ORCAA Board of Directors
OLYMPIC REGION CLEAN AIR AGENCY
2940 B Limited Lane NW
Olympia, Washington 98502
MEETING
March 12, 2008
Members present:
Bob Beerbower, Grays Harbor County (Chair)
Ann Burgman, City of Lacey
Ross Gallagher, Mason County
Mike Doherty, Clallam County
Clay Harwood, Pacific County
Phil Johnson, Jefferson County
Bob Macleod, Thurston County
Joan Machlis, City of Olympia
Grant Munro, City of Port Angeles (Vice Chair),
Members absent:
Legal Counsel: Fred Gentry of Bean, Gentry, Wheeler & Peternell
Staff Present: Richard Stedman, Executive Director, Robert Moody, Compliance Supervisor; Lynn Harding, Administrative Services Manager; and Debbie Moody, Recorder
The meeting was called to order at 10:03 am.
There were no additions or omission to the Agenda. Burgman moved approval of the Agenda. Johnson seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Munro moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Macleod seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Beerbower noted there was no public in the audience.
PRESENTATION
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
Stedman introduced Amy Shatzkin, Region Program Officer for ICLEI, and Lara Whitely Binder, Climate Impacts Group University of Washington.
Lara Whitely Binder gave a presentation regarding the background of climate impacts on Washington State. (Power Point slides available).
Amy Shatzkin gave a presentation regarding ICLEI’s program and membership information. (Power Point slides available). www.Icleiusa.org amy.shatzkin@icle.org
The Board thanked them for their time.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Compliance Update
Robert Moody, Compliance Supervisor, noted Westport Shipyard penalties have been sent out and came to about $160,000. They were also issued three additional Notices of Violations for three other months of non-compliance. We do expect them to be in compliance for this month. Staff attended a PCHB hearing on Monday and Gentry was sure we would do well. Gentry noted he received a call prior to the meeting this morning and we did prevail.
Munro asked what happens next with Westport Shipyard. Stedman noted the penalty is due 30 days after they receive the notices. It is up to them whether to pay or appeal.
ORCAA Permit Actions
Stedman stated Mark Goodin was out of the office today. Stedman noted the permitting section is on track. We do have an upcoming public hearing in Mason County. Atlas Shelton is proposing a pellet making facility to be located out on John’s Prairie Road in Shelton. The hearing is scheduled for April 17 at 6:30 pm and will be held at the Mason County Commission Chambers. Stedman noted the preliminary determination from staff is to approve the permit.
Education and Outreach
Dan Nelson, Public Information Officer, noted we have a few new CCV projects that will be taking place in the coming months in Clallam and Jefferson Counties. All of our counties are now on board. We have electric vehicles going in several different jurisdictions. Nelson noted he and Stedman did go to Port of Olympia to see their new electric pickup. The city of Olympia has received their electric passenger vehicle and Lacey is looking at a couple different ones as well.
We have a new online newsletter and email alert set up. If you go to our homepage there is a link whereas you can register your email so you can be notified of burn bans, air stagnations, etc. as well as a monthly newsletter. You are able to sign up for only the information you wish to received. We are hoping this will make our burn ban notifications more widespread and more efficient.
Nelson noted next month he will be doing a presentation to the EPA National Air Monitoring Communications Conference. The presentation will be giving praise to our staff for their innovative solutions to various problems in working with a multitude of agencies. Nelson noted staff has done a phenomenal job in the past couple of years on finding solutions to problems through innovative ways and we have a chance to get them some national recognition.
Stedman noted he recently attended a city of Olympia council meeting. Stedman stated he was making a presentation to Jeff Kingsbury to thank him for his time on our Board. Also, in concert with their fleet person, we presented an award of 50% toward the purchase of their electric vehicle. We have been receiving numerous calls regarding projects. The Evergreen State College has recently contacted us. They have been doing great projects on their own over the years and are interested in possible partnering with ORCAA on upcoming projects.
Air Quality Summary
Stedman pointed out the numbers do look better than last month’s. We did have some issues in Lacey that came close to moderate; however, overall things are looking pretty good. Stedman noted we are worried about Lacey and we will probably be working towards a woodstove buy back program sooner rather than later. We would like to be able to extend a program to not only Lacey but Port Angeles and Port Townsend as well.
