Council investments in support of air quality programming, efforts to leverage regional partnerships, and new Federal grant opportunities, the City is expanding air quality monitoring, outreach, and education efforts. Implementation of strategies to reduce source emissions under the Ci ty’s control also continue to be important, and the City’s biggest potential to influence improved air quality is related to investments in February 22, 2022 Page 6 transportation planning strategies that reduce vehicle emissions. Upcoming elements that are key aspects of Air Quality Program efforts include: • Formation of a joint City/County monitoring advisory group (March/April) • Application for an $500K EPA air quality monitoring grant focused on ozone precursors and air toxics, in partnership with State and Larimer County (March) • Council Work Session regarding local oil and gas regulations (March 2022) • Implementation of EPA grant for indoor air quality and energy efficiency programs (2022-2023) • Participation in regulatory planning, through the Regional Air Quality Council , related to planning for updated State Implementation Plans and federal non-attainment status ATTACHMENTS 1. Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) Air Quality Overview02-22-2022Cassie ArchuletaAir Quality Program ManagerATTACHMENT 1 2Questions1. What feedback do Councilmembers have regarding current air quality priorities and programs?2. Would Councilmembers like a further deep dive on any specific topic? Why is Air Quality a Concern?•Denver/Metro North Front Range Area routinely exceeds Federal Health‐Based ozone standards•COVID has heightened concern regarding respiratory health and vulnerable populations•Rapid population growth is resulting in more transportation•Lack of affordable housing increases regional commutes•Wildfire smoke is a routine concern during summer months•Encroaching oil and gas operations are heightening public concern about toxics exposure3 Meet the Team!4• Air Quality Program ManagerCassie Archuleta• Indoor Air Quality, Environmental Justice FocusSelina Lujan de Albers• Indoor Air Quality, Housing/Resilience NexusMegan DeMasters• Outdoor Air Quality, Air Quality Monitoring and SourcesJason Komes• Whatever ya need!Tony Fourcroy (part time)• Air Quality Education and OutreachTBA 5History of AQ Program1970 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 19951996 1997 20192Clean Air ActAir Quality Task ForceAir Quality Advisory BoardCity Plan and Air Quality Plan UpdatesCouncil policy agenda item –increase focus on AQFirst Air Quality Policy PlanAir Quality Policies incorporated into City Plan 6Air Quality Program Plans and Alignment• Improved Air QualityCouncil Priority•City Plan• Air Quality PlanAir Quality Policy Guidance• Our Climate Future• Municipal Sustainability Action Plan• Housing Strategic Plan• Recovery Plan• Transportation Master Plan• Active Modes PlanOther Areas of Alignment“Cleaner air will improve my health. Fewer carbon emissions will improve prospects for my children’s future.” Air Quality Plan - Strategy Areas7What can we measure and model?What can we control?How can we promote resilience?Priority Pollutants and SourcesOzone causing pollutantsIndoor Air QualityEnvironmental ComplianceAir Quality MonitoringClimate AdaptationLead by Example 8What Can We Measure?• Advance RegionalismCouncil Priority• Particulate Matter and Ozone• EPA required, State implemented, City informedRegulatory Monitoring•2022 BFO: $25K• Spatial variability of particulate matter• Home and community based• CSU Collaboration: “Smoke-Ready” CommunitiesLow-Cost Sensors•2022 BFO: $100K• Oil and gas sources• Ozone precursors and air toxics• Regional collaboration: EPA community-based grant ($500K)Community InterestCommunity Voices and Priorities Local and State Government Air Quality Monitoring ExpertiseTrusting Relationships and Solutions Priority Pollutant - Ozone98-hr ozone (ppb)Air Quality IndexNumber of Days2019 2020 2021< 55 Good 268 265 24155 - 70 Moderate 92 93 9371 - 85Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups582786 - 105 Unhealthy 0 0 3> 105Very Unhealthy000Ozone Nonattainment AreaAir Quality IndexFort CollinsGreeleyDenver 10What Can We Control?: Ozone SourcesOil and Gas42%Transportation30%Non-Road Engines13%Industry7%Other8%Data from Denver 2017c Local Source Analysis, available through http://views.cira.colostate.edu/tsdw/ What Can We Control?: Ozone Sources – Oil and Gas11Fort CollinsWell (producing, injecting, shut-in or abandoned)City Limits• Improved Air Quality• Advance RegionalismCouncil Priorities• Land use restrictions• Approval processes for new wells• Operational standards for existing wellsLocal Regulations• COGCC and CDPHE RulemakingsRegional AdvocacyCouncil Work Session: March 22, 2022 What Can We Control?: Ozone Sources - Transportation12• Advance transit initiatives that remove barriers• Implementation of the 15-minute community conceptCouncil Priorities•Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled• Transportation Planning• Community Planning• Active Modes Plan• Capital projects prioritization•Increase Vehicle Efficiency• Electric Vehicle RoadmapCurrent Focus Areas What Can We Control?: Ozone Sources –Non-Road Engines13• Residential Lawnmower rebate program• Investments in electric municipal equipment• Parks (Parks, Forestry, Cemeteries, Golf): 56% electric• Natural Areas: 85%• Gardens on Spring Creek: 100%Current Focus Areas• Additional municipal investments• Business incentive program for commercial equipment• Expand to other engines (e.g., food trucks)Additional Options What Can We Control?: Zoom in on Idling14Never <1 Min2-5Min6-10Min>10MinWarm up car 32% 32% 27% 4% 5%Train 15% 35% 42% 5% 2%Drive-Thru 18% 27% 49% 6% 0%School pick-up 48% 23% 26% 3% 0%2017 – Air Quality Survey:How long do you typically idle your car when you…• Grocery pick-upNew Focus Area• Explore community policyAdditional Option Priority Pollutant - Particles15Monthly Average Particle Pollution What Can We Control?: Regulations for Particulate Matter Sources16• Fugitive Dust control requirements• Outdoor residential burning curfew and distance requirements• Opacity restrictions for smoke from indoor wood stovesCurrent Focus Areas• Revisit outdoor burning requirementsAdditional Option 17How Can We Promote Resilience?Cameron Peak Fire 8/13/2020 Photo Credit: Emily Fischer How Can We Promote Resilience?: Education and Outreach18 How Can We Promote Resilience?: Indoor Clean-Air Spaces19• Create a targeted, specific plan for community recoveryCouncil Priority• Healthy Homes Assessments• Volunteer based• Promote No-cost and low-cost interventions• Free radon testing• EPIC Homes• Higher-cost interventions (e.g., weatherization, radon mitigation)Ongoing Programs• EPA Environmental Justice Grant• Awarded $200K, 2-yearsNew in 2022Free Home AssessmentsLow-IncomeUnderservedCostly Home Upgrades Summary20• New Council Investments• EPA Grant Opportunities• Regional Collaboration!Air Quality Monitoring• Transportation and land use planning• Lead by example (e.g., municipal non-road engines)• Regulations (smoke, dust and oil and gas)Sources Controls• New education and outreach position• EPA Grant: Clean-air spaces (focus on homes)Resilience• More investments in municipal electrification• Revisit outdoor burning restrictions• Anti-Idling policy reviewAdditional OptionsWhat can we measure and model?What can we control?How can we promote resilience? 21Questions1. What feedback do Councilmembers have regarding current air quality priorities and programs?2. Would Councilmembers like a further deep dive on any specific topic?