HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13 Lane Regional Air Protetion Agency Residential Wood Heating Advisory Amendment
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
SPRINGFIELD
Meeting Date:
Meeting Type:
Department:
Staff Contact:
February 4, 2008
Regular Session
Public Works
Chuck Gottfried
Bill Hamannj\-t ~
736-1023/726-3693
10 minutes
CITY COUNCIL
Telephone:
Estimated Time:
ITEM TITLE: LANE REGIONAL AIR PROTECTION AGENCY RESIDENTIAL WOOD HEATING
ADVISORY AMENDMENT
ACTION REQUESTED: Hold a public hearing and first reading of the following ordinance: AN
ORDINANCE REGARDING AIR POLLUTION, AMENDING CHAPTER 4,
SECTIONS 4.418(4}, 4.500 AND 4.506 OF THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL
CODE, AND CHANGING REFERENCE IN THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL
CODE FROM THE LANE REGIONAL AIR POLLUTION AUTHORITY TO THE
LANE REGIONAL AIR PROTECTION AGENCY, AND AMENDING THE
RESIDENTIAL WOOD HEATING ADVISORY THRESHOLD VALUES.
ISSUE STATEMENT: Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) has requested amendments to
Springfield's "Red-Yellow-Green" Residential Wood Heating Advisory ordinance
4.506 "Definitions," t.o revise wood heating advisory thresholds downward, reducing
wood heating pollutant levels to ensure that Springfield continues to meet federal air
quality standards. LRAPA also requested updating the Municipal Code to reflect
LRAPA's current name, as noted above, where it appears in the Code.
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A - Council Briefing Memo
Attachment B - Letter from LRAPA
Attachment C - Proposed Ordinance
DISCUSSION: Springfield Municipal Code Section 4.506 presently defines air quality threshold values for
residential wood heating (RWH) restrictions when high levels of air pollution are forecast. The restrictions are
communicated to the public via published advisories, using a Green, Yellow, Stage 1 Red, and Stage II Red
designation to denote increasing restrictions on allowable burning activities. Restrictions are progressive as
forecast pollution levels increase, up to and including a prohibition on the use of wood heating devices without a
special exemption.
Threshold levels for the advisories are developed by LRAPA, based on the EPA's National Ambient Air Ouality
Standards (NMOS). The NMOS were recently revised downward, and the proposed amendments seek to
proportionally reduce the RWH advisory thresholds to maintain Springfield's air quality within federal limits.
The NMOS is based on very small particulate termed PM2.5. which, in high concentrations, is believed to adversely
impact the health of sensitive individuals The RWH advisory thresholds represent maximum allowable levels of air
pollutants believed to protect the health of sensitive individuals.
In September, 2007, LRAPA submitted a letter to Mayor Leiken requesting that the City amend the Municipal Code
regarding the levels of PM that trigger the various advisories, lowering the threshold levels for all categories of the
advisory (see Attachment A). This reflects changes to the NMOS, which were recently revised when research
showed that lower pollutant levels were needed to reduce the risk to human health from air pollution.
The current and proposed PM2.5 concentration thresholds, and their respective advisory level, are included in
Attachment A, Council Briefing Memo. The letter from LRAPA requesting the amendments is included as
Attachment B, and the proposed ordinance is Attachment C.
Subject:
January 23,2008
Gino Grimaldi, City Manager W
Chuck Gottfried, ESD Superviso~
Dan Brown, Public Works DirectorQ.. u7
Residential Wood Heating Ordinance Amendments
COUNCIL
BRIEFING
MEMORANDUM
Date:
To:
From:
ISSUE:
The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) recently requested that Springfield amend section
4.506 ofthe Municipal Code, reducing the threshold levels at which the City's Residential Wood
Heating (RWH) advisories are implemented, in an effort to reduce wintertime air pollution levels.
Additional proposed changes include changing LRAPA's name in Section 4.418 and 4.500 of the
Municipal Code, from the previous "Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority" to its current name.
