Title
Presentation by Mr. Fred Blood regarding the Capital Area Council of Government (CAPCOG) Clean Air Coalition initiatives and proposed air quality standards.
Summary
Among CAPCOG's regional services is an Air Quality Program. The City of Pflugerville participates on the Air Quality Coalition, represented by Mayor Jeff Coleman. City staff is also engaged via the supporting technical advisory committee. Per their website, "CAPCOG's Air Quality Program coordinates regional air quality planning and performs air quality technical research, especially focusing on ground-level ozone pollution. The program's planning efforts include coordinating development and implementation of voluntary regional air quality plans, providing technical assistance to organizations that participate in the air quality plans, administering regional pollution reduction grants and conducting air quality education and outreach to reduce emissions and exposure to air pollution. Technical research efforts include air quality monitoring, emissions inventory development, data analysis, modeling, and pollution control strategy evaluation. The program is funded through grants from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local governments."
Status
Last fall, the EPA proposed more stringent air quality standards within a range of 65 to 70 parts per billion (ppb) to better protect Americans' health and the environment, while taking comment on a level as low as 60 ppb. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review the standards every five years by following a set of open, transparent steps and considering the advice of a panel of independent experts. EPA last updated these standards in 2008, setting them at 75 ppb. As proposed, the new regulations could pose challenges for central Texas and impede certain infrastructure and economic development activities.
Prior City Council Action
The City of Pflugerville joined the Clean Air Coalition on January 14, 2014.
Staff Recommendation
Presentation item only, and no action is being taken.
Drafter
Trey Fletcher
Assistant City Manager