State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD
Summary of Board Meeting
July 20, 2000
Air Resources Board
Board Hearing Room
2020 L Street
Sacramento, California
| MEMBERS PRESENT: | Hons. | Alan C. Lloyd, Ph.D., Chairman |
| Dr. William A. Burke | ||
| Joseph C. Calhoun, P.E. | ||
| Doreen D'Adamo | ||
| C. Hugh Friedman | ||
| William F. Friedman, M.D. | ||
| Matthew R. McKinnon | ||
| Barbara Riordan |
| 00-7-1 | Public Meeting to Consider a Draft Report: Planned Air Pollution Research for Fiscal Year 2000-2001 SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM: Staff presented a report on the Air Resources Board's Planned Air Pollution Research for Fiscal Year 2000-2001. Sixteen projects are proposed. Nine are recommended for funding and seven are recommended if funding is available. Research this year is focused on improvement of emissions inventories and exposure and health research. The proposed research budget for fiscal year 2000-2001 is $3,900,000. ORAL TESTIMONY: None FORMAL BOARD ACTION: The Board approved Resolution 00-26 by a unanimous vote RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: RD STAFF REPORT: Yes (21 pages) |
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| 00-7-2 | Clean Air for California Communities SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM: The public's exposure to air toxics in communities and at specific locations, such as schools and day care centers, may be different from statewide and regional average exposures. The staff presented an informative item to the Board on the ARB's air toxics and community health programs. The staff presentation focused on the new activities concerned with community health and reducing exposures to air pollutants that adversely affect public health. The staff also discussed the development of a short report, "Clean Air for California Communities," which summarizes these new programs. The ARB staff is undertaking several new programs to further understand and reduce the public's exposure to the cumulative effects of unhealthy air pollutants, with an emphasis on air toxics, at the community level. The goal of these community-based programs is to provide protection for all communities and sensitive populations. Program efforts underway focus on the following three areas: identifying air pollution's health effects, assessing air pollution exposure in California's communities, and reducing public health risks. The ARB's highest priority for risk reduction is reducing particulate matter from diesel-fueled engines. Paula Forbis, Environmental Health Coalition, and Carlos Porras, Citizens for a Better Environment, testified before the Board supporting ARB's activities to better understand community health impacts and reduce toxic exposures to air pollutants. Mr.Porras also suggested specific areas for further assessments. Board members also strongly supported the staff's activities to implement the new Community Health Program. The Board requested that staff update the Board again next year on the status of the Community Health Program. The Board also discussed the public health impacts of sources at airports and supported additional community health assessments of airports. We have created a "Community Health" website containing more information and activities at www.arb.ca.gov/ch/ch.htm. ORAL TESTIMONY:
FORMAL BOARD ACTION: None RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: PTSD STAFF REPORT: Yes (11 pages) |
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| 00-7-4 | Public Hearing to Consider the Proposed Amendments to the Asbestos Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Surfacing
Applications SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM: The staff proposed amendments to the existing asbestos airborne toxic control measure for surfacing applications. The authority for this amendment is under the State's Toxic Air Contaminant Identification and Control Program (Health and Safety Code sections 39650-39675). The Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) identified asbestos as a toxic air contaminant in 1986 with no identifiable threshold level. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by State, federal, and international agencies. In 1990, the Board adopted the Asbestos Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Asbestos-Containing Serpentine (Asbestos ATCM). This ATCM prohibits the use of serpentine aggregate on unpaved surfaces if the asbestos content is greater than 5 percent. Since the adoption of the Asbestos ATCM, additional information from ambient air monitoring studies and dust emission models has been developed. This information demonstrates a potential for elevated exposures and risks for individuals living near unpaved roads surfaced with asbestos-containing aggregates such as serpentine and ultramafic rock. Therefore, staff proposed to amend the Asbestos ATCM to further protect public health from asbestos exposures by prohibiting the use of aggregate most likely to contain asbestos in unpaved surfacing applications if the asbestos content is tested and found to be greater than 0.25 percent. The Board heard testimony from federal, state and local agencies, as well as the public and environment groups, who encouraged the Board's adoption of this ATCM in order to protect public health. Other witnesses expressed concern about the expansion of the regulation to include ultramafic rock, the cost of the regulation, the impact of the regulation on aggregate supply, and the health effects of chrysotile asbestos. The Board approved the staff's proposal and directed staff to continue to work with the timber industry and county officials on refining the exemption for remote locations. The Board also directed staff to develop guidance to assist the air pollution control and air quality management districts in the implementation of the Asbestos ATCM. The amendments to the Asbestos ATCM will become effective March 1, 2001. After this date, the use and sale of ultramafic rock, including serpentine, is prohibited for unpaved surfacing applications if the material has an asbestos content of 0.25 percent or more. The modifications made during the hearing will be made available for public review and comment for 15 days in a Notice of Public Availability of Modified Text. The Executive Officer will consider any comments received during this period prior to adopting the ATCM. ORAL TESTIMONY:
FORMAL BOARD ACTION: Approved Resolution 00-27 by a unanimous vote. RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: SSD STAFF REPORT: Yes (47 pages + appendices) |
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