The Capistrano Insider

New Air Rules Coming ...

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve California's air quality plans for fine particles - also known as PM2.5 - in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley.  These plans will reduce pollution to the level required by the health based 1997 PM2.5 standard by 2015.

“We are approving California’s air plans for fine particles, but our work is far from done.  EPA will continue to hold the State accountable for bringing air quality up to national standards,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.  “Clean air is a critical human health issue in California.  In large part, the solution will be found in moving quickly towards zero emission transportation systems.”

 

Over the past 10 years, at the worst monitors, PM2.5 has improved by 14% in the San Joaquin Valley and by 43% in the South Coast.  Yet, these areas continue to be two of the most polluted air basins in the nation.  PM2.5 is made up of small particles in the air that can penetrate deep into the lungs and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease, particularly in children and the elderly.  Reducing exposure helps reduce asthma, cardiovascular disease, emergency room visits, cancer and premature death.  According to a 2010 California Air Resources Board study, PM2.5 exposure leads to 9,200 premature deaths annually in CA.

Diesel mobile sources such as trucks, construction equipment and marine vessels are the largest source of PM2.5 in California.  Trucks and buses account for about 40 percent of diesel emissions from all mobile sources.  With its adverse meteorology and substantial pollution from trucks that carry produce and international imports to the rest of the nation, California faces a daunting task in reducing pollution. 

In November 2010, EPA proposed to disapprove the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley PM2.5 air quality plans because they relied heavily on emissions reductions from several State diesel and marine vessel rules that had not been finalized or submitted to the EPA for review. 

Now, CARB is finalizing these precedent setting rules.  They include the In-Use Diesel Truck and Bus rules, the Drayage Truck Rules and the Ocean Going Vessels Clean Fuels rule.  California is the only state in the nation to aggressively target diesel emissions from existing diesel engines.  These pioneering truck and bus rules will impact almost a million vehicles that operate in California and will prevent an estimated 3,500 deaths annually. 

 

In addition, CARB has revised the plans that were originally submitted to EPA to account for the original overestimation of activity and emissions from trucks and construction equipment as well as the economic recession.  As a result, future emissions are forecasted to be lower and fewer emissions reductions are needed to meet the standard.  For the San Joaquin Valley, the effect is that about 5% fewer reductions are needed due to the recession and about 18% fewer reductions are needed because of better emissions estimates. For the South Coast, about 5% fewer reductions are needed due to the recession and about 5% fewer reductions are needed due to better emissions estimates.

EPA is, however, proposing to disapprove the plans’ contingency measures because they do not provide sufficient emissions reductions.  EPA is continuing to work with the State to address these issues.

 

While these plans mark a milestone, and the State is currently working on air quality plans for the more stringent  2006 PM2.5 standard, ultimately Californians will need to move to newer technologies to reduce emissions. The State and local districts have launched a number of grant and incentive programs to demonstrate and deploy near zero emitting technologies.

Today’s proposed actions will be published in the Federal Register and will include a 30-day public comment period from the date of publication.  EPA invites the public to submit comments on today’s proposals and to resubmit comments on the November 2010 proposals. EPA’s Federal Register notices and technical support documents contain detailed information on our proposed actions.

For More Information: http://www.epa.gov/region9/air/actions/ca.html

And the Resolution with Chevron Is ...

Not announced, again.

The San Juan Capistrano City Council met in closed session before its regular meeting, with the issue of the Chevron-MTBE on the agenda. Mayor Sam Allevato had alluded to the potential of an announcement tonight, but none came.

The city's primary well feeding Capistrano's groundwater-recovery plant has been shut down, hampering the plant's production. The MTBE got into the city's system years ago from a decades-old spill, but the city and Chevron couldn't agree on how to best clean it up.

The city, insisting Chevron remove all traces of MTBE, has moved forward with a $1.5 million filter system that would treat the water before it moves into the groundwater plant.

Although no lawsuit has been filed, the City Council in November announced a settlement was close, and Allevato since has said the potential agreement is being passed back and forth between attorneys.

No details, though, because it's in closed session.

Want to be an Earthquake Sensing Station?

From the USGS:

PASADENA, Calif. – The agency responsible for earthquake monitoring across the United States is looking for 35 volunteers in Southern California to host an earthquake sensor in their home.

The device, about the size of a large shoebox, records strong ground motions and sends the measurements to the U.S. Geological Survey over the Internet.  The data collected is available to assist with emergency response following an earthquake.

USGS scientists indicate the current network of ground motion sensors in California is spread too widely in many areas to accurately map ground shaking.

To address this problem the USGS embarked on the NetQuakes Project, a program to purchase compact earthquake sensors and permanently install them in locations provided by citizen volunteers throughout Southern California.  Similar programs are already in operation in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest.

