MECKLENBURG COUNTY
- Air Quality Commission Monday, January 25, 2016, 5:30 p.m.
Ed Woods Conference Room
Fourth Floor, Suttle Avenue Services Center
2145 Suttle Avenue, Charlotte, NC
The monthly meeting of the Mecklenburg County Air Quality Commission was held Monday, January 25, 2016
p.m. in the Ed Woods Conference Room, at 2145 Suttle Avenue., Charlotte, NC.
Air Quality Commission Members Present
Peter McGrath
Jamie Watts
Gordon Miller
Marcus Hackler
Terry Lansdell
DeAndrea Salvador
Mecklenburg County Air Quality Staff Present
Leslie Rhodes Jason Rayfield
Megan Green
PJ McKenzie
Fern Paterson
Ieshishua Pierce
Lauren Billheimer
Lexin Murphy
1. Call to Order
Chair Peter McGrath called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.
DeAndrea Salvador arrives at 5:32 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
Chair McGrath opened the floor for the Approval of the November AQC meeting minutes.
Action Taken:
Motion: A motion was made to approve the November AQC meeting minutes as written.
Made: The motion was made by Gordon Miller and seconded by Marcus Hackler.
Vote: The motion was adopted unanimously.
3. Public Comments to the Air Quality Commission (AQC)
Action Required: Open Public Comment Period
Members of the public wishing to speak during the meeting should sign in with the Air Quality
Commission secretary prior to the meeting.
A.
Air Quality Permit Reviews
Public comment on the proposed permits will be received at this time. The Air Quality
Commission opens public comment for air quality permit reviews per Mecklenburg County Air
Pollution Ordinance, Regulation 1.5213 – “Action on Application; Issuance of Permit”. Inclusion
on the AQC agenda does not imply or infer any action or opinion by the AQC or its members
regarding any permit.
Chair McGrath, opened the public comment period for the facilities below, providing notice of
the Mecklenburg County Air Quality’s intent to issue/modify their air quality permit(s):
Air Quality Commission Summary Minutes
Facility Name
Facility Address
Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.
8600 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC
Alternative Notice
4101 Sentry Post Rd., Charlotte, NC 28208
Information Only
Concrete Supply Co.,
LLC – Airport Central
Mix Portable Plant
Concrete Supply Co.,
LLC-Arrowood
Concrete Supply Co.,
LLC-North
Thomas Concrete of
Carolina- Airport Plant
Thomas Concrete of
Carolina-Charlotte Plant
12148 Nations Ford Road, Charlotte 28210
3823 Raleigh St., Charlotte, NC 28206
4217 Keeter Drive, Charlotte, NC 28214-3001
3701 N Graham St., Charlotte, NC
Action Type
Information Only
Information Only
Information Only
Information Only
Jason Rayfield, Air Quality Program Manager, was available to answer questions.
B.
General Comments to the Commission
None
4. Updates and Presentations
A.
Announcements
Chair McGrath opened the floor to receive announcements
Inclement Weather
Chair McGrath asked the question concerning how inclement weather affects Mecklenburg County
Government business hours. Leslie Rhodes, Air Quality Director, explained if inclement weather
requires the County offices be closed for the day, business and meetings for that day are cancelled.
The County will resume a normal business schedule once the offices are opened.
Welcome to Suttle Avenue
Leslie Rhodes welcomed the AQC to the new office and meeting room at the Suttle Avenue location.
The AQC members were informed that a tour would be given of the new Air Quality staff offices
after the AQC meeting.
Update on NC Permitting Exemption Rule
The AQC members were informed that the Environmental Management Commission-AQC has
approved the State permitting exemption rule changes. There were 1,600 comments received on the
rule change. The State rule changes will go to the Rules Review Commission in February 2016.
Clean Power Plan State Hearing
The AQC members were given an update on the public hearing for the Clean Power Plan held on
December 16th in Charlotte. It was stated that 10,000 comments were received by the North
Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ). The hearing report should be prepared in February.
Air Quality Commission Summary Minutes
AQ Personnel
Megan Green, Mobile Source Program Manager, introduced PJ McKenzie as the new Environmental
Specialist in the Mobile Source section.
Heavy Duty Idle Rule Update
The AQC members were informed of the required repeal to the heavy duty idle rule by the
Department of Environment Quality. The AQC members were informed that MCAQ staff will
still take heavy duty idle complaints from citizens and use the information as an opportunity for
outreach.
LUESA University
The AQC members were informed that LUESA University will be held on March 7th at the UNCCharlotte Student Union Center. An invitation will be sent to the AQC members to rsvp for the
event.
NC Breathe Conference
Terry Lansdell informed the AQC members of the NC Breathe Conference that will be held at
UNC-Charlotte Center City on April 8th. The focus will be on particulate matter. An invitation for
the event will be sent out by Clean Air Carolinas.
B.
Summary of BOCC Presentation
Chair McGrath and Vice Chair Hackler provided the AQC members with an update on their
presentation of the AQC Annual Report delivered to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)
at their January 20th BOCC meeting. Both Chair McGrath and Vice Chair Hackler agreed that the
BOCC seemed very appreciative of the work that both MCAQ staff and the AQC does. Several
questions were asked by the BOCC and they acknowledged the success of the GRADE program as
well as the Charlotte area reaching attainment for ozone standards.
C.
Online Asbestos Notification System
Lexin Murphy, Air Quality Supervisor, informed the AQC members of a new online software that
MCAQ is purchasing. The online software system will allow acceptance of asbestos notifications via
internet submission. The asbestos notification will be the first documents to be submitted through the
new online software system. The system will eventually be setup for other documents to be submitted
electronically. This process started nearly two years ago as an improvement project where staff
gathered information on the CROMERR (Cross Media Electronic Reporting Rule) system. The
CROMERR rule sets minimum security standards for an electronic system.
Air Quality Commission Summary Minutes
After some discussion with the EPA, two vendors were provided to staff that could possibly provide
the online software system that MCAQ would need. It was stated that MCAQ staff will be working
with EnfoTech to create the online software system and will be the first in the state to accept electronic
reports.
5. Director’s Remarks
AQC membership update
The AQC members were informed that Keith Long and Dr. Cindy Hauser have resigned from the AQC. It
was stated that the BOCC appointed Jeff Baker to the AQC at the January 20th BOCC meeting. Leslie
Rhodes informed the AQC that March would be Lauren Billheimer’s last meeting because she is moving
outside of Mecklenburg County. Leslie thanked Lauren for her service on the AQC.
County Line Monitoring Site
The AQC members were informed that the property at the county line monitoring site has not been sold
yet and the air monitoring equipment is at the current site until the sale is final. It was stated that both the
EPA and NCDAQ have come to visit potential sites for relocation of the monitoring site. MCAQ is
currently working with Park & Recreation to have the site located at one of the county parks. MCAQ staff
will keep the AQC informed of the ