HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 03-144 i
RESOLUTION NO. 03-144
WHEREAS, the Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange (BPA) area does not meet the
National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone and is currently classified as a moderate
ozone nonattainment area by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
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 attaining the ozone standards;
and,
WHEREAS,the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality(TCEQ),with support
and encouragement by the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission and local
elected officials, has demonstrated that ozone causing pollutants are transported into BPA
from a significant upwind source, the Houston/Galveston (HGA) area; and,
WHEREAS, pollutants transported into BPA from HGA, which are not local
emissions and cannot be locally controlled, prohibit BPA from reaching attainment until the
HGA area does so; and,
WHEREAS, approximately 85% of the monitored ozone exceedances in the BPA
area over the past six years have potential influence from non-local emissions; and,
WHEREAS, Southeast Texas would be in attainment with the 1-hour ozone
standard if the area was not impacted by non-local emissions, and based solely on local
emissions; and,
i
WHEREAS, EPA's approval of TCEQ's clean air plan for BPA was remanded by the
U. S. Court of Appeals - Fifth Circuit in December, 2002, based on matters of law and not
because the scientific basis for the plan or the attainment date extension was disproved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT:
THAT the City Council strongly urges that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
should exercise Option 2 in their proposal to reclassify the BPA area a serious 1-hour
ozone nonattainment area with an attainment date of November 15, 2005; and,
THAT the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency should be commended for attempting
to use sound science and common sense in extending the attainment date of the BPA area
without a bump-up in 2000; and,
THAT we support protective national ambient air quality standards and policies that are
balanced and justified on sound-science principles in such a manner as not to discourage
the continued economic growth and development of Southeast Texas, while reaching the
ultimate goal of attaining the ozone standard.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 15th day of July,
2003.
ayor Evelyn M. Lord -