BACKGROUND:
LRAP A administers a wood heating advisory program in Eugene and Springfield, designed to limit
residential wood heating when forecast weather conditions will trap wood smoke and other pollutants
near the ground. The program uses a color-coding advisory system to inform residents of unhealthy air
quality, and urges (or requires) them to curtail the use of wood-burning appliances. The advisories are
published in newspaper, radio, and television media, and are enforceable with fines. LRAP A has been
delegated the authority by the City to administer the enforcement and compliance efforts throughout the
Springfield (and Eugene) Metropolitan area.
The advisory uses forecast pollution levels of very small particulate, called PM2.5 as triggers for
progressively more restrictive burning advisories. The advisories, developed and published daily by
LRAP A, are designed to keep local air pollution levels below the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) established by the federal government. These levels are established by the EP A to
protect the health of sensitive individuals. LRAP A's proposed threshold levels are reduced from the
present levels, proportional to the recently-revised lower NAAQS.
DISCUSSION:
Reducing the threshold levels for implementing restrictive Red or Yellow R WH advisories will lower
wintertime air pollution levels inSpringfield. The current threshold levels, established in 2000, were
developed to help Springfield meet the NAAQS in place at that time. Earlier this year, the PM2.5
NAAQS was revised downward. The proposed threshold levels are intended to help Springfield meet
the new lower NAAQS. The new levels are based on proportional reductions of the NAAQS.
Under the current advisory levels, Springfield observed an average of one Red advisory and 3 Yellow
advisories per winter. Under the proposed threshold levels, LRAP A anticipates as many as 11 red
advisories, and 8 yellow advisories per winter. During restrictive advisories, LRAP A conducts
compliance inspections, with an emphasis on education. However, fines are authorized for violators.
Exemptions from the requirements are available through LRAP A, based on economic need, to allow
low-income residents to continue to burn wood except under the worst air quality conditions.
LRAP A operates a similar program in Eugene, where amendments to their program have been adopted
and await implementation. Similar programs exist in Oakridge, Klamath Falls, and Medford, in addition
to several Central and Eastern Oregon cities. Some of these programs have already implemented lower
threshold levels for their advisories; other cities are in the process of proposing these reductions.
ATTACHMENT A
Page 1 of 2
Section 4.508 of the Municipal Code establishes burning prohibitions under the various advisories. The
current and proposed threshold PM2.5 levels (in micrograms of particulate per cubic meter of air), along
with a summary of each burning advisory, are presented below:
Advisory Current PM2.5 Proposed PM2.5 Required Action.
level level
Green 41 <25 AQ is good; burning allowed
YeUow ~41 and <55 ~5 and <30 AQ is fair; burn with caution
Phase I Red ~55 and <65 ~30 and <35 AQ is poor; limit burning, and emissions
must be <40% opacity
Phase II Red ~65 ~35 AQ is poor; no burning allowed
Additional provisions of this proposed amendment change the name of LRAP A, as found elsewhere in the
Municipal Code, from its previous name, the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority, to its present name, the
Lane Regional Air Protection Agency.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Hold a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance amending the Springfield Municipal Code,
Chapter 4, revising the current wood heating restrictions and amending relevant sections of the
Municipal Code to reflect a name change by the former Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority to the
new name, the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency.
ATTACHMENT A
Page 2 of 2
- ~~ 6..f!l~J:>>~
1010 Main Street
SpringfieLd, OR 97477
phone (541) 736-1056
fax (541) 726-1205
1-877-285-7272
www.Lrapa.org
E-mail: LJapa@Lrapa.org
September 12, 2007
Mayor Sid Leiken
Springfield City Council
225 5th Street
Springfield, Oregon
Mayor and Councilors,
Due to episodes of poor wintertime air quality, the Eugene/Springfield urban area and the City of
Oakridge have home wood heating advisory programs. Residential wood stove smoke is a major
source of PM10 and PM2.5 emissions in these areas. According to Lane Regional Air Protection
Agency's (LRAPA) emission inventory, residential home wood heating smoke is the major source
of all particulates emitted in Lane County especially on worst winter days. Home wood heating
advisory programs in Lane County use a simple "green, yellow, red" advisory system to inform
residents whether or not wood-burning is allowed. The programs run from November 1 through
the end of February.
