Commissioners Court - Regular Session

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20.

Meeting Date:	01/25/2011
Submitted For:	Gary Boyd	Submitted By:	Gary Boyd, Parks
Department:	Parks

Agenda Item

Consider and take appropriate action to support Travis County's request to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to be removed from a list of areas recommended for non-attainment status.

Background

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must act by March 11, 2011 to establish nonattainment areas based on the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). As a part of this process the EPA receives recommendations from the Governor on areas to be designated as non-attainment. Presently Travis County is on the TCEQ list.

The Travis County Commissioners Court on 18 January took action to formally request TCEQ remove Travis County from the recommended list forwarded to the Governor. The area’s 2009 and 2010 ozone design values (0.075 parts per million (ppm) and 0.074 ppm, respectively) both met the 0.075 ppm standard. Efforts to reduce ozone in Travis and Williamson and the other counties in the area have resulted in steady declines in area ozone measurements. These declines have occurred simultaneously with substantial population growth. Over the last decade ozone measurements in this area have decreased from a high design value of 0.089 ppm in 2000 to 0.074 ppm in 2010. It is neither necessary nor constructive for Travis County to remain on the list of areas to be designated nonattainment under the 2008 ozone standard.

The recommended action is to send a letter to Dr. Brian Shaw, Chairman of the TCEQ, supporting Travis County's request to be removed from the list of recommended non-attainment areas.

Fiscal Impact

From/To	Acct No.	Description	Amount

Attachments
support for Travis county removal from nonattainment list

Form Review

Inbox	Reviewed By	Date
County Judge Exec Asst.	Wendy Coco	01/20/2011 02:14 PM
Form Started By: Gary Boyd		Started On: 01/20/2011 08:49 AM
Final Approval Date: 01/20/2011