Res 2002-213 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commission, to proactively reduce ozone precursor emissions in their own operations. While 03 Flex requires community education and outreach, it imposes no mandatory requirements on the general public. The a-Hour Standard in Central Texas During the past several years, air quality planning in the Austin region has intensified as ozone concentrations have exceeded the value permitted by the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Due to legal challenges to the new NAAQS and ensuing litigation, EPA has not formally designated any areas of the United States in violation of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The 8-hour NAAQS has been upheld by the Supreme Court and EPA anticipates nationwide designation of nonattainment areas in 2004.. Based on recent monitoring data, it is probable that the Austin/San Marcos MSA will be designated a nonattainment area when formal designations occur. The 8-hour ozone standard is found by averaging three years of the fourth highest 8-hour ozone levels in an area. This number, called the design value, must be lower than 85 parts per billion (ppb) to meet the standard. Currently, the Austin/San Marcos MSA design value (averaging 1999, 2000, and 2001) is 88 ppb. Each year this design value will change slightly. Despite annual fluctuations in the design value, elected officials and the citizens of the region understand that long-term air quality will not improve without a concerted emission-reduction effort. The Early Action Compact (EAC) is the region's response. Protocol for Early Action Compacts EPA Region 6 endorsed the TCEQ Protocol for Early Action Compacts (EAC Protocol) on June 19, 2002. It establishes a two-step process that offers a more expeditious time line for achieving clean air than expected under EPA's 8-hour implementation rulemaking. The EAC Protocol allows a region to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) by December 31, 2002, committing to develop and implement a detailed technical plan to reach attainment by 2007. The principles of the EAC Protocol to be executed by Local, State and EPA officials are: · Early planning, implementation, and emission reductions leading to expeditious attainment and maintenance of the 8-hour ozone standard; · Local control of the measures to be employed, with broad-based public input; · State support to ensure technical integrity of the early action plan; · Formal incorporation of the early action plan into the SIP; · Deferral of the effective date of nonattainment designation and related requirements so long as all terms and milestones are met; and · Safeguards to return areas to traditional SIP requirements should terms and/or milestones be unfulfilled, with appropriate credit given for emission reduction measures implemented. 11