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 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
This briefing will focus on the following air quality non attainment issues:
• Transportation conformity requirements and the association to local transportation projects;
• New source review, emissions inventory and emission statement requirements;
• Results from a public input survey conducted by the Alamo Area Council of Governments determining the level of ozone air quality awareness in the greater San Antonio area; and
• Potential implications of the new Presidential Administration on EPA ozone rule-making.
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.