HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-01 Air Quality Standards ESOLUTION NO. 2004-
A RESOLUTION TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE AIR QUALITY STANDARDS
Recitals:
The City of Ashland is situated in the Rogue Valley, where the topographic effect
of the surrounding mountains and the shape of the valley prevent lower level
winds from clearing the air, thereby creating an inversion layer that traps air
pollutants;
The quality of the air we breathe is directly related to the health of Ashland and
Rogue Valley residents, with our young, ill and elderly people especially
vulnerable to air pollution; The quality of the air we breathe is directly related to
the quality of life in Ashland and the Rogue Valley; and
Co
The economic health and development of any region is dependent on the
knowledge and perception of citizens and businesses that it is a safe and desirable
place to live; and
The Rogue Valley has made huge improvements in air quality in the last 20 years
and the new air quality maintenance plan should include creative ways to address
the transportation contribution to air quality, to monitor and analyze for the
current sources and kinds of particulates, to link private source contributions to
the improvement of public vehicular sources of pollutants and to identify
solutions without allowing an increase in measured pollutants in the total Air
Quality Maintenance Area (AQMA).
THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1 .We request that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
include the Emissions Offset (option #1) in the proposed Medford-Ashland PMiO
Attainment and Maintenance Plan and to remove the Growth Allowance from the draft
plan.
SECTION 2.We request that the proposed Medford-Ashland PMIO Attainment and
Maintenance Plan be submitted to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
with the Emissions Offset option and that the DEQ continue to work with the Medford
Ashland Air quality Advisory committee to monitor and improve the current level of air
quality in the Rogue Valley.
SECTION 3. We request that the proposed Plan include a strategy to monitor
both PM10 and PM2.5 and to analyze the specific point and non-point sources of
these pollutants with the objective to identify specific ways to further improve air
quality in the AQMA in respect to respiratory illnesses.
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SECTION 4. This resolution takes effect upon signing by the Mayor.
This resolution was read by title only in accordance with Ashla.nd Municipal Code
{}2.04.090 duly PASSED and ADOPTED this ~, day of ,~,/~.~,,~-z,<~ ,
Barbara Christensen, City Recorder
SIGNED and APPROVED this
Reviewed as to form:
day of
~"~,.,~ v,t ~- ~t ,2004.
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Alan W. DeBoer, Mayor
Paul Nolte, City Attorney
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CITY OF
-AS H LAN D
January 6, 2004
David Collier
Oregon DEQ Air Quality Division
811 SW 6th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97204
Dear Mr. Collier:
Please accept this letter and attached resolution as public comment regarding the Medford-Ashland PMIO
Attainment and Maintenance Plan as proposed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
After careful review and deliberation, the Ashland City Council strongly urges the DEQ to retain the stringent
requirements currently in place in the Rogue Valley. The Council further recommends that the plan move
forward with option #1 Emissions Offsets and recommends that the DEQ withdraw the Growth Allowance option
which is currently written into the proposed plan described in the State of Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality memorandum dated November 12, 2003.
The improved air quality in the Rogue Valley is a significant factor in our quality of life and public health. The
risk of jeopardizing that quality of life by allowing relaxed standards of emissions of PM~0 is too great. In fact,
air quality may well be a consideration that attracts new business to our area despite the restrictions imposed on
emissions control. Economic development in the Rogue Valley is an important and complex issue. Decisions
companies consider in deciding to locate their business in any community are numerous and extend beyond PM~0
emissions allowances or restrictions. The Council further recognizes the importance of moving from non-
attainment to attainment to ensure we do not risk potentially jeopardizing Federal funds for our regional
transportation plan.
The Council aclmo~es the amount of time, energy and research invested in this plan and appreciates the
attention and cons/s~r~on~n~ to the various view points within the plan.
Sincerely,
Gino Grimaldi,~ Ci~ Administrator
CITY HALL Tel: 5414884002
20 East Main Street Fax: 541-488-5311
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or, us