NAM Conference Call Minutes
February 15, 2000
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dan Olson, Air Quality Administrator
FROM: Lee Gribovicz, Regional Impacts/E.I. Coordinator
SUBJECT: WRAP Northern Air Managers Telephone Conference Call Minutes
DATE: February 15, 2000
Summary
On February 15, 2000, a telephone conference call was held by the Northern Air Manager's (NAM) Committee of the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP). Appendix I contains a copy of an E-Mail from NAM Co-Chair Dan Olson, listing issues for the agenda of this call.
The business for this call revolved around two issues: 1) discussion of the WRAP/WESTAR interface surrounding the state's group development of a Regional Haze SIP/TIP template, and 2) discussion of a plan for utilizing NAM budgeted funds for encouraging WRAP planning to incorporate northern states interests in the development of the WRAP project.
Regarding the first issue, the conclusion was that the Regional Haze SIP/TIP template effort was basically a states issue because the intent is not to develop policy, but rather simply to develop a technical tool. It was clarified that any such product would still pass through the WRAP's public advisory process, therefore stakeholder involvement would be incorporated at that point.
Regarding the second issue, it was generally concluded that the WRAP was adequately addressing issues of concern to the NAM, therefore no big gaps were present. The NAM budgeted monies were discussed, and it was determined that NAM should investigate where supplemental help to WRAP forums would be most appropriate, so that the northern states could get the most "bang for the buck".
Although no role call was conducted, a mostly inclusive list of those participating on the call is shown below:
Name / Organization
Bob Bachman /USDA Forest Service
Dan Johnson /WESTAR Executive Director
Bob Lebens / WESTAR Technical Coordinator
Randy Ashley / Salish & Kootenai Tribes
Raman Eyer / Chehalis Tribe
Rose M. Lee / Yakama Nation
Dana Mount / North Dakota Department of Health
Patrick Cummins / Western Governor's Association WRAP Liaison
Dan Olson / State of Wyoming, Air Quality Administrator
Dan Clark / State of Wyoming, Public Information
Lee Gribovicz / State of Wyoming, Minutes
Conference Call Details
Generic SIP/TIP Template
Dan Olson began this topic by mentioning that a regional haze working committee had been authorized at the WESTAR Air Director's meeting in Alaska last Fall. He noted that the charge of this WESTAR committee was to develop a generic SIP for the Regional Haze Rule (RHR) §308 requirements. He was concerned about a WESTAR dominated structure and felt there was a need to define the WRAP interface for this project.
Bob Bachman asked what a "generic SIP" was, because as he pointed out, all states were very different in how they would have to implement the RHR. Dan Olson explained that it was more of a template, than a generic SIP. Dana Mount felt it should be looked at as a model, where states could pick and choose language on such things as open burning, mobile sources or oil well field development.
Rose Lee pointed out that a TIP would look different from a SIP however, and therefore with the tribes "at the table", this gives them the ability to work closely on tribal issues.
Bob Lebens then provided an update on the activities of this workgroup. He noted that they had held their first meeting in Phoenix in January, 2000, which was primarily an organizational meeting. Co-Chairs were selected as Theresa Pella from Arizona and Steve Arnold from Colorado. The committee agreed to go through the RHR in depth, to identify elements that would be required in a SIP. They also began to develop their work plan and budget.
Bob Bachman wondered if any Federal Land Managers (FLM's) were involved, and if not, whether they would be asked to participate. Dan Olson responded that
WESTAR has moved rather quickly on this matter, and that there really hasn't been stakeholder involvement as yet. He suggested that if NAM money is to be used by this group however, then other stakeholder involvement would have to be looked at.
Bob Lebens noted that this WESTAR effort would need WRAP money, and possibly EPA grants to complete the work. He noted that this Regional Haze Committee currently had representatives from 15 states and 3 tribes, along with 2 or 3 EPA representatives.
Patrick Cummins noted that this WESTAR Regional Haze group seemed to be following a WRAP model, therefore he wondered about private sector and environmental group involvement. He noted that this Regional Haze work was a rather different idea from a traditional state process, and wondered about where to draw the line regarding stakeholder involvement.
