DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability and Metro Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas R. Melnick, AICP, CNU-A, Chief Sustainability Officer; Dr. Colleen Bridger, Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT:
Air Quality - Non Attainment Status Update
SUMMARY:
Briefing on pending air quality status and the FY 2018 Air Quality Program
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a more stringent "health-based" air pollution standard of 70 parts per billion (ppb) (the prior standard was 75 ppb) 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.
ISSUE:
On June 6, 2017, the EPA sent a letter to Governors to inform them that the EPA was extending the deadline for promulgating initial area designations by one year (to June 2018) for the 2015 ozone federal air quality standard.
On August 2, 2017, the EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that it was withdrawing the one-year extension of the deadline for implementing initial non-attainment designations for the 2015 ozone federal air quality standard. Designations are to proceed as scheduled in October 2017. San Antonio may be designated non-attainment this Fall, as our most current air monitoring reading of 73 ppb exceeds the new federal standard of 70 ppb.
If the EPA issues a nonattainment designation letter to Governor Abbott on October 1, 2017, nonattainment for San Antonio and any other designated areas will take effect February 2018.
The Office of Sustainability and Metro Health provided a briefing to the Council Community Health and Equity Committee September 28, 2017, and outlined a list of potential air quality programs that could be implemented in FY18, as well as initiatives to inform the community on the impacts of non attainment to the regional economy and public health.
The FY2017 budget cont...
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