 | Governing Board Action: February 10, 2006
At today’s NOACA Governing Board meeting, members adopted revised transportation conformity analyses for ozone and fine particle pollution. Transportation conformity indicates that the projects currently planned and programmed in our region will not hinder the area’s attainment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) air quality standard for these two pollutants. In June 2004, USEPA designated the NOACA five-county area (plus Ashtabula, Portage and Summit counties) a “moderate nonattainment area” for ozone. In April 2005, USEPA designated Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit and Portage Counties, and Ashtabula Township, a “nonattainment area” for fine particles. The designation signifies that ozone and fine particle pollution levels are higher than allowed under new USEPA standards.
A conformity finding does not change air quality attainment status; it simply recognizes that the area’s mobile source emissions (from cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses) are within the limits established for them by USEPA. Transportation conformity is necessary to keep federal funding flowing into the region for much-needed transportation improvements.
In other business, NOACA announced a new public information and advisory program for fine particle pollution. The program, which carries the slogan, “ Turn the key, be idle free,” will operate in a similar manner as the agency’s Ozone Action Day program. When fine particle pollution reaches unhealthy levels, NOACA will provide announcements to the media and public. NOACA encourages interested citizens to register and receive these announcements directly to their e-mail addresses. NOACA staff will launch the Fine Particle Pollution Program (FP3) next week. Unlike ozone pollution, unhealthy levels of fine particles can occur any time of year, not just during the hot summer months.
NOACA Board president Stephen D. Hambley announced new chairpersons for NOACA’s standing committees and subcommittees. They include:
- Transportation Advisory Council: Randall DeVaul, City of Cleveland Commissioner of Construction and Engineering
- Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee: David Stover, ODOT District 3
- Environmental Advisory Committee: James R. Gills, P.E., P.S., Lake County Engineer
- Air Quality Subcommittee: Robert Aufuldish, Lake County Commissioner
- Water Quality Subcommittee: James R. Gills, P.E., P.S., Lake County Engineer
- Planning Advisory Council: Patrice Theken, Medina County Department of Planning Services Director
Ohio Department of Transportation Project Manager Craig K. Hebebrand updated members on the status of the Cleveland Innerbelt project. He provided details concerning upgrades in the Central Interchange, Innerbelt Bridge and Trench. He reviewed the project’s timetable, which tentatively schedules the groundbreaking for the Innerbelt Bridge in August 2009. Learn more about the Innerbelt project on the Web at www.innerbelt.org.
NOACA staff gave a presentation on the agency’s Public Interaction Policy (PIP) Update. The PIP outlines procedures about how NOACA:
- Informs the public about the agency’s work
- Involves the public in the planning process and review of important agency documents
- Provides access to NOACA’s office and staff
The PIP Update is undergoing public review and comment through March 10, 2006. Interested persons can review the PIP Update online, in NOACA’s office, at selected libraries, and at Breakfast Break and other public outreach events.
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