Air and Health Quality Empowerment Zone Designation Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3373
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2010-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Air quality
California
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Environmental health
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-13
text: 
Air and Health Quality Empowerment Zone Designation Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate areas nominated by local air pollution control districts as air and health quality empowerment zones, which shall be eligible for grants for replacing or retrofitting polluting vehicles and/or engines to improve the health of the population living in the zones.
 
Sets forth area eligibility requirements, including: (1) being in extreme nonattainment of the 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard and in nonattainment of the national ambient air quality standard for PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter that does not exceed 2.5 micrometers) promulgated by the Administrator under the Clean Air Act; (2) having specified emission levels of oxides of nitrogen from farm equipment or of volatile organic compounds from farming operations; (3) meeting or exceeding national averages for asthma; (4) exceeding national averages for unemployment; and (5) being eligible for state or local matching funds.
 
Prohibits an area from being designated unless the relevant district provides satisfactory assurances that the strategic plan (to be contained in its application) will be implemented. Authorizes the Administrator to revoke the designation if the relevant district: (1) has been designated as being in attainment with the air quality standards; or (2) is failing to comply with, or make progress in achieving the goals of, its strategic plan.

action_date: 2010-06-29
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Air and Health Quality Empowerment Zone Designation Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate areas nominated by local air pollution control districts as air and health quality empowerment zones, which shall be eligible for grants for replacing or retrofitting polluting vehicles and/or engines in order to improve the health of the population living in the zones. 
 
Sets forth as area eligibility requirements: (1) being in extreme nonattainment of the eight-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard and in nonattainment of the national ambient air quality standard for PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter that does not exceed 2.5 micrometers) promulgated by the Administrator under the Clean Air Act; (2) having specified emission levels of oxides of nitrogen from farm equipment, or of volatile organic compounds from farming operations, in 2010; (3) meeting or exceeding the national average per capita incidence of asthma; (4) having unemployment rates higher than the national average; and (5) being located in a state and local area that will match at least half of the federal funds provided. Prohibits an area from being designated unless the relevant district provides satisfactory assurances that the strategic plan required to be contained in its application will be implemented. 
 
Requires a designation to remain in effect for ten years or until the Administrator revokes it. Authorizes the Administrator to revoke a designation if the relevant district: (1) has been designated as being in attainment with the national ambient air quality standard for PM2.5 and ozone promulgated under the Clean Air Act; or (2) is failing to comply with, or make progress in achieving the goals of, its strategic plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-29
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 453.
action_date: 2010-06-29
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 111-218.
action_date: 2010-06-29
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 111-218.
action_date: 2010-05-20
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2010-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2010-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate