HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 97-143 /C V7- /`/
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BEAUMONT:
WHEREAS, the City of Beaumont in recognizing the challenges facing
Southeast Texas and its continuing effort to inform citizens and advise elected public
officials about the immediate and long-range air quality concerns that affect this area
regarding federal clean air legislation, and;
WHEREAS, due to the extensive emission reduction activities implemented in
Southeast Texas since 1972, there is a clear, downward trend in ambient ozone
measurements that indicate sustainable progress toward the existing ozone standard, to
the point that there were no exceedances in Southeast Texas in 1996, and;
WHEREAS, the EPA's science advisory panel, the Clean Air Scientific Advisory
Committee (CASAC), has stated that there is no distinguishable difference between the
health impacts of the proposed ozone standard ranges and their averaging times, and;
WHEREAS, approximately 50% of the ambient air monitoring data for Southeast
Texas is indicative of ozone natural background levels of 40 to 60 parts per billion as
contributed by biogenic sources which could compromise the proposed ozone standard
and presents questionable attainability, and;
WHEREAS, transport of ozone causing pollutants into the Southeast Texas area
from non-regional sources can contribute to excessive levels of ozone over which there
is no local control, and;
WHEREAS, there is a serious concern, supported by the application of the Urban
Airshed Modeling protocols, that the proposed ozone standard may not be attainable in
Southeast Texas regardless of the regulations required, and;
WHEREAS, additional existing Federal regulatory requirements will be implemented
in southeast Texas over the next several years to further reduce air emissions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City of Beaumont :
First, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintain the existing one-hour
ozone standard of 0.12 parts per million until there is more definitive evidence that the
proposed eight-hour standard of 0.08 parts per million is both reasonable and attainable;
Second, if the U.S. EPA proceeds to replace the one-hour standard with an eight-
hour standard equivalent in stringency, we recommend at a minimum a standard of 0.09
parts per million, based on the average annual third, fourth, or fifth highest daily maximum
over a three-year period.
Third, that we support protective national ambient air quality standards that are
balanced and scientifically justified in such a manner as not to discourage the continued
economic growth and development of Southeast Texas;
Fourth, that the voluntary Ozone Action Day program be encouraged as a process
to further reduce local emissions contributing to the ozone.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the Zem day of
c
1997.
- Mayor-