In 2006, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the standard for fine
particulate matter (PM2) to be more protective of public health. The daily standard has been low-
ered from 65 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) to 35 ug/m3. To reflect these changes, LRAPA
recommends revisions to the local home wood heating advisories. Adoption of these changes as
amendments to your local ordinances will help protect air quality in Lane County and the health
of citizens in local communities.
l~
Merlyn Hough
Director, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency
ATTACHMEiH 8
Page 1 of 1
ORDINANCE NO~ (General)
AN ORDINANCE REGARDING AIR POLLUTION, AMENDING CHAPTER 4,
SECTIONS 4.418(4),4.500 AND 4.506 OF THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE,
AND CHANGING REFERENCE IN THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE FROM
THE LANE REGIONAL AIR POLLUTION AUTHORITY TO THE LANE REGIONAL AIR
PROTECTION AGENCY, AND AMENDING THE RESIDENTIAL .WOOD HEATING
ADVISORY THRESHOLD VALUES.
The City of Springfield, Oregon, does ordain as follows:
Section 1. Section 4.418 (4) Licenses and Permits for Hauling of the Springfield
Municipal Code, 1997, is hereby amended to read:
"4.418(4) Nothing herein contained shall prevent the burning of leaves and dry
rubbish if a permit to do so is obtained from the city and if such burning is
authorized or allowed by the regulations adopted by the Lane Regional Air
Protection Agency and consistent with the requirements of the Uniform Fire
Code."
Section 2. Section 4.500 Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority of the Springfield
Municipal Code, 1997, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"4.500 Lane Regional Air Protection Agency.
The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) is the. primary authority
responsible for the control and/or abatement of air pollution in the city. As part of
its duties .LRAPA is responsible under its rules and regulations and Oregon
Administrative Rules, for administering the most current Oregon Revised
Statutes which concern air quality."
Section 3. Section 4.506 Definitions of the Springfield Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"LRAPA. Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, a regional air quality control
authority established under the provisions of, and with authority and powers
derived from Oregon Revised Statutes 468.500 et seq."
Section 4. Section 4.506 Definitions of the Springfield Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"Green Advisory. A 24-hour period beginning at 4:00 p.m. when PM10 levels are
forecast by LRAPA to be less than 100 micrograms per cubic meter and PM2.5
levels are forecast to be. less than 25 micrograms per cubic meter, within the
Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Urban Growth Boundary.
..
Yellow Advisory. A 24-hour period beginning at 4:00 p.m. when PM10 levels are
forecast by LRAPA to be greater than or equal to 100 micrograms per cubic
ORDINANCE Page -1-
ATTACHMENT C
Page 1 of 2
meter but less than 125 micrograms per cubic meter, or when PM2.5 levels are
forecast to be greater than or equal to 25 micrograms per cubic meter but less
than 30 micrograms per cubic meter, within the Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan
Area General Plan Urban Growth Boundary.
Stage I Red Advisory. A 24-hour period beginning at 4:00 p.m. when PM10
levels are forecast by LRAPA to be greater than or equal to 125 micrograms per
cubic meter but less than 150 micrograms per cubic meter, or when PM2.5 levels
are forecast by LRAPA to be greater than or equal to 30 micrograms per cubic
meter but less than 35 micrograms per cubic meter, within the
Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Urban Growth Boundary.
Stage II Red Advisory. A 24-hour period beginning at 4:00 p.m. when PM10
levels are forecast by LRAPA to be greater than or equal to 150 micrograms per
cubic meter, or when PM2.5 levels are forecast by LRAPA to be greater than or
equal to 35 micrograms per cubic meter, within the Eugene/Springfield
Metropolitan Area General Plan Urban Growth Boundary."
Section 5. Except as specifically amended herein, all other terms and conditions of the
Springfield Municipal Code Sections 4.418(4),4.500, and 4.506 shall remain in full force
and effect.
Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Springfield this _ day of
a vote of _ in favor _ against.
by
Approved by the Mayor of the City of Springfield this _ day of
,2007.
Mayor
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ORDINANCE Page -2-
ATTACHMENT C
Page 2 of 2