Local officials are doubling their efforts to tackle air quality in San Antonio. This comes after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new national standard – 70 parts per billion (ppb) to limit smog-forming pollution.
The City Council was briefed during B Session on Wednesday about how a multi-pronged, long-term approach could show regulators on how San Antonio is doing its part to improve ozone readings. Ozone is formed by the reaction of pollutants in heat and sunlight.
San Antonio has officially been the only large U.S. city with a clean record in regards to the federal Clean Air Act. But the city unofficially has been non-compliant with the previous standard of 75 ppb for three years.
If the EPA finds an average ozone reading higher than the new standard, the federal government could classify the City in non-attainment, which could lead to air quality regulations that would require expensive limitations and retrofits on significant local emitters of ground-level ozone.
Brenda Williams, director of the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), told the Council that such a designation could come in October 2017. Among Texas urban areas, only Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston/Galveston/Brazoria are on par with or are higher than San Antonio/New Braunfels in exceeding the 70 ppb level.
“We’re virtually guaranteed of being in non-attainment in 2017,” Williams said. A three-year average of eight-hour ozone concentration values is 78 at one monitoring station at Camp Bullis. According to AACOG, on-road (vehicles) and point sources (i.e., smelting and cement plants, manufacturers) are significantly responsible for most nitrogen oxide emissions in the San Antonio metropolitan statistical area.
Once a designation is made, officials from that area are responsible for developing a plan to demonstrate what limits and changes local governments and industry could place to help achieve attainment, or compliance. The deadline for attainment in a “marginal” area is Dec. 31, 2020. The deadline for attainment in a “moderate” area is Dec. 31, 2023.
Between now and fall 2017, AACOG will help to develop a control strategy analysis, an outline of the costs associated with non-attainment, and an enhanced ozone monitoring network.
The main problem is that San Antonio’s current air pollution ordinance was originally put on the books in 1959, and last updated in 1982. It neither references the Texas Clean Air Act, nor can it be enforced by the court by existing codes. Additionally, it only applies to small air pollution sources.
A new ordinance, said interim Metro Health Director Vincent Nathan, would be enforceable, adopt rules and regulations in the state’s Clean Air Act, and apply to all local emitters.
“The new program wouldn’t be any more burdensome than what the state asks for now,” Nathan added.
The City’s Office of Sustainability provided Council members with a report, formed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on potential emission control strategies.
“These are prioritized by cost and the potential for reduction (of pollutants),” said department Director Douglas Melnick.
Melnick explained that San Antonio is in a prime position to “lead by example” and develop a collaborative approach involving all kinds of stakeholders, and not just those in Bexar County.
He outlined major pollution reduction measures, including some the City is already employing, such as alternative fuels for the vehicle fleet at the San Antonio International Airport.
Another pollution reduction measure, a comprehensive anti-idling policy, could be considered by the Council this December, Melnick said. Such an anti-idling policy would apply to private sector heavy duty vehicles. Next year, the City could look at incentivizing its own commuting employees, based on how they get to and from work.
Council members expressed general support for the strategies that certain City departments and AACOG are laying out to help the area achieve air quality attainment. But Councilmember Joe Krier (D9), who presided over Wednesday’s meeting in place of Mayor Ivy Taylor, asked why San Antonio is close to being officially non-compliant while the City of Austin appears to be “safe.”
“We’ve been dreading going out of attainment for what seems like 20 years now. We’ve been inching up and inching up,” Krier said. “Help me understand how we’re sliding in and how Austin is staying out.”
Melnick and Williams said there are some geographic aspects and weather patterns that, when mixed during the spring and summer ozone season, are not in San Antonio’s favor.
“I’ve always thought we’ve been a victim of geography in this regard,” Councilmember Mike Gallagher (D10) said, adding that emissions from Eagle Ford drilling operations and even in Mexico could affect local pollution levels.
Williams added that Austin is a comparatively smaller city, with overall fewer vehicles, and has voluntarily entered a program for vehicle emissions testing. She added that Austin comparatively has fewer point sources of emissions.
For some observers, doing something with vehicles, especially heavy duty emitting trucks, is a major objective to help San Antonio arrive at attainment. Krier asked if the City could officially ask for drivers of diesel trucks to take alternate routes, especially at peak traffic times, and avoid the city center.
Melnick and City Manager Sheryl Sculley replied something could be done and more research into the matter would be conducted.
Councilmember Ron Nirenberg (D8) expressed confidence that experts are on the case, helping the City with its air quality problems. Nirenberg chairs AACOG’s Air Improvement Resources (AIR) Committee.
“We have probably the best minds in Texas on how to get us out of this mess,” he said. He also reemphasized how SA Tomorrow, the City’s effort at a multi-pronged, long-range comprehensive plan, can help improve air quality years down the road. Encouraging the development of various types of affordable housing, in more walkable neighborhoods closer to transit, employment and recreation, is a major goal in the comprehensive plan. Another goal is to decrease a “car-dependent culture” and increase transportation options.
“That seems to be the gold standard with this approach,” Nirenberg said while he and colleagues were briefed on the progress with SA Tomorrow’s formation.
“We have to get the word out there about this. It’s where the rubber hits the road on air quality, sustainability and transportation.”
“It’s all interconnected,” responded John Dugan, director for the City’s Planning and Community Development Department, which is helping to oversee the comprehensive plan.
AACOG also will do a public opinion survey and a regional strategic plan. Since the late ’90s and early 2000s, when San Antonio faced a similar challenge, AACOG has led the way in public outreach and education to help individuals better understand ozone and how they can help improve air quality.
When needed, AACOG puts out an air quality health alert via various media outlets, publicizes ways to reduce pollution such as driving the speed limit or carpooling, and incentivizes businesses and organizations to operate in air quality friendly conditions.
