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Air Quality in Yakima County

Air Quality in Yakima County. The Ramifications of PM 2.5 “Non-Attainment” Status. FY2009-2010. Why are we here?. Human Activity Is the major contributor to air pollution Air pollution affects health Issues of Health Are the driving force behind the Federal Clean Air Act.

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Air Quality in Yakima County

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  1. Air Qualityin Yakima County The Ramifications of PM2.5 “Non-Attainment” Status FY2009-2010

  2. Why are we here? • Human Activity • Is the major contributor to air pollution • Air pollution affects health • Issues of Health • Are the driving force behind the Federal Clean Air Act

  3. Why are we here? • YRCAA is the local agency charged with maintaining high standards of Air Quality • Guide (communities) • Educate and Inform • Guard (the air shed) • Collect and Interpret Data • Develop and Administer Air Programs • Enforce (the law) when necessary • Inspections • Issue warnings • Issue Penalties

  4. Why are we here? • CAA – higher standards set in 2006 for the allowable amount of PM2.5 in the air • Yakima County is on the verge of exceeding the 24-hour standard. • More work is needed to: • Avoid “Non-Attainment” designation, or • Regain “Attainment” status

  5. Where We’ve Been • Designated non-attainment for PM10 • Developed PM10 re-attainment program • Took 17 years to accomplish redesignation as attainment • Direct and indirect costs estimated at 8-10 Million Dollars • We can do it again

  6. Where We Are • Fighting to attain new PM2.5 standard • 2008 – days of exceedance: 3 verified • 2009 – days of exceedance: 2 already • Calling winter burn bans based on air monitor data & modeling • Limiting agricultural burning with allocations • Replacing uncertified wood stoves • Educating the public

  7. PM2.5

  8. Standard = 35 Micrograms of PM2.5per meter3

  9. Where We’re Headed • Non-Attainment – a foregone conclusion ? • Consequences: • Regulation 1 revisions • Attainment planning; SIP Revisions • More enforcement staff in the field, more regularly • Contract patrols • Increased Notices of Violation and Penalty activity

  10. Where We’re Headed • Ongoing Public Education efforts • Public forums/events • Includes bi-lingual outreach • Regular media use • Additional literature • Reprints • New flyers, brochures, info sheets

  11. Where We’re Headed • Impact on Households – Indirect • Possible withheld Federal Transportation funds • More expensive pollution control equipment for industry • Higher unemployment levels – crime rate effects • Impact on Households – Direct • Tighter solid-fuel home heating device restrictions • Move to alternative sources of heat • Tighter outdoor burning restrictions • Move to alternative methods of debris disposal • Yakima area becomes less attractive to new business/industry • less income, fewer jobs, restricted growth & revenue • Some loss of established businesses • lost income, jobs, tax base

  12. Where We’re Headed Impact on Business and Community – Indirect • Move to alternative methods of debris disposal • Unhappy property owners • Higher unemployment levels • Crime rate rises • More demand on public assistance, food banks, etc.

  13. Where We’re Headed • Impact on Business and Community – Direct • Possible withheld Federal Transportation funds • Tighter outdoor burning restrictions • Agriculture • Weed abatement • More expensive pollution control equipment for industry • Loss of established businesses • Increased cost of doing business • Decreased revenue on solid fuel devices and related sales • Yakima area becomes less attractive to new business/industry

  14. Funding Comparison: 2009-2010

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