Jan. 11, 2002
AQMD Governing Board Member Norma Glover, sworn in today as the agency's new
Chair, announced eight Strategic Alliance Initiatives to improve the region's
business climate and further reduce air pollution.
"To build upon the leadership of this Board and the achievements of this
agency, I am announcing these Strategic Initiatives to strengthen and create new
partnerships for clean air, to put more clean fuel vehicles on the road and to
continue our important work in addressing environmental justice," Glover
said.
The Board will consider a formal work plan to carry out Glover's initiatives
at its Feb. 1 meeting.
The eight initiatives are:
- Modernize the Emission Reduction Credit System to ensure that existing
businesses can expand and new ones can start up while still protecting the
region's air quality. Emission reduction credits, required by state and
federal law, may be in short supply in the future under the current system.
- Petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Review Outdated Policy
Interpretations of the Clean Air Act to give AQMD greater flexibility in
developing its clean air plans and in permitting new facilities. A working group
will make recommendations to the full Governing Board, which will in turn
request changes from EPA.
- Create a Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership of vehicle and engine
manufacturers, fuel providers and other interested parties to advance natural
gas vehicle technology and assist in implementing AQMD's Clean Fleet rules.
- Form a Multi-Regional Alliance for Clean Air to share technical
information and political resources with other major metropolitan areas in the
United States experiencing air pollution problems.
- Create a Strategic Alliance on Advanced Air Pollution Research with
input from scientists in academia, government, community organizations and
businesses to develop a three-year research plan on such topics as ultrafine
particle pollution and risk assessment of cumulative toxic risk.
- Form a Strategic Alliance on Environmental Justice for 2002 to review
AQMD's past Environmental Justice activities and consider developing new
programs such as the use of monetary air pollution penalties to improve air
quality in impacted communities.
- Form a Strategic Alliance on Clean Fuel Funding with fleet operators to
help secure long-term funding for clean fuel fleets, particularly for local
governments.
- Develop a Negotiated Rulemaking Pilot Program to test a process used
periodically by EPA where rules are developed using an outside facilitator and a
formal negotiation process between businesses and the regulatory agency. AQMD
would conduct a pilot program on one rule only and would select a measure that
goes beyond the requirements of the agency's clean air plan.
Glover, a Newport Beach Council Member since 1994, has served on the AQMD
Board representing the cities of Orange County since January 1997. She was Vice
Chair from August 1997 until her installation as Chair today.
Glover is a member of the Orange County Council of Governments and has served
on numerous committees and civic organizations.
An Oklahoma native, Glover holds a master's degree in public administration
from Northeastern University in Boston and a bachelor's degree in education from
Southeastern University in Durant, Okla.
In other action Friday, the Board:
- Adopted minor modifications to Rule 2202 — On-Road Motor Vehicle
Mitigation Options, Rule 481 — Spray Coating Operations and Rule 1141.2
— Surfactant Manufacturing; and
- Set a public hearing for Feb. 1 to adopt Rule 1137 — PM10
Emissions from Woodworking Operations.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions
of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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