Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management ®istrict's 

Public Hearing Comments and Staff Responses 

for the: 

Sacramento Regional 

8-Hour Ozone Attainment And 

Reasonable Further Progress Plan 

March 4, 2009 
YSAQMD - Public Comments and Staff Responses at the Public Hearing 

Sacramento Regional 8-Hour Ozone Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Pfan 

Page 2 of 8 March 4. 2009 

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

Public Hearing Comments (YSAOMD hearing, February 11, 2009) 

Comment #1— Christal Waters, Davis Bicvcles 

Ms. Waters was thanlcful for the improvements in air quality to date. An increase in Spare The Air days is a 

discouragement to anybody who wants to get out and bicycle, for exercise, to wori< or do errands. By reducing 

the number of Spare The Air days, it removes an impediment and encourages people to use their bicycles for 

everyday activities. Ms. Waters urged the Board to pass the Sacramento Regional 8-Hour Ozone Attainment Plan. 

In addition to health benefits from the Plan, federal rules require the Plan include reasonable further progress 

toward attainment in order to obtain federal funding for infrastructure. This includes funding for Complete 

Streets, Safe Streets, and Safe Routes to Schools, which we really support. The new federal administration has 

indicated its intent to heavily invest in infrastructure to pull the nation out of its economic doldrums. It is hoped 

that the passage of this Plan will help speed that public investment. Because the Plan has been developed in 

agreement with the Sacramento Blueprint, the State and the region stand ready to receive whatever additional 

federal funding might be coming its way. 

Response to Comment #1 — Cornment noted. 

Comment #2 - Jason Crow, SACOG 

SACOG supports the adoption of the SIP documents. The SIP is especially important since all of the SACOG 

transportation plans and programs adopted for the region must demonstrate conformity. Without the SIP 

budgets, SACOG cannot demonstrate conformity and the region will enter into a conformity lapse. Basically, the 

conformity lapse means federal transportation dollars will be cut off and federal agencies cannot approve 

environmental documents. The potential impacts of not acting would be huge and SACOG feels that the timing is 

critical. SACOG anticipates the federal approval of the economic stimulus pacl<age and reauthorization of the 

federal transportation bill within this next year. The region does not want to jeopardize these two opportunities 

for funding and improving the region's transportation infrastructure. SACOG understands the important role of 

emissions coming from the transportation sector and SACOG has taken that into account in developing the 

region's transportation plan. This SIP is important to meet the clean air goals for the region as well as 

implementing the region's transportation plan and program. 

Response to Comment #2 — Comment noted. 

F:\PLANNING\SlP\8 Hour ozone plan\Final SIP & EIR\Submittal to ARB\YSAQMD hearing comments & responses.docx 
YSAQMD - Public Comments and Staff Responses at the Public Hearing 

Sacramento Regional 8-Hour Ozone Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Plan 

Paoe 3 of 8 Ma_rch 4. 2009 

Comment #3 — Bill Mueller. Cleaner Air Partnershi 

ln addition to being affiliated with Valley Vision, Mr. Mueller is affiliated with the Cleaner Air Partnership, which 

is an alliance between the business community, through the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 

and the environmental community, represented by Breathe CA of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails and Valley Vision. 

We support the Plan because there will be definite public health benefits. There will be economic impacts as 

well. Local businesses will experience local impacts as a result of further regulatory measures. Districts have to 

adopt all feasible measures. If the District does not implement all feasible measures, it could be sued. As part of 

this plan, a cost-benefit analysis has been performed and the proposed regulations are those that will accrue the 

greatest air quality benefit at the least cost. 

Approval of the plan is important because if it is not approved, the federal government will not fund 

transportation-related activity. This includes bilce paths, roads, etc. fVot approving the plan would also malce it 

difficult to receive federal stimulus dollars. 

We want to see that rules are balanced and can advance public liealth while having the least amount of 

economic impact. This plan is essential to long-term economic development and ensures that the Metropolitan 

Transportation Plan, which is based on the SACOG Blueprint and includes reductions in vehicle miles traveled, is 

implemented so that we grow responsibly. 

Resaonse to Comment #3 — Comment noted. 

Comment #4 - Jane Hagedorn, Breathe California 

Breathe California of Sacramento Emigrant Trails strongly supports adoption of the proposed SIP. The causal 

relationship between air pollution and lung and heart disease is clear. Breathe California has conducted seven 

studies specific to the Sacramento region identifying the heath effects of air pollution. The health issues are 

serious. The proposed SIP will ensure that the region will reduce emissions at the required minimum rate of 3% 

per year and meet the new 8-hour ozone standards by 2018. The result will be improved public health for all and 

particularly for the tens of thousands of children who suffer from asthma in the community. Although the region 

has made progress in reducing air pollution, the region will not attain the new health-based standards without 

new controls. The SIP also outlines new strategies that Breathe California strongly supports. 

