DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas Melnick, Chief Sustainability Officer, AICP, CNU-A
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT:
Air Quality Briefing
SUMMARY:
Briefing on the updated EPA air quality ozone standard and an overview of initial recommended policies and programs for implementation
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will release a more stringent “health-based” air pollution standard on October 1, 2015, potentially impacting San Antonio’s air quality attainment status. Air quality is a significant priority for City Council, as it has an impact on our community's public and economic health. The EPA will update its air quality standards for ground-level ozone in response to a careful examination of thousands of studies showing that the 75 ppb standard set in 2008 was not protective enough of public health. A stricter standard means additional regulations for businesses that plan to expand or are potentially relocating to San Antonio. Additionally, on October 9, 2013, Councilman Ray Lopez, District 6, issued a Council Consideration Request (CCR) for a comprehensive review of the City’s air quality efforts to ultimately develop and adopt a City of San Antonio air quality strategic plan.
The City of San Antonio is evaluating various opportunities to reduce air pollution.
Office of Sustainability FY 2016 Proposed Initiatives
The Office of Sustainability is coordinating with multiple City departments, the Alamo Area Council of Governments and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to examine and proactively implement a suite of pollution reduction measures based on research from consultants (Environ). It is the intent of the Office of Sustainability to develop specific policy and regulatory recommendations for City Council consideration and adoption in FY 2016. These control measure include:
• City-wide anti-idling regulations
• City-wide commuter trip reduction policies and programs
Metro Health Department Update to Air Pollution Ordinance
The Metro Health Department’s updated ordinance would generate a list of small source emitters (e.g., automotive body repair shops, dry cleaning plants, incinerators). City staff will meet and work with business associations in San Antonio to ensure cooperation and support. The Metro Health Department will develop an ordinance for City Council consideration that would allow the City to license businesses that are small source generators of ozone precursors. AACOG and TCEQ will work with the Metro Health Department as partners in this effort.
Alamo Area Council of Governments
The Alamo Area Council of Governments, the region’s air quality planning agency, will present to City Council an overview of their air quality planning services, the Air Improvement Resources Committee structure and a summary of their biennium work plan to include deliverables such as a detailed cost impact analysis of non-attainment for the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area.
ISSUE:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will release a more stringent “health-based” air pollution standard on October 1, 2015, potentially impacting San Antonio’s air quality attainment status in 2017. This B Session is a presentation on intital recommended policies and programs for implementation.
ALTERNATIVES:
This briefing is for informational purposes only
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this presentation.
RECOMMENDATION:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.