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:
Air Quality - Non Attainment Status
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 October 12, 2016, the Office of Sustainability presented to the Transportation Technology and Utilities Committee an overview on air quality 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 non attainment designation will require specific regulations depending upon San Antonio's final 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) has been 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 deve...
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