HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-042 Requesting ORCAA to Obtain Air Quality Data Resolution 12-042
Request to ORCAA to Obtain Air Quality Data
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RESOLUTION NO. 12-042
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OLYMPIC REGION CLEAN AIR AGENCY
(ORCAA) TO OBTAIN AIR QUALITY DATA IN THE PORT TOWNSEND AREA TO
ASSURE OUR CITIZENS THAT AIR QUALITY DOES NOT PRESENT HEALTH
RISKS
RECITALS:
A. A number of citizens have expressed health concerns about the possibility of air pollution
from waste forest product biomass generators, as well as pollution from other sources,
including wood burning stoves and open fires such as slash burning. The City Council is
not in a position to assess the health concerns or science of these concerns. That is within
ORCAA's expertise and responsibility.
B. Our concern is that our citizens are assured that ORCAA is effectively monitoring to
protect health and safety of our area's population. To that end, obtaining data from
monitoring is vitally important to establish"before and after" conditions. It is
respectfully submitted that such data would be of great benefit to ORCAA in evaluating
air quality as new biomass conversion plants are permitted here and elsewhere in the
region. Such data would show definitively if biomass conversion plants do create air
pollution. And, as noted above,perhaps even more important would be the assurances to
our population that ORCAA is monitoring to protect out health and safety.
C. Our request to obtain before and after data to assess if biomass conversion plants do
create air pollution may be seen by some as an indication that such monitoring would
show that the approval of a biomass conversion plant was ill-advised. The City of Port
wishes to reassure its citizens with data.
D. ORCAA has the responsibility for air monitoring. ORCAA uses the following criteria to
determine air quality stations:
1. Are there emissions sources that could impact the community's air quality?
2. Have there been significant complaints about air quality in the community?
3. Does the area meteorology indicate that there could be air quality problems?
4. Have burn bans been issued for this area?
5. Does outdoor burning occur and are there woodstoves used as a heat source?
6. Are there facilities that could create air quality problems?
Port Townsend qualifies under all six criteria.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend
Resolution 12-042
Request to ORCAA to Obtain Air Quality Data
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1. Because there are significant community concerns that the monitoring station at the Blue
Heron School is inadequate to evaluate air quality in the Port Townsend area, the City
Council urges ORCAA to finance, furnish and maintain a second monitoring station in
Port Townsend to monitor air quality emissions to better assess if biomass conversion
plants do create air pollution. In this regard, the City Council supports the March 15,
2012 letter to ORCAA from Jefferson County Board of Health.
2. We also urge that ORCAA determine whether limited agency resources can be more
effectively utilized by acquisition and location of monitoring equipment that better
pinpoints particulate sources.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, at a regular
meeting thereof, held this 17th day of September 2012.
David King, May
Attest: Approved as to Form:
Pamela Kolacy, MMC, City Cl� John P. Watts, City Attorney