Response to Comment #4— Comment noted. 

Comment #5 — John Motsineer, Environmental Defense Fund 

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) thanks YSAQMD for their excellent presentation on the SIP. We strongly 

support the Board's adoption of the SIP. Adoption of the SIP is important because of issues such as increasing 

number of high temperature days, increasing vehicle miles traveled, and increasing population. Adoption is also 

F:\PLANNING\SIP\8Hour ozone plan\Final SIP & EIR\Submittal to ARB\YSAQMD hearing comments & responses.docx 
YSAQMD - Public Comments and Staff Responses at the Public Hearing 

Sacramento Regional 8-Hour Ozone Attainment and Reasonabfe Further Progress Plan 

Page 4 of 8 March 4. 2009 

important because there are penalties for not attaining the ozone standard. Ozone is a regional problem, and 

we believe this plan represents a shared commitment by all the local air districts. 

Response to Comrnent #5 — Comment noted. 

Comment #6 — Becl<v Wood. Teichert AeLzreRrates 

Staff has done a wonderful job with the plan. We need this SIP and the associated conformity budget. With any 

plan such as this, opportunities exist to create an uneven playing field for businesses. There should be another 

rule adopted by the YSAQMD Board. The Sacramento and Placer air districts have agreed to adopt an asphalt 

plant rule and the YSAQMD has not, even though it has these sources. Under the all feasible measures 

requirement, such a rufe would be adopted anyway, but I would lil<e to see it be part of this Plan in order to 

I<eep a level playing field. 

Response to Comment #6: 

Staff looked at proposing such a rule when we did our rule analysis for the plan. We found that all of our plants 

but one already liave low-NOx burners, so reductions from a rule would not be very substantial. However, it 

appears that technology has come a little furtlher than we expected for these sources. We will keep track of what 

the S1VIAQMD does in regards to adopting o rule for this source category. Jf they adopt a rule, we will review the 

rule to see if adopting a similar rule in our district would allow us to get reductions in our district. !f so, we will 

bring a rule similar to what the SMAQMD adopts to the YSAQMD Board for approval so tliat everyone is on a 

level playing field. 

F:\PLANNING\SIP\8Hour ozone plan\Final SIP & EIR\Submittal to ARB\YSAQMD ihearing comments & responses.docx 
Attachment A 

Written Letters Supporting Plan Adoption 

F:\PLANNING\SIP\8 Hour ozone plan\Final SIP & EIR\Submittal to ARB\YSAQMD hearing comments & responses.docx 
YSAQMD - Public Comments and Staff Responses at tfie Public Hearing 

Sacramento Regional 8-Hour Ozone Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Plan 

Paqe 6 of 8 March 4 2009 

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[=oc- BacycTeng February 9, 2009 

C1:' AIE ECi!nds 

Yolo Solano Air Quality Maiiagement District 

1947 Galileo Ct. 

Davis, CA 95616 

RE: Sacramento Regional 8-Hour Ozone Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Plan (SIP) 

Davis Bicycles! (DB!) strongly supports adoption of the Sacramento Regional 8-k-lour Ozone 

Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Plan (SIP). 

DB!'s mission is to encourage and promote bicycling, increase safety, impr -ove infrastructure, 

influence policy and advocate for a vital bicycle culture in Davis. Good air quality and bicycling 

go liand in liand. Bicyclists require good air quality. Increased use of bicycling reduces reliance 

on motor vehicles that contribute substantially to "Spare the Air" days during the Sacramento 

Region's hot sunimers. The proposed SIP ensures that the Sacramento Region will nieet tlle 

niinir-num reduction rate of 3WO toward rneeting tlie new 8 iiour ozone standards by 2018. 

Adoption of tiie SIP is riecessary to receive federal transportation funds and otlier funds tfiat 

may be released as part of a federal econoniic stimulus pacicage. The Sacramento Area Council 

of Governments lias identified transportation control measures that will be implemented to 

achieve air quality standards, iricluding a substantial amount of funding for pedestrian and 

bicycle improvernents. 

DB! urges tiie adoption of ttie SIP as proposed. 