To this extent, the Council on Wednesday also learned how air pollution impacts people’s respiratory health.
According to data circulated by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) the percentage of adults diagnosed with asthma in this area has risen from 7% in 2010 to nearly 9% in 2013.
“We are at average for asthma prevalence nationally, and that’s not a good thing,” interim Metro Health Director Nathan, told the Council.
Additionally, the rate of asthma hospital patients increased significantly between 2011 and 2013 among students in the Edgewood, San Antonio, East Central and North East independent school districts.
As long as air pollution impacts human health, Nirenberg has said, performance of students in school and adults at work decreases because they are at home sick or hospitalized.
Nathan said Metro Health is planning a three-phase approach that will involve studying what emissions are mostly responsible for air pollution in the area, ozone precursors, and how small businesses can help to reduce air pollutants.
*Top image: Vincent Nathan, interim San Antonio Metropolitan Health District director, briefs the City Council on how air quality affects human health. Photo by Edmond Ortiz.
Related Stories:
Air Quality Poses Challenges and Opportunities for San Antonio’s New Mayor
Sustainability Forum to Explore Local Practices
And how do we even begin to address fugitive emissions from the shale? Erect giant fans at our southern county borders? I see no recognition of what is acknolwedged by scientists like Dr. Gunnar Schade of how complex the problem is in that regard. In the meantime, as a fourth-generation San Antonian and as an asthmatic, I just want to come home–and I don’t know if the air quality will ever again allow me to do so. I’m angry at local officials for not taking action–and for not applying blame and assigning responsibility where it belongs.
Seems like just a matter of time before we have to start doing annual emissions testing on our cars. Where can I download that Volkswagen software?
Great work, Edmond, but wish you would have included a link to the City’s existing Air Quality Health Alert Plan (2014).
See: http://www.sanantonio.gov/sustainability/Environment/AirQualityHealthAlertPlan.aspx
The 2014 Plan details a number actions that San Antonians , City departments, County offices, schools, employers, households, hotels, visitors etc. could take now to help improve our air quality – particularly during our area’s ozone season (roughly May – October; you can monitor readings across Texas here: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/cgi-bin/compliance/monops/select_curlev.pl), but as the City’s Plan suggests, are good practices year-round.
Improving air quality also intersects with the City’s [FEMA] Hazard Mitigation Plan (draft January 2015) and mitigating particularly the identified hazard of extreme heat.
See: http://saoemprepare.com/About/News/tabid/125/ArticleID/16/ArtMID/896/Hazard-Mitigation-Plan.aspx.aspx
Below are some key action steps drawn from the City’s 2014 Air Quality Health Alert Plan. If City departments and others implement these points year-round – as well as utilize them to guide and shape budget, bond, 2040 and other planning (#placechanging) – it could help considerably with addressing our air quality problems and other identified hazards to human life.
– Practice energy conservation. Such as by turning off lights and computers and limiting air condition use [relates, as well, to green building and events – including utlizing renewable energy]
– Utilize ‘Green’ – Energy and Environmental Design – Building principles and standards [silver or higher – see http://www.usgbc.org/leed%5D with all types of new construction and retrofits
– Reduce unnecessary heavy construction work[relates to green building]
– Preserve existing trees, encourage the planting of new trees, and encourage responsible development
– Modify convention, sports and entertainment events and venues [make them ‘green’ – see the City’s 2010 ordinance http://www.sanantonio.gov/sustainability/OrdinancesAndGovernance.aspx%5D
– Avoid travel by motorized vehicle through known congested areas whenever possible.
– Operate vehicles only on an as-needed basis.
– Reduce the movement and use of motorized non-emergency vehicles
– Minimize scheduling of morning meetings between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and
9:00 a.m. / not earlier than 10:00 am when possible or teleconference.
– Have a flextime policy to minimize congestion during peak traffic hours
– Have a telecommuting policy
– Encourage people to walk / not drive for lunch and other breaks
– Encourage use of public transportation, including with a flextime policy and fare-free service / free passes [EZ Rider etc]
– Practice appropriate vehicle operating – such as shutting off the engine when parked and/or avoiding idling and drive -thru’s
– Share rides / carpool [did anyone argue for Uber/Lyft based on the City’s 2014 Plan?]
– Encourage / incentivize / require hybrid or electric vehicles and taxis [and ridesharing, ride hailing and rentals], including w/ free and prioritized parking downtown.
– Utilize ultra-low sulfur diesel
– Utilize vehicle emissions testing annually and fix problem with vehicles
– Modernize and synchronize traffic signals
– Reduce maintenance by / use of powered equipment (electric and gasoline-powered)
– Reduce generator use [a key consideration for food trucks, events, etc]
– Minimize VOCs and solvent use with painting and maintenance
– Minimize the spraying of insecticides and herbicides
I know downtown turns into an automobile clusterfuck at 5 from everybody and their brother scrambling to race back to their mind-numbingly boring suburban abodes. The refusal of urban Texans to grow up and employ public transit like our more mature European counterparts is the root of our pollution problem.
As an avid bicyclist i am concerned about the effects of air pollution on my health. Maybe if the exhaust were routed through the cabin of the car instead of vented outside and behind there would be more urgency to change the way we commute. It’s analogous to the barista pissing in your latte before you drink it but we don’t think about it that way. We’re ensconced in our comfortable motor carriage riding blithely down the street, our mind focused on anything but the toxic chemicals we’re dumping outside our car into the air. Heck, we’re not even aware we live on a planet most of the time.
I don’t know what the solution is but maybe some awareness raising plus attractive alternatives would help make the air we breathe cleaner and healthier for everyone.