Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Open Board of Directors Meeting
San Bernardino Community College District
114 S. Del Rosa Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Ann Bryan, Rachelle Bussell, Ken Coate, Louis Goodwin, Mark Kaenel, Pam Langford, John Mirau, Cid Pinedo, Jan Remm, Khalil Saba, Kristine Scott, Hassan Webb and Ray Wolfe.
Guests: Josh Candelaria, Mark Olson, Arnold San Miguel and Todd Warden.
Announcements: 1) A majority of the members present voted to extend an invitation of membership to the law firm of Gresham Savage. 2) SANBAG will hold their 4th Annual Business 2 Business Expo on Wednesday September 28, 2016 from 9a.m. to 12:00p.m. The event will be held at the Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills. Contact Logan Selleck at (951)801-3711. 3) Dignity Health will have a special retirement tribute to Steve Barron during their “Gathering at Twilight” event on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the Orange Show. Please call (909) 881-4516 for more information.
M/S/P: Minutes from September 20, 2016.
Pam Langford introduced Dr. Phillip Fine, Deputy Director, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).
The SCAQMD is charged with controlling emissions from stationary sources (power plants, refineries, gas stations, painting facilities, etc.) in Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in order to meet federal and state air quality standards. They monitor air quality and permit and inspect 28,400 businesses.
Although air quality has dramatically improved, the region still suffers from some of the worst air pollution in the nation. The 2016 Draft South Coast Air Quality Management District Plan (SCAQMDP) is intended to be the blueprint to meet and maintain state and federal air quality standards that have varied attainment due dates and increasingly stricter standards.
All combustion emissions contain toxic NOx and particulate matter that must be reduced for clean air. The SCAQMD has done extensive scientific studies which indicate that even if all stationary sources were brought to zero emissions our region would not meet the set standards. The SCAQMD has no control over mobile sources (trucks, ships, autos, trains, and planes) that are responsible for 88% of the NOx emissions. In June 2016 the SCAQMD and 10 co-petitioners requested the U.S. EPA to undertake rule making for national standards for on-road heavy duty engine exhaust. A national standard creates a fair playing field that would keep us competitive and reduce NOx by 70-90% in 14-25 years.
The 2016 Draft South Coast Air Quality Management District Plan was created after stationary source categories and control options were thoroughly evaluated and the agency compiled a detailed look at emissions inventory. Using best practices they studied analysis of measures implemented throughout the country. The SCAQMD held symposiums, coordinated with working groups and an advisory group, to create the Draft Plan. The Draft Plan has been under review and the Revised Draft Plan, expected to be released in the next few weeks, will include comments received by the agency.
In the 2016 Plan, the agency will focus on, among other things, NOx reductions from non-refinery flares and will look for controls on cooking appliances. Further NOx reductions will come from continuing Regional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM) reassessments. Incentive programs for residential and small business sources can achieve cost-effective reductions on a project by project basis. They will work with CARB, EPA and state and federal lawmakers to establish a Federal Clean Air Investment Fund that will work much like the EPA’s Waste, Chemical and Cleanup Enforcement. Although the SCAQMD does not have primary regulatory authority, they will set targets and work collaboratively with commercial ports, rail yards, commercial airports, warehouse distribution centers and new or redevelopment projects.
The final draft of the AQMP will be released in November and regional public hearings will be held. The SCAQMD Governing Board will consider approval of the Plan in December. The Plan can be viewed on the web at www.aqmd.gov/.
A Q & A period followed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:34 a.m.