Signed document (PDF, 11.60 MB)

1.0 SUBJECT TITLE: Clean Air Initiative

1.1 EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2002

1.2 TYPE OF ACTION: New

1.3 KEY WORDS: Air Quality, Emissions, Greenhouse Gas, Inventory

2.0 PURPOSE: The Clean Air Initiative establishes Executive Policy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other significant air pollutants from King County operations and to use King County programs and policies to encourage their reduction from other sources in the region.

3.0 ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED: Applicable to all Executive Departments and Offices.

4.0 REFERENCES:

4.1 Federal Clean Air Act

4.2 Regulations I, II and III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

4.3 County-wide Planning Policies CA-14 and FW-4

4.4 King County Comprehensive Plan, Policies E-110-115

5.0 DEFINITIONS:

5.1 "Air Pollutant" means an air pollutant identified in the Federal Clean Air Act and Regulations I , II or III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. These include fine particulates, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead and a large number of toxic chemicals.

5.2 "Air Quality Steering Team" means the Directors of the Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation and the Office of Regional Policy and Planning, or their designees.

5.3 "Carbon Sequestration" means the binding of carbon atoms in soils or plant tissues, which results in their being unavailable for the creation of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.

5.4 "Emission" means a direct or indirect release of any air pollutant or greenhouse gas into the ambient air.

5.5 "Fine Particulate" means any material, except water in an uncombined form, that is, has been or is likely to become airborne, which: exists as a liquid or a solid at a temperature of 68^OF (20^OC) and a barometric pressure of 29.92 inches of mercury (101.325 kPa); and has an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers, as measured according to applicable federal regulations. Fine particulates primarily originate from combustion, including vehicle exhaust, fireplaces and outdoor burning. Many different types of toxic air pollutants are in the form of fine particulates.

5.6 "Green Building Team" means the organization in King County government that oversees implementation of "Green Building" design and construction practices. This role is expected to be formalized through a separate Executive Policy.

5.7 "Greenhouse Gas" means a gas or aerosol that alters the balance of incoming and outgoing energy in the earth's atmosphere in a manner that tends to increase surface temperatures. The three most important greenhouse gases, with the greatest known tendency to increase surface temperatures, are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

5.8 "King County emissions" means emissions from the direct operations of King County government of greenhouse gases and air pollutants that are targeted for reductions under this policy. It does not include emissions from other parties that may be influenced by King County programs or policies.

5.9 "Ozone" means O₃, a molecular form of oxygen, which combines with other pollutants to form what is commonly referred to as "smog". It is a product of photochemical reactions by volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere on hot, sunny days. These chemicals primarily originate from vehicle exhaust. In the upper atmosphere, ozone is a protective layer, filtering ultraviolet radiation. In the lower atmosphere, near the earth's surface, it is a health hazard and is treated as an air pollutant.

5.10 "Volatile Organic Compound" means an organic compound with more than negligible photochemical reactivity, as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Volatile organic compounds are the most important chemical source for the development of ozone in the Puget Sound area. They primarily originate from vehicle exhaust, but also come from gasoline-powered yard equipment, paints, solvents and boat motors. Many different types of toxic air pollutants are in the form of volatile organic compounds.

6.0 POLICIES:

6.1 King County's commitment to improve regional air quality shall be met in part by strengthening existing county programs that are already furthering other regional goals. These include, but are not limited to: Smart Growth; providing transportation options to Single-Occupant Vehicles; energy conservation; recycling, waste reduction and buying recycled products; using biosolids and other organic amendments as fertilizer for trees, crops and soil enhancements; and adopting "Green Building" design and construction practices. In addition, all Executive Departments and Offices are encouraged to initiate new cost-effective actions to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants as soon as practicable. Recent examples of such actions include the purchase of hybrid cars and buses for the county fleet, the installation of particulate traps on existing county buses and other diesel vehicles and conversion of county diesel fuels to an ultra-low-sulfur grade.

6.2 The Department of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Green Building Team and under the direction of the Air Quality Steering Team, shall conduct an inventory of the following emissions from King County operations: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fine particulates, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. The inventory may also include other air pollutants or greenhouse gases, as determined by the Executive based on advice from the Air Quality Steering Team. All Executive Departments and Offices are to cooperate in this inventory.

6.3 By the first quarter of 2002, the Department of Natural Resources shall prepare a report on the results of the inventory for the Air Quality Steering Team to submit to the Executive. The report shall estimate total King County emissions of targeted greenhouse gases and air pollutants; identify the largest sources of these emissions; identify actions undertaken within the past five years to reduce these emissions; suggest possible future targets for these emissions; and identify possible actions that might achieve these targets. It shall also identify King County policies and programs that have significant effects on regional emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

6.4 Based on this inventory, by June 1, 2002, the Air Quality Steering Team shall develop an action plan to reduce King County emissions, working under direction of the Executive and in consultation with the Green Building Team and the Executive's Cabinet. The action plan shall set future targets for King County emissions included in the inventory. It shall propose strategies to achieve those targets, with estimates of the time and resources required for those strategies to be successful, and shall include a monitoring system to improve data quality and track results. It shall also recommend changes to King County policies and programs to reduce regional emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases and shall include recommendations for enhanced carbon sequestration from the county's biosolids, forestry and agriculture programs.

6.5 In conjunction with the above work and under the direction of the Air Quality Steering Team, the Department of Natural Resources shall develop educational programs and materials for county employees concerning the consequences of greenhouse gases and air pollution, including the projected effects of climate change on the Pacific Northwest.

7.0 PROCEDURES:

8.1 Air Quality Steering Team: Responsible for providing overall direction to the initiative. Oversees development of inventory, educational materials and action plan, submitting the inventory report and the action plan to Executive.

8.2 All Executive Departments and Offices: Cooperate with the Department of Natural Resources and the Air Quality Steering Team in development of the inventory and drafting of the action plan. Take cost-effective actions to reduce emissions prior to completion of the action plan, where practicable. Implement recommendations of the action plan.

8.3 Department of Natural Resources: Conduct inventory, develop educational materials, and provide staff support to the Air Quality Steering Team.

8.4 Green Building Team: Assist the Department of Natural Resources and the Air Quality Steering Team in development of the inventory and action plan, serving as sources of advice and information and as liaisons to other sources within team members' departments and offices.

8.5 Executive: Provide direction for development of the action plan, approve final action plan and direct its implementation by affected departments and offices.

8.6 Executive's Cabinet: Review draft action plan and other key documents, as directed by the Executive or requested by the Air Quality Steering Team.

9.0 APPENDICES:

9.1 Website of the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: http://www.ipcc.ch/. Site includes "Summaries for Policymakers" on the scientific basis for projections of climate change, the likely impacts climate change will have on the world's communities, and actions that parties can take to mitigate their contributions to climate change.

* This policy has the Executive Order designation (AEO), but is actually an Executive Policy (AEP).