04/12/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- e - in identifying different types of pollution, has identified the following seven categories: 1) Suspended particulates; 2) carbon monoxide; 3) sulfur dioxide; 4) photo chemical oxidants; 5) nitrogen dioxide; 6) lead; and 7) hydrocarbons. He said that three are of concern--suspended particluate matter, carbon monoxide, and photo- chemical oxidants. He added that the City is in nonattainment on those three standards. For that reason the Air Quality Maintenance Committee was formed. He said it is important to look at the sources which generate the pollutants. There are four different categories: Background or natural (such as trees), point sources (such as industries), area sources (such as autos), and intrusion sources (such as field burning). He noted that the northerners are concerned with what is put into the river from the south and Eugene is concerned with what Northerners put into the air. It is important to keep that in mind. Mr. Martin went on to say that Eugene has a long history of trying to deal with these matters. In 1958, the air pollution ordinance was passed; in 1968 LRAPA was created. The smoke management program which was developed has had positive effects, but there still needs to be much improvement. He said the problem now is that Eugene is in non-attainment. Eugene cannot gain compliance unless some of the intrusion sources are dealt with. Mr. Lieuallen wondered if the air quality maintenance advisory commit- tee would be able to determine what the major source of pollutants is. Mr. Martin said those things would be looked at and, of course, the monitoring systems are not as sophisticated as they should be. Ralph Johnston, LRAPA, noted that autos are the primary contributor to carbon monoxide and photochemical oxidant problems. As far as sus- pended particulates are concerned, autos do contribute but it is mainly the road dust connected with autos that is significant. Mr. Martin concluded that control of air and water pollution is the first consideration in virtually all of the policies. The staff is concerned about the community's understanding of the issues. Ci ty Attorney Stan Long noted di s tri buti on to Counci 1 members of an April 11 draft of a document which will go to EPA, as well as a letter of April 12 to the members of the Environmental Quality Commission. He said the key fact is that the federal government has required states to come up with plans on attaining clean air standards. In Oregon's plan was a recommendation that it go to 50,000 acres of field burning per year. Plan changes are to be made only with the approval of the federal government. Oregon authorized changes without going to the federal government. Eugene, therefore, asked the Environental Protection Agency to issue a notice of violation. After the 1977 legislative session, the state requested an amendment to authorize 180,000 acres per year to be burned. Eugene asked the federal govern- ment to reject that change. On January 27, 1978, EPA returned the Oregon revision request to the state because of procedural and substan- tive deficiencies. It stated that DEQ had failed to give adequate notice for the revision hearings and had failed to properly certify the revision submittal. Two options involved were to submit a revised plan or agree to a one-year interim control strategy where EPA would '" 4/12/78--7 l53