This is a courtesy copy of an email bulletin sent by Andrea Gartenbaum.

This bulletin was sent to the following groups of people:

Subscribers of Rulemaking, Medford-Ashland Air Quality.

DEQ proposes rulemaking to adopt Carbon Monoxide and Particulate Matter (PM₁₀) Limited Maintenance Plans for Grants Pass

DEQ proposes rules to update Oregon maintenance plans designed to protect air quality in Grants Pass for carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter 10 microns and smaller (PM₁₀), as required by federal law. Because CO and PM₁₀ pollution levels have been very low and the area is unlikely to exceed health standards in the future, the area qualifies and DEQ proposes limited maintenance plans that streamline requirements and eliminate costly computer modeling requirements for transportation conformity analysis. 

DEQ proposes the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) approve the proposed rules for incorporation into the Oregon Clean Air Act State Implementation Plan, as a revision to OAR 340-200-0040, and submit to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency for its approval under the federal Clean Air Act.

In the mid to late 1980s, Grants Pass exceeded the 8-hour CO standard and the 24-hour PM₁₀ standard. The area was designated as a nonattainment area for CO in 1985 and for PM₁₀ in 1990. In response, EQC adopted attainment plans with CO and PM₁₀ control measures to reduce pollution levels within the urban growth boundary to meet the federal standards. This resulted in significant improvement in air quality and Grants Pass was reclassified to attainment for CO in 2000 and PM₁₀ in 2002. EQC adopted the first maintenance plans for Grants Pass at that time. These plans expire in 2015.

EPA requires Oregon to establish second maintenance plans for the Grants Pass area to ensure compliance with the standards for the next 10 years, through 2025. EPA provides an option for states to adopt simplified plans, called limited maintenance plans, for low-risk areas like Grants Pass. Over the last 25 years, Grants Pass’s CO and PM₁₀ levels have steadily declined and the area is unlikely to exceed these standards again.

Click here to view the rulemaking documents and for instructions on how to comment. DEQ will hold a public hearing on this proposal on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 6 p.m., at the Grants Pass City Council Chambers, 101 NW ‘A’ Street, Grants Pass, OR. To consider comments on the proposed rules, DEQ must receive the comment by 5:00 p.m., Monday, January 26, 2015. DEQ plans to take the final proposal including any modifications made in response to public comments to the EQC for decision at the March 2015 meeting.

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions  |   Unsubscribe All  |   Help