Res 2021-102/approving a commitment to support the CAPCOG Clean Air Coalition's proposed Regional PM2.5 Emission Reduction and Planning Measures for the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown MSA Regional Air Quality Plan

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ProRs~d— M 7.5 NeasUres for the Austin -Round Rock— Georgetown ock—GeorgetoAMCA Regional Air Quality Plan February 25, 2021 Prepared by the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) |nDecember 2O2U the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded its periodic review of the particulate matter (PM) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQ3) bydeciding to retain all ofthe existing PM NAAQS. However, as part of this review, EPA staff indicated that there is no clear threshold below which exposure to PM pollution will not cause significant health problems, and EPA staff had recommended consideration of a tighter annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS. During the next PIVI NAAQS review due in 2025, the new EPA Administrator could tighten the NAAQS and the Austin -Round Rock -Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area's (MSA's) PM2.5 concentrations are high enough that the region could be at risk of a nonattainment designation for a tighter PM2.5 NAAQS. Therefore, both from a public health perspective and a regulatory perspective, the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition (CAC) has decided to update the region's voluntary air quality plan, 2019-2023 Austin -Round Rock -Georgetown Metropolitan StatisticalArea (MSA) RegionalAir Quality Plan, to include additional measures targeted at reducing regional PM2.5 air pollution and enhancing awareness of PM air pollution. Currently, the region's air pollution levels continue to be much closer to exceeding the ozone (03) NAAQS than any ofthe PM NAAO5. However, the region's PM air pollution levels pose much more significant public health threat than 03, and the PM pollution levels may pose a more significant regulatory threat as well in the coming years. This list of proposed measures is designed to help reduce regional PM2.5 pollution, and were developed by a subcommittee of the Clean Air Coalition Advisory Committee (CACAC) that included staff from Austin, Round Rock, Travis County, Bastrop County, EPA, and Public Citizen, and was reviewed by the CAC at its February 10, 2021, meeting. The list is intended to provide a "menu" of options for current and potential future CAC members to consider implementing as part of the regional plan. CAPCOG will solicit public comment on these measures, compile the responses, and provide these to CAC members for their consideration. CAPCOG is requesting that organizations consider this list of measures and notify CAPCOG by May 31, 2021, of any new measures they plan to implement, as well as any existing measures already being implemented. CAPCOG staff will incorporate this into an update to the regional plan that will be presented to the CAC at its August 11, 2021, meeting, for approval. Several proposed measures are new and specific tomajor sources ofPMemissions that differ from measures to control 03 -forming emissions. However, there are also existing measures in the plan that organizations may not be implementing that can also help reduce PIVI emissions and concentrations. The list includes both a measure and target for implementation. Methods ofimplementation can range from passive controls such as encouraging and sharing best management practices (BMPs) to more aggressive controls such as contractor requirements that BMPs are implemented orcity ordinances. The appendix contains details on specific activities that can be undertaken under each category and provides additional background to help stakeholders understand the multiple ways in which certain sectors could reduce emissions. CAPCOG is not requesting that CAC members list in detail each specific action. However, CAPCOG is requesting that CAC members indicate which general measures they will commit to implementing and the level of commitment (i.e., encouraging best management practices, ordinances, contractual specifications, outreach and education, etc.). Page 1 of 10