ORCAA Board of Directors
March, 2005 - MINUTES
OLYMPIC REGION CLEAN AIR AGENCY
2940 B LIMITED LANE NW
OLYMPIA WA 98502
March 9, 2005
Members present: Pat Hamilton, Pacific County (Chair)
Phil Johnson, Jefferson County
Mike Doherty, Clallam County
Mark Foutch City of Olympia
Ann Burgman, City of Lacey
Bob Beerbower, Grays Harbor County (Vice Chair)
Grant Munro, City of Port Angeles
Annette McGee, for Tim Sheldon, Mason County
Members absent: Bob Macleod, Thurston County
Legal Counsel: Elizabeth Lagerberg for Fred Gentry, Bean & Gentry
Staff Present: Rich Stedman, Executive Director, Dean Nguyen, Air Quality Specialist I, Lynn Harding, Accountant, and Debbie Moody, Recorder
The meeting was called to order at 10:01 a.m.
There were no additions or omissions to the Agenda. Foutch moved approval of the Agenda. Burgman seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Burgman moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Doherty seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
New Source Update
Stedman noted we have a few new projects coming in. Port Angeles Hardwoods, located in the industrial park in Port Angeles has submitted a permit application recently. Stedman noted it is possible we may have to hold a public hearing in Port Angeles regarding their notice of construction. Santa Maria Steel, Port of Willapa, is moving forward, however, we are still waiting on an application. Ocean Protein has submitted their application for the Hoquiam facility. Stedman noted we would most likely be holding a public hearing in Hoquiam over this application as well.
Stedman stated Grays Harbor Paper (GHP) has informed us that they are planning on installing a steam turbine, however, it will not require a notice of construction from ORCAA. Department of Ecology is working with GHP with regards to the PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration) issues. It appears GHP is doing their best to be proactive and a good corporate citizen and this should be a good project.
We have approximately 26 minor notices of constructions pending and we finalized 6 just this past month. Sierra Pacific Industries is currently going through the process to get on line as an air operating permit source. We are currently working on 9 AOP renewals as well.
Legislative Update
Stedman noted there is an updated spreadsheet in the packets. House Bill 1302 is for the burn ban trigger. This would require the first stage burn ban trigger at 35μg/m 3 and it appears to be going forward at this time.
House Bill 1361, Stedman continued, is our bill and appears to have made it through committee and rules and approve 94-0 with 4 abstentions. The vehicle emission standard is also moving forward, Stedman stated. Stedman added the federal Clear Skies legislation is pretty contentious right now and is trying to move through committee. It mainly deals with power plants and new source review. There seems to be a lot of opposition to this at the federal level.
Clean Air Task Force Diesel Risk Report
Stedman explained a report came out recently from the Clean Air Task Force showing diesel and health impacts. In the packet there was a sheet showing the estimations of diesel on health impacts. It shows the impacts by county and notes the number of premature deaths related to diesel. Stedman noted the website allows you to go directly to your community, by zip code, and it will show the impacts from diesel.
Air Quality Update for February
Stedman noted the Air Quality chart in the packet shows the worst days in January and February. We did have a few days of higher numbers, however, our good air quality days far out number our moderate days. Stedman did note we called a voluntary burn ban in Thurston and Clallam County due to the numbers climbing above 30 ug/m3. Land clearing burning, Stedman stated, did get shut down in both counties. Stedman showed the Board a short series of photos from our Web cam in Port Angeles that showed smoke from what appeared to be a land clearing burn. The first photo basically shows a small amount of smoke rising. The second photo depicts the smoke hitting the inversion layer and the third photo showed the smoke blanketing the City of Port Angeles.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
School Bus Retrofit Program Update
Stedman stated we are continuing with the retrofits and investigating new devices that will further reduce harmful diesel soot emissions. We have received over $630,000 in our school bus retrofit program to date. The monies are being provided to the contractors for doing the retrofit on the buses in our jurisdiction. We have been very successful in passing through these funds and getting emission reductions.
Comments on Draft Strategic Plan
Stedman explained he has received a few last minute comments, but has not received a lot of comments from the Board. Stedman noted he could bring the final to the Board for approval or wait for additional comments. Hamilton stated bringing it to the Board would definitely generate the comments. Stedman noted editing the plan is a lot of work and we would prefer to bring a true final draft to the Board. So, Stedman continued, once again this plan is a look into the future, not necessarily something we have to achieve but would be a useful tool for guidance. Stedman also noted he would like to include the plan as part of our budget this year.
NEW BUSINESS:
Commitment to Kyoto Protocol (Green House Gas Reductions)
Stedman explained the city of Seattle is moving toward meeting the Kyoto Protocol. They are using it as sort of a marketing tool. They have made the commitment and have put together a committee to attain the standards as outlined in Kyoto. Also, Stedman continued, Kyoto deals with reducing emissions from the city corporation and going out into the community to get a 3% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Seattle is working hard with the legislatures to get the bills passed to the California standards. Stedman stated that ORCAA is available to assist cities and counties in the jurisdiction with efforts to comply with the Kyoto Protocol.
Recognition of Employees Leaving the Agency
Stedman explained Dean Nguyen and Jamie Yarbrough have found new places of employment to better their careers. Dean has chosen to take a position with a consulting agency and will be their occupational safety and health person. Jamie has chosen to move on to Thurston County PUD to do information technology. Stedman presented a recognition plaque to Dean and note that Jamie would be picking hers up at a later date.
Prior to Executive Session, Foutch noted that the congressional league of cities conference begins on Saturday. Do we have enough information, Foutch questioned, to know whether our individual jurisdictions should be supporting or opposing the Clear Skies legislation. Stedman stated at this point there is no effort to derail the bill, from the directors' perspectives. We are still trying to figure out what it all means, Stedman noted. It specifically impacts coal-fired power plants and it will have impacts on major sources as well under NSR reforms.
Doherty noted he had brought a list of cedar mills in for staff, noting that staff has been trying to help resolve the waste issues. Doherty also showed photos of air pollution over Sequim. Doherty noted the majority of the pollution was due to open burning and there is a problem. Perhaps staff could look into EPA grants regarding new technology to help get rid of the slash and maybe provide a green power source.
Hamilton noted there had been an issue in Pacific County that had been ongoing for some time. They were taking waste from fish by-products and dumping it on some property. After years and years of dealing with the odors, a constituent contacted her to complain. Hamilton noted she contacted ORCAA immediately and staff came down to meet with both sides and a solution was reached largely due to ORCAA's responsiveness. Stedman noted it was a very well run meeting. Stedman also stated that the people were working together and they achieved a great solution largely due to the community's willingness to work together.
Executive Session
The Executive Session, regarding personnel issues, began at 10:26 a.m.
The Executive Session ended at 10:53 a.m. by unanimous consent.
Hamilton noted that no action would be taken at this time, with regards to the Executive Session.
The meeting adjourned at 10:55 am.
PRESENTED BY:
Richard A. Stedman, Executive Director
APPROVED BY:
The Majority of the Board
APPROVED and SIGNED this 13th day of April 2005