DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas Melnick, Chief Sustainability Officer, AICP, CNU-A
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Air Quality - Non-Attainment Status
SUMMARY:
Briefing on pending air quality non-attainment
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a more stringent “health-based” air pollution standard of 70 parts per billion on October 1, 2015, 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. 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 a City of San Antonio air quality strategic plan.
ISSUE:
On September 14, 2016, the Office of Sustainability presented to the Transportation Technology and Utilities Committee a request to further examine a proposed employee commuter benefits ordinance requiring certain employers to provide alternative commute options to employees. The Council Committee requested an overview on non-attainment and how it will directly affect the City of San Antonio.
The City of San Antonio is anticipating a federal non-attainment designation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in October 2017. Monitoring data indicate a preliminary design value for 2016 of 73 parts per billion, which would likely result in a classification of marginal nonattainment. A marginal nonattainment designation would require state-level activities associated with attaining the standard within three years of the effective date of designation. A non-attainment designation will require specific regulations depending upon San Antonio’s level of designation. The City of San Antonio in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO), and the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) is evaluating policy and operational implications of these pending non-attainment regulations.
State and federal air quality regulations at the Marginal Classification will consist of the following measures:
• Emissions Inventory - a pollution emissions inventory developed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
• Emissions Statements - requires annual reporting of pollution emissions by area businesses;
• New Source Review - Air permitting for related businesses planning to expand or relocate to San Antonio; and
• Transportation Conformity - Evaluation of future transportation projects to ensure they do not cause further harm to air quality
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
The Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will present to the Transportation Technology and Utilities Committee an overview of the transportation conformity requirements and the association to local transportation projects.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will be present to respond to Transportation Technology and Utilities Committee questions related to new source review, emissions inventory and emission statement requirements.
The City staff will continue to collaborate with Federal, State and local entities to evaluate opportunities and implement local policies to reduce air pollution. The Office of Sustainability will outline a list of near-term initiatives to inform the community on the impacts of non-attainment to the regional economy and public health.
ALTERNATIVES:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval to continue to provide updates to the Transportation Technology and Utilities Committee for guidance on the implementation of air quality policy and regulatory recommendations.