BOARD MEETING DATE: February 3, 2006
AGENDA NO. 17

Appropriate Funds for Special Particulate Air Monitoring Program

SYNPOSIS:

The AQMD has been assisting in a special national particulate monitoring program over the last three years collecting samples at various locations in the South Coast Air Basin. This special particulate monitoring program has been fully funded through the U.S. EPA. The federal government is planning to expand the current program and anticipates fully funding the expanded program in the near future. At this time, the federal government indicated that funding for the current program will continue for a period of time during the first half of Calendar Year 2006. It is unclear at this time when the expanded program will begin and would only begin when full funding is provided by the federal government. The specific funding level for the expanded program will be based on the start date. This action is to appropriate $158,338 which is to be reimbursed by the U.S. EPA for the current program.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, January 13, 2006, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Upon receipt of the award, appropriate $158,338 to the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2005-06 Budget as provided in Attachment 1. (Expenditure appropriations exclude Salary & Employee Benefits amounts and Indirect Costs which were included in the FY 2005-06 adopted budget).

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

In January 2003, the U.S. EPA requested assistance from the AQMD to collect particulate samples at various AQMD monitoring stations as part of a special national program. Actual sample collection began in early February 2003 and will continue for the foreseeable future. The U.S. EPA has provided funding to fully cover the cost of training, samplers, and consumables. U.S. EPA is providing funding in the amount of $350,000 to continue the current program for the first half of Calendar Year 2006. The funds are sufficient for the AQMD to meet its obligations under the monitoring program. In addition, U.S. EPA has indicated a desire to expand the current program. It is unclear at this time when the expanded program will begin and would only begin when full funding is provided by the federal government. The funding mechanism for the expanded program is anticipated to be through another federal agency. Staff will bring to the Board a proposed budget for the expanded program in the near future.

Proposal

Staff has been in discussions with U.S. EPA staff and has reached concurrence on the specific levels of funding to conduct and expand the special particulate monitoring program. Specifically, U.S. EPA is setting aside $350,000, which the AQMD formally applies for, to cover training, consumables, FTE costs, communications, and mileage for the current monitoring program. The funding will cover six months of sample collection beginning January 1, 2006. It is anticipated that the expanded program will begin at some point during the six month period. Staff will be in discussions with U.S. EPA staff on developing a budget for the expanded program. It is not clear at this point whether the federal government will consider a funding period based on the AQMD fiscal year or continue to fund on a calendar year or 12-month basis. Once a decision is made, staff will bring a proposed budget for the Board’s consideration.

Staff has prepared a proposed budget for the six-month period of U.S. EPA funding. The proposed budget is provided in Attachment 1. Staff is requesting the Board to appropriate $158,338 upon receipt of the award, to the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2005-06 Budget as provided in Attachment 1, which will be reimbursed by EPA. (Expenditure appropriations exclude Salary & Employee Benefits amounts and Indirect Costs which were included in the FY 2005-06 adopted budget). Revenue for this grant ($350,000) has already been included in the FY 2005-06 adopted budget. If the expanded program starts in the first six months of the U.S. EPA funding, any unspent funds will revert back to U.S. EPA

Resource Impacts

U.S. EPA funding will fully support the special particulate monitoring program for the period, including training, consumables, FTEs, communications, and mileage.

Attachment (DOC 79kb)
1 – Proposed Special Particulate Monitoring Program Expenditure

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