R99-007 02-08-99 RESOLUTION NO. R99-7
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND,
TEXAS, ENDORSING GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR CLEANER AIR FOR
THE HOUSTON-GALVESTON REGION.
WHEREAS, the eight county Houston-Galveston metropolitan area does not meet
federal standards for ground level ozone pollution; and
WHEREAS, the area is required to submit a plan by December 2000 that
demonstrates how it will reduce emissions and achieve federal clean air standards by
the year 2007; and
WHEREAS, development of this plan will have a profound effect on the region's
economy and its citizens' public health; and
WHEREAS, failure to develop an adequate plan or meet the standard can result
in sanctions affecting the region's industry and transportation system; and
WHEREAS, because of the regional importance of air quality issues, the Houston-
Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is recommending that local governments, the private
sector, citizens and other groups join together in developing a regional consensus air
quality plan; and
WHEREAS, the H-GAC Board of Directors has adopted guiding principles for air
quality plans; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the City Council indicates its support for a coordinated regional
air quality plan, by taking the initial step of endorsing the attached Principles for Cleaner
Air.
RESOLUTION NO. R99-7
PASSED,
A. D., 1999.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this the ~' day of
TOM REID
MAYOR
ATTEST:
I%ETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY
2
WHY WE MUST CLEAN TH£ RgGION':$ AIR NOW
The l-Ic~uston-Gslvcston feBion does not meet the current Nltlonzl Ambient Air Quality
Standard for ground level ozone; ~xerefore, the region, constituted by'Harris, Galveston, Fen
Bend, MontgomerY, Brazerio, Waller, Chambers and Liberty Counties, has been desiBnated as a
severe non-attainment are8 by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA.
The ozone standard was established by EPA to address health concerns associated with
ozone, particularly among children and adults with pre-existing respiratory disease. Ozone
levels in the Houston-GAlveston non-attainment area mu.~t be reduced by the year 2007 in order
,o comply with the federal standard.
In addition, if an acceptable plan to reach the standard is not developed by the year 2000,
the SPA could halt all federa!ly funded transportation Droiects, force the implementation of morc
intrusive emission control measures and place restrictions on new or expanding business in the
clSht county efea.
The Cha!!en2e
Ozone is a colefloss gas formed by the chemical reaction of volatile organic compounds,
or VOes, and nitrogen oxidcs, or NOx, in warm, sunny atmospheric conditions. The Te:¢~
Natural Resource Conservation Commission, or TNR.CC, estimates that to comply with the
standard we need to make significant reductions in NOx and VOCs emissions by the year 2007.
This is a si2nificent challenge that the region must move forward to meet. VOCs and NOt come
from four basic sources that we dcpcnd upon every day: point sources, such as industry boilers,
furnaces and storage tanks; on-mad mobile sources, such as cars, trucks and buses; off-road
sources, such as boats, construction equipment and all-terrain vehicles; and area sources, such as
service stations, dry cleaners and auto paint shops.
The continued growth and diversity of our region make the ozone reductions more crucial
and challenging, particularly in light of the significant reductions in ozone precursors aireeAy
achieved. Over the past ten years Harris County grew by over 3o0,o00 residents and growth into
the next century vAIl continue. The seven surrounding counties have added almost 230,000
residents since 1990. Our region includes inner city and suburban residents, small business,
large industry and agricultural interests.
No single county. city or business sector will Droduce enough NOx and VOC emission
reductions for this region to comply with the federal ozone standard. Industry executives and
yardmen, mores and mayors alike must realize that working together now will allow us to reduce
emissions, protect public health, sustain the regional economic growth and avoid harsh federal
sanctions.
~Od L80~ :ON qBl :GI 0g:00 NNS
FOR CLEANER AIR
Principles to Clean Air Now
The following principles should guide xhe creation of a strategy enabling the region to rcaoh
artsinmost of the ozone standard. A collaboratlve process involving the various stakeholders in
the roelea should be utilWed to forge air quality solutions from this point t'onvard.
e Contributions to ozone non-attainrllent ~me From every. segment of the re,on,
Consequently, every person, government entity and all huslnesses of the re, on,
includinS mobile sources, off road construction equipment, permitted or
grandfatherrod Doin~ sources, should do their pan to re~Ju~c altro~,en oxides (NOx) and
volatile orBsnit compound (VOC) emissions.
· Control su'azegi~s should bc implemented ~s expeditiously as prnctlcablc to realize
health benefits and prevent imposition of sanctions upon the region.
· The ownw standard shoulct be attaWed at the lowest economic and social costs
considering effects on lifestyle to the citizens of the region;
· Local ficxibi!i~y should be presented to the greatest extent possible~
· Some emission control strateS~es are best impl~.mentt'~'l at the nat. Weal leve]. such as
those on autm~obiles and consumcr goods, and, hence, should be accelerated if they
cdmtribute zo a~ainmcnt at lower c~gs and Ics~ advcx'sc impacts than other controls.
· Control strategy options considered should include all technically feasible ones
prioritiz~t by thcir relative benefit to cost characteristics;
· Economic incentives should be explored as part of the area's attainment approach.
· All reasonable efforts should be made to avoid State Implementation Plan {SIP)
disapproval by l~PA. If ozone attainment cannot he reached hy reducing ozone
precursors to the maximum technically feaslble and cost-e~eient extent, other
options ~o obtain SIP approval will be explored.
· EncouraSo TNVACC to undertake a ~omprehensive air q~ality research strateSy to
provide additional sc~evGflc, information necessary for design oE ozone control
programs which can bc reasonably expected to reduce ozone formation and public
exposure to ozone.
The public health of area residents, the vlbrancy of the reSion's economy and continued
transportation improvements are only assured if a sound, acceptable ozone compliance plan i~
developed and implemented.
Endorsed b~, Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of DIrectors on December