Legislative Summary
Stedman explained there are a lot of climate change bills that seem to be passing. An energy cap and trade program that will require mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases is moving forward. There is a bill regarding auto labeling which would denote what the greenhouse gas impacts are for each new vehicle sold in Washington. Ecology is waiting to see what California does and will most likely institute whatever they do. Stedman noted a woodstove curtailment bill which has new trigger levels that are consistent with EPA’s new standards for particulate matter. We have received good support from the Hearth Products Association on this bill.
Stedman noted one disappointment was a bill that would require a seller to disclose the type of stove in the home. Basically it would register all woodstoves. Unfortunately this bill didn’t pass.
Enduris (formerly WGEP)
Stedman explained the Washington Government Entity Pool has changed its name to Enduris. Stedman noted we have been very pleased with the services provided by the Pool.
City of Hoquiam Grant Application
Stedman stated we have received a grant application from the City of Hoquiam to utilize the $75,000 from the Ocean Protein settlement. They are requesting to use the funds to change out the generators in the fire station as well as at the sewer station in the amount of $50,000. They wanted to use $6,000 or so to plant 20 trees, and they also wanted to purchase a new Prius. The overall request was for $92,000. Stedman noted he has already responded, letting them know we need additional information and the merits of the proposal. We did note we wanted the Prius to be used as a replacement for a “less clean” vehicle in their fleet as well. Stedman stated he will bring back any further information to the Board.
Stedman wanted to note that perhaps as early as our May meeting, we may be dealing with Ocean Protein again. We have been in contact with OP and we are anticipating a Notice of Construction soon. They have proposed additional controls and a large stack. The proposed stack is 90 feet high.
Beerbower observed as long as he has been on this Board, that although staff does levy some large fines to different sources, they work with the source and most of the time a large portion of the fine is given back to the source to be used to fix the problem.
NEW BUSINESS
Staff Recognition – Lynn Harding, 5 years
Stedman wanted to recognize Lynn Harding, Administrative Services Manager, for 5 years of service. Stedman noted Harding recently applied for a Wellness Grant for our agency. Our intention was to request a couple hundred dollars toward our wellness program and we received $2,500. We are looking at using it toward exercise equipment for staff. Stedman noted we have bikes for staff to use as well. The Board congratulated Harding. Stedman awarded Harding with an engraved pen and wooden box.
Prior to adjournment, Machlis noted in Paris they have 20,000 bikes for public use that use a token system. She noted she can send a website link to anyone interested. Stedman noted we had been talking about a similar system for our area, however, we have heard some of the problems such as the bikes end up way out in rural areas or at the bottom of hills. We would like to see a similar program in our area.
Gallagher stated Lynda Ring-Ericson was recently in Washington DC and met Jay Insley. Gallagher wanted to share that Ring-Ericson was told there is $20 million available for solar lights at intersections if any of the jurisdictions are interested.
Harwood wanted to share the success of Pacific County’s drop sites for storm debris. The drop sites had their last pick up and the sites are now cleaned up and closed. Harwood noted the company they contracted with chipped up what they could, ground up what they had to, and hauled off what they could. The cost was minimal, Harwood noted, and we avoided a lot of unnecessary burning. Stedman noted Pacific County is a great example of how things can work. We do plan on doing a feature so other areas can see that there are alternatives.
Stedman added we are also trying to get a meeting with the city of Forks with regards to the fuels for schools. Stedman stated he was unsure as to where they are in the legislature with this idea. There had been word there was to be $1.5 million appropriated to Forks for the set up an industrial boiler to change out an old oil fired boiler at the school.
Johnson noted Jefferson County has just received their Zen Car. They are using it to run back and forth between the courthouse and the remote offices. The Zen car replaces an old Taurus. Harwood noted they lost a vehicle in the storm and stated he may talk to the county about replacing it with an electric vehicle.
The meeting adjourned at 11:37 a.m.
PRESENTED BY
Richard A. Stedman, Executive Director
APPROVED BY:
The Majority of the Board
APPROVED and SIGNED this 9th day of April 2008