Ideal locations for these sensors include homes near population centers, active faults and critical facilities that are not already covered by sensors. Some areas where increased monitoring is desired include Southern Orange County, Northern San Diego County and the I-15 corridor.

To host a NetQuakes sensor, volunteers must have a quiet, out-of-the-way location in a one-to-two story building, such as a garage. The building must have a concrete slab that is well connected to the ground where the device can be bolted. There must be an electrical outlet nearby and continuous access to the internet. Once installed, strong ground motions recorded by the sensor can be viewed at the USGS website minutes after any strong shaking.

Individuals can learn more and volunteer to host a NetQuakes by filling out a form at: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/waveforms/netq/socal.php. The USGS will review applications and select those that meet its monitoring guidelines.

While the first phase of the Southern California project is limited to 35 sensors, more may be purchased in the future if additional funding becomes available.  Organizations can also purchase their own sensors that can be connected to the larger network.

The USGS operates the Advanced National Seismic System to monitor earthquakes nationwide.  In Southern California the USGS, in cooperation the California Institute of Technology, operates an array of more than 300 earthquake-monitoring sensors that make up the Southern California Seismic Network.  The aim of these programs is to improve monitoring and reduce earthquake losses.  Funding for the Netquakes project was provided, in part, by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

Capistrano Council has Long Week of Big Decisions

The San Juan Capistrano City Council has a busy week ahead.  

On Tuesday, the council is meeting at 5 p.m. — earlier than usual — to consider a closed-session agenda with eight different items. State law allows elected officials to private discuss issues related to personnel, litigation and real-estate deals. 

The council’s closed-session lineup Tuesday touches all of those points, including the $9.2 million lawsuit-loss to the Scalzo Family Trust. A court and jury ordered the multi-million-dollar verdict and fees after finding the city imposed improper conditions on the Scalzo family’s efforts to develop their Del Obispo Street property. 

On the personnel front, the city is reviewing the work of City Manager Joe Tait, and discussing his agreement to take a 5 percent pay cut to his $324,000 contracts as City Manager and interim Utilities Director. 

Finally, the council will discuss an existing lawsuit brought by the developer of the Marbella community, filed after the city announced plans to sell land taken from the builder for a fire station. The builder said that violated the original deal. 

The council moves into its regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss a host of items that have generated considerable interest in the public: 

-- A potential reorganization of City Hall that could see many positions now held by staffers going to outside contractors; Download Reorg

-- A staging area and other trail improvements in the city’s Northwest Open Space, as proposed by the private Open Space Foundation; Download OS Trails

-- Transitioning the “ad hoc” Open Space Committee to a regular “Public Lands Commission” that would take over equestrian and open-space work; Download OS Committee

-- Whether to renew leases with the Oaks and Blenheim Farms for their use of what is now city-owned open space. The Oaks would pay $4,800, while Blenheim would pay $225,000. Download OS Leases

Meeting that same night as the Community Redevelopment Agency, the council will also consider a deal that would see a car dealership come to town. Tuttle-Click wants to buy Capistrano Ford, which is closing, and move to a Camino Capistrano location. The city is considering a deal that would rebate sales-tax to the dealership. Download CRA Tuttle Click

 Additionally, the Redevelopment Agency will consider a proposed lease with the Ecology Center that would see that organization’s rent rise to $1,500 in the fifth year. The city has taken some criticism because the Ecology’s Center per-square-foot cost was below what other groups are charged for to lease city land. Download CRA Ecology Center

On Wednesday, the council meets again, this time in a public special session to consider the long-term vision and strategy for the city. The idea there is to ensure the long-term budget expectations are in line with what Capistrano can bring into city coffers through sales and property taxes. Download CC Vision

The council meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano.

Trade in that Old Gas Mower ...

Mow Down Air Pollution – 2010 Electric Lawn Mower Exchange Program

Due to overwhelming interest from Orange County Residents, the South Coast AQMD has added a 12^th and final Lawn Mower Exchange location at The Great Park in Irvine.

Residents living within AQMD’s 4-county jurisdiction are eligible to turn in their old, but still operable, gas lawn mower and purchase a cordless, rechargeable, electric lawn mower at a greatly reduced price. You can choose from the following four models when you register: Black & Decker 19” cutting width 24v ($100), Black & Decker 19” cutting width 36v ($165), Neuton 14” cutting width 24v ($100), or Neuton 19” cutting width (36v).

You Must:

• Pre-register
• Turn in operable gas mower
• Show proof of residency
• Pay $100 or $165 based on model selected (cash, check or major credit card accepted)

For details or to make a reservation visit www.aqmd.gov or call (888) 425-6247.

( Mow Down Air Pollution Flyer )