Travis County Commissioners Court
March 9, 2010,
Item 13
>> number 13 is to consider and take appropriate action.
that was approved unanimously, right.
13, consider and take appropriate action regarding final comments to the clean air coalition and the u.s.
environmental protects --protection agency, epa, in response to rule proposal of the epa to reconsider the 2008 national air quality standards for oh joan, the effects on Travis County and related issues.
we discussed this at least three or four times already.
this is a final opportunity as the deadline is approaching.
>> it is indeed.
john white for tn r.
good morning, existers and judge Biscoe.
so we have discussed this issue a number of times.
the county has already made some preliminary comments to the hearing process.
this is an opportunity for us to make additional comments.
the deadline is later this month.
however, the thing that is looming for us right now is consideration by the clean air coalition tomorrow of regional comments.
so there's an opportunity for regional comments but also for our comments as Travis County independently.
based on last week's discussion, we have done a number of things.
one is we prepared a cover letter so that the Commissioners you may all sign the letter.
secondly, we made some revisions to the body of the comment letter itself.
specifically, we interest dued more explicit language regarding the issue of transport from outside the region.
did that in a couple of different places.
we explicitly at vow indicated for 7 po parts ber million as the primary standard.
we are specifically add vow kating for an alternative compliance schedule, either in terms of some sort of phased approach or perhaps a modification of the primary standard so that rather than using the fourth highest event as the threshold, but rather use the seventh highest if we are going have to still deal with those events from out of region transport.
and then, I guess that was the last part.
we did suggest that potential revision to the primary standard.
these items are appropriate, I think, for the county to submit directly to epa.
we can do that by mail and by electronic submission.
these are also potentially good items to be taken forward to the clean air coalition although we fully understand they may be less than enthused about the metrowide designation that we would be calling for.
>> the coalition meets tomorrow morning.
>> correct.
>> I'm happy to say that campo adopted a similar position last night.
especially as to the setting of a standard at 70 parts per billion.
and if necessary, at different intervals there after, lowering it.
but giving us an opportunity to at least enthusiastically try to achieve it.
without incentive and motivation we may well give up.
if they set it at 60, that is so much lower than what we have been doing.
>> yeah.
>> it's almost impossible to achieve.
>> judge, I guess, can you tell me, staff, when we may hear a final concrete answer from epa as we go through this process on the comments we have made?
(one moment for change in captioners)
>> I really want to commend staff on such a thorough job and a really fine piece of work.
it also informed I think those of us who sit on campo with regard to how to approach it there as well.
and I think our letter as well as the campo letter makes a good and important distinction between the technical advisory committee of epa's finding that 75 parts per billion was insufficient for the protection of human health.
and that 60 to 70 was where we need to be from a scientific perspective.
so I do applaud staff for making the distinction between our support of a lower standard that is sufficiently protective of human health and our, I think, constructive suggestions about how to implement it so that as you said previously, we don't hang the meat so high that the dog won't jump.
thanks so much.
>> well, thank you.
i guess I would point out that tom webber and noel have been real important in making sure we have good dmungs with our partners -- communication with our partners.
>> great stuff.
>> move approval of this draft as our final draft and authorize draft to send it to e.p.a.
by hard copy as well as electronically.
>> sec.
that's what they asked for.
>> second.
>> seconded by the whole court.
discussion of the motion?
all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
thank you very much.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 2:53 PM