Sincerely, 

Leo Rainer 

President 

Davis BicycleG! , www.davisbicycles.org , PU Bo;: ;-1 ~+=i ~4 , D ~wis, C ~ili(orni ~~ =~?7G17 

F:\PLANNING\SIP\8 Hour ozone plan\Final SIP & EIR\Submittal to ARB\YSAQMD hearing comments & responses.docx 
YSAQMD - Public Comments and Staff Responses at the Public Hearing 

Sacramento Regional 8-Hour Ozone Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Plan 

Page 7 of 8 March 4. 2009 

909 12" Strcet 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

Pltonc: (9I6) 44d-i900 

Fax: (91 G) ,144-6G61 

E-inail: staffrt.sacbrcatltc.org 

www.sacbrcathe.org 

Wtivw.Sccnestnoking.orb 

wwtv.sacSTAND.org 

February 11, 2009 

BR.EATHE 

CALIFORNTfi. 

n;~S~:rr;rrnc•~u~~ -Fmi~l~ ,rrtt li;zil.r 

'II:c Clean Air :uid I-IcaItliy Lungs People 

5iil<<• .1)1- 

Mafit Rexroad, Chairman and Nlembers of the Board 

Yolo-Salano Air Quality Ntanagement District 

1947 Galileo Couri', Suite 103 

Davis, CA 95616 

Boarcl of Directors 

2008-2009 

Joltn Lindow 

Pr esidetrt 

Jim Edelcn 

P► es idertt-Elect 

Ralpli Propper 

T •easttt-er 

Rotii Abaclscrli 

lutr:redinte Past Presitlenl 

Robert Bemstein 

Norm Covell 

Patriciit Dean 

Tom Donnelly, MD 

Joyce Kelly-Reif 

Garry Maisel 

Stephanie Nticcitelli 

Dikna Proctor 

John Scambray 

Sue Sciiooley 

Jon Scliwarz 

Arif Seynl, MD 

Jean Slitttiv 

Suc Teranishi 

Earllldithycoinbe 

Janc Hagedom, CEO 

13reat/te Califot•ttia of ! 

Sacranrentv-J:ttzigrrrrrt 

Ti•ails is tietficrrterl ta l:ealtli,p 

air and preventing Irrtig atzd 

otJter air -pnllutiorr rclatetl 

rliscases Gy partnering 

witlt yaut11, ativocati)tg 

prrfilie policy, suppnrtirrg 

afr pullrctinii researcli, arzrl 

educating tlre prrhlfc. 

Breathe California of Sacramenfio Emigrant Trails strongly 

supports adoption of the proposed Federal Nonattainment 8- 

1-lour Ozone Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Plan 

(SIP). 

The causal relationship between lung and heart disease and air 

pollution is clear. In facfi BCSET has conducted seven sfiudies 

specif ic to our region identifying: 

*Effec-1•s of air pollufiion on mortality rates from ischemic heart 

disease and s-I•roke in fhe Central t/alley. 

*Particulafie air pollufion and rate of hospitalizations. 

*Increased hospitalizations and emergency room visits of 

MediCal youth with asfihma during high ozone days. 

*Three studies on exposure to ultrafine particulates at a school 

sifie direcfily downwind of a densely trafficked urban corridor. 

As we speak we have fiwo new monitoring studies underway along 

 both I5 and I99. The health issues are serious. 

The SIP as proposed will ensure that our region will reduce 

emissions at the required minimurrl rate of 3% per year and meet 

the new 8 hour ozone standards by 2018. 

F:\PLANNING\SIP\8Hour ozone plan\Final SIP & EIR\Submittal to ARB\YSAQMD hearing comments & responses.docx 
YSAQMD - Public Comrnents and Staff Responses at the Public Hearing 

Sacramento Regional 8-Hour Ozone Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Plan 

March 4. 2009 

The result will be irnproved public heal t I-i for all and particularly 

-For the tens of thousands of children who suf fer from asthma in 

Northern Cal'rfornia. 

A11- l1ougli we liave rnade progress in reducing air pollu -fiori we will 

not nttcnin new heali- h based standards without new controls. The 

SIP also autlines new strntegies including indirect source rules 

and i- ree rnitigation strai - egies tvliich we strongly support. 

Thank you for i- he opportunii- y to i- es-I- ify. We look forward to 

continuing our work in Northern California thai - is enabling us i- o 

make rneesurable progress in cleaning up our air. 

F:\PLANNING\SIP\8Hour ozone plan\Final SIP & EIR\Submittal to ARB\YSAQMD hearing comments & responses.docx