Dan Olson observed that WESTAR was basically a state organization, but that the thought was that NAM was going to take the lead on this Regional Haze issue. He felt that tribal, EPA and to an extent, FLM involvement was appropriate, but he wondered about industrial participants because they don't have to write SIP's. He re-emphasized that the only way to get WRAP money, was to have the program developed under the WRAP umbrella.
A tribal representative, Randy Ashley, stated that he was in favor of letting WESTAR develop the SIP's from a state perspective, but Bob Bachman noted that the FLM's are the managers of the Class I areas, therefore he felt it was important that they be involved. He felt FLM's could bring significant visibility expertise to the table, that the states may not have.
Bob Lebens felt that it was clear that WESTAR, as the states representative, would take the lead, with liberal tribal input and advice. He felt it would be helpful for the states to have the EPA there, so that the states could influence EPA decision making and benefit from consistency across the EPA Regional boundaries.
Dan Johnson added that WESTAR carries forth the State Air Director's prerogatives, while the WRAP Council approves of all WRAP committee actions, like those of NAM. He added that the intent was not to develop policy, but rather simply to develop a technical tool for SIP preparation. Therefore he felt that stakeholder involvement was not as critical in this effort. He went on further to explain that the other stakeholders would have opportunity to review any product out of this NAM sponsored WESTAR workgroup through the WRAP public advisory process, and he wondered whether they really wanted to be involved in such a narrow effort. He suggested that if we advertise this as a regulator initiative, but also make it clear that the product will go to through public notice, then probably there will be negligible stakeholder interest.
Dan Olson concluded that NAM must therefore develop a work plan for this SIP Regional Haze initiative, and the State Air Directors will then have to review and approve the effort. It was made clear that the WESTAR work group would welcome stakeholder interest, should any materialize.
NAM Budget/Funding Issues
Dan Olson began this discussion by noting that NAM originally had been budgeted $250K in contingency funds for FY '99. During the budget reconciliation for FY99 funds, $50K was eventually moved to WRAP Administration for travel and meeting expenses, $25K was dedicated to the RHR SIP template, and $178K remained as contingency. These funds are to come from a $1.5 MM EPA grant, for which administrative road blocks are now solved and the "check's in the mail". Mr. Olson noted that another $10K was dedicated to this same effort in FY '00.
Of the $178K in the FY '99 budget for other NAM contingency efforts within the WRAP work plan, he noted that NAM had agreed that they would direct this funding to other WRAP areas that members felt weren't being addressed at all, or were inadequately funded. Therefore that begs the question as to whether WRAP is proceeding properly? No expression of disenchantment was heard, and Mr. Olson commented that from a §308 perspective, it looks like all NAM issues were being addressed. He noted that most all WRAP forums were short of funds, however, therefore NAM should look at where they could get the most "bang from their buck" ($178K).
It was agreed that Co-Chairs Rose Lee and Dan Olson would get together with Dan Johnson @ WESTAR, to get agreement on where to direct further NAM funds.
A P P E N D I X I
WRAP Northern Air Managers Committee
February 15, 2000 Teleconference Agenda
From: Dan Olson
To: NAM
Date: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 2:52PM
Subject: February 15, 2000 Conference call, 10:00 am MST
The call in number is 517-267-1046, access code #649561. We have about an hour and a half on the call.
For those of you who have indicated to me your unavailability and who have identified an alternate, I have notified those folks separately.
I promised an agenda however I think the issues mentioned in my last email pretty well define it. We need to discuss:
1. Are the WRAP forums addressing the right issues beyond those important to the 309 option?
2.(a) If so, where is more funding needed that the NAM can provide through our contingency to perhaps speed up the deliverables?
2.(b) If not, what effort needs to be initiated.
3. How do we suggest the WRAP/WESTAR interface should work regarding the generic SIP/TIP template development?
Talk to you all on Tuesday!
Dan |
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