BOARD STUDY SESSION DATE: April 7, 2006
AGENDA NO. 2

Fund Various Air Quality and Public Health Related Projects from BP/ARCO Settlement Funds

SYNOPSIS:

The Governing Board had previously allocated $6 million from the BP/ARCO Settlement Funds for various air quality and public health related projects.  Five public meetings and a Governing Board Special Study Session were conducted to solicit input and review projects for funding consideration in the areas of air quality mitigation, research, public health and education, health treatment centers, and other related areas.  Staff received a total of 255 project proposals with requested funding of over $80.9 million.  Staff has prepared three prioritized listings of proposals, and twenty projects are recommended for funding, as listed in the Attachment A, totaling $5.9 million.  Also enclosed are Second Priority and Third Priority lists of projects, and Other projects not recommended for funding at this time.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, December 9, 2005;
Governing Board Special Study Session, January 6, 2006

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Approve list of Staff Recommended Projects from BP/Arco Settlement Funds, in an amount not to exceed $5.9 million, as per Attachment A.
2. Direct staff to assist project proponents in seeking alternative sources of funding, for projects identified in Attachments B and C, since the existing allocation of funds is insufficient to cover these projects.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

As part of the BP/ARCO settlement in 2005, $6 million was allocated towards projects that would improve air quality or public health in the areas served by AQMD. 

Five public meetings were conducted throughout AQMD jurisdiction in Burbank, Garden Grove, Rialto, Banning, and Carson to solicit public comments on projects for funding consideration in the areas of air quality mitigation, research, public health and education, health treatment centers, or other related air quality areas.  All proposals were evaluated by staff with specific technical expertise in the proposal’s subject matter.  Each proposal’s composite rating is based on the overall quality of the proposal, alignment with stated Governing Board priorities, capacity of sponsors to conduct work, availability of funding sources within and outside of AQMD, and geographic distribution of funds within project area.  At the January 6, 2006 Board Special Study Session, the proposal deadline was extended to January 20, 2006, and another 31 proposals were received. All proposals were reviewed by staff and a revised package was prepared for Board consideration. 

Proposal

In accordance with the Board’s request at the January 6 Study Session, staff has placed the projects into three priority lists.  For the first priority, AQMD staff is recommending approval of 20 projects for a total expenditure of $5.9 million as listed in Attachment A, which were ranked the highest by staff in accordance with the above-listed criteria.  A list of second priority and third priority projects were also created by staff based upon their relative strength, as shown in Attachments B and C.  Finally, a list of other projects that staff is not recommending at this time is listed in Attachment D.  For the Board’s information, staff is also including, as Attachment E, additional proposals staff received after the January 6, 2006 Special Study Session.  These proposals were also ranked by staff and placed in the appropriate priority lists. 

Benefits to AQMD

These projects are expected to provide air quality mitigation, public health benefits and other health treatment to residents of impacted areas, including minorities and low-income communities.  In the absence of such funding, such public benefit projects may not have materialized. 

Resource Impacts

Funds are available from the BP/Arco Settlement.

Attachments (EXE 88kb)
A.        List of Staff Recommended Projects
B.        List of Second Priority Projects Recommended by Staff
C.        List of Third Priority Projects Recommended by Staff
D.        List of Other Projects
E.         Additional Project Proposals Received in January