BOARD MEETING DATE: September 9, 2005
AGENDA NO. 33

Status Report on Public Benefits Program Specified in BP Arco Settlement

SYNOPSIS:

This report summarizes actions recently taken by the Public Benefit Programs Oversight Committee established in the BP Arco Settlement.

COMMITTEE:

Not Applicable

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The March 2005 Settlement Agreement with BP ARCO specified $30 million dollars over ten years, at funding intervals of $3 million per year, for public benefit programs to address conditions caused or exacerbated by the health effects of air pollution, or to prevent or reduce air pollution. The Agreement specifies that the program beneficiaries for the first three years of funding will be community health clinics, asthma vans provided by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of Southern California, or similar services.

The Agreement further specifies that funding decisions shall be made at the sole discretion of a "Public Benefit Programs Oversight Committee" composed of two AQMD Board Members, two BP representatives, and a member of the public. Committee members are: Beatrice LaPisto-Kirtley, AQMD Board Member; Miguel A. Pulido, AQMD Board Member; Tom Markin, BP America Inc.; Phil Cochrane, BP America Inc.; Joe Calhoun, Independent Member At Large.

Status Report

The Committee met on August 3, 2005 and considered funding proposals submitted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of Southern California, the American Lung Association, and a coalition of health clinics serving the communities in and around the BP Carson refinery. The Committee made the following decisions for the $3 million available in the first year of the program:

1. Allocate $2 million for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of Southern California for four "breathmobiles" – one in each county in the South Coast Air Basin – with an additional van for Los Angeles County in year two of the program. These vans are equipped with medical staff and medications. In the course of a year, each van will cover about 20 - 25 school sites, visiting each school every six weeks.
    
2. Allocate $325,000 per year for two years to the American Lung Association to expand its "Open Airways" program by providing funds to hire a full time dedicated staff person for each of the three chapters in the basin. This program provides critical education to children and parents as well as school staff regarding asthma identification and management. Year two funding is contingent upon successful completion of the year one project implementation.
    
3. Release a Request for Proposals up to $675,000 for the health clinics to provide services in and around the Carson area for expanded in-home and clinic-based delivery of asthma treatment and education. These proposals will be reviewed by the Committee for possible project selection. The Committee indicated that they may or may not fund such activities depending on the quality of proposals received. If the full $675,000 is not allocated to clinic services based on quality of proposals received, other appropriate qualifying projects will be sought.

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