BOARD MEETING DATE: April 6, 2007
AGENDA NO. 16
PROPOSAL:
Appropriate $200,000 from BP/ARCO Settlement Fund and Authorize Chairman to Approve Expenditures Up to $200,000 for Outreach and Education regarding Board’s Consideration of Draft 2007 AQMP and CARB’s Consideration of 2007 AQMP
SYNOPSIS:
AQMD has scheduled a new series of public workshops to discuss the Proposed Modifications to the Draft 2007 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). Staff believes that there is a need for additional outreach and education prior to the Board’s consideration of the Draft 2007 AQMP, and CARB’s consideration of the 2007 AQMP. This action is to appropriate $200,000 from the BP/ARCO Settlement Fund (Fund 46) to the Office of Public Affairs’ FY 2006-07 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account and authorize the Chairman to approve expenditure of up to $200,000 for additional outreach and education.
COMMITTEE:
Not Applicable
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
- Appropriate $200,000 from the BP/ARCO Settlement Fund (Fund 46) to the Office of Public Affairs’ FY 2006-07 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account; and
- Authorize the Chairman to Approve Expenditures Up to $200,000 for related 2007 AQMP outreach and education activities.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Every three years, the AQMD updates the overall plan for meeting clean air standards. Nine regional workshops were held from October 24 through December 6, 2006 to discuss the Draft 2007 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) and solicit public input. The 2007 Draft Plan has been modified to include, as appropriate, pursuant to comments received, new emissions inventories, recent air quality modeling results, and revised control strategies (“Proposed Modifications”). AQMD has scheduled a new series of public workshops to discuss the Proposed Modifications to the Draft 2007 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP).
The Proposed Modifications to the Draft 2007 AQMP are designed to meet both state and federal Clean Air Act planning requirements for all areas under AQMD jurisdiction, including the South Coast Air Basin (Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County) and the Riverside County portion of the Salton Sea Air Basin (including the Coachella Valley). The Proposed Modifications are based upon inputs and participation of numerous individuals, including the AQMP Advisory Group and the Scientific, Technical & Modeling Peer Review Group (STMPR) and jointly prepared with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).
Following adoption by the AQMD Board, the Plan will be considered by CARB at a Public Hearing, and then by U.S. EPA, for potential approval. Public education and participation is essential throughout this process as there are elements of the Plan which call for substantial additional efforts from the State and federal governments, in order to attain mandated clean air standards. The outreach and education activities will provide information on these issues.
Proposal
Staff requests that the Board approve allocating up to $200,000 from the BP/ARCO Settlement Fund to implement and enhance outreach and education program for the 2007 AQMP. In order to inform impacted communities, business stakeholders, and local governments and increase participation in the 2007 AQMP policymaking process, staff is recommending a combination of various approaches, including services of consultant(s), implementation of media campaigns that include Public Service Announcements (PSAs), newspaper advertisements, and outreach material production and design, and direct mail marketing.
Resource Impacts
Funds will be transferred from the BP/ARCO Settlement Fund (Fund 46) into Public Affairs’ 2006-07 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account to enhance Public involvement in the 2007 AQMP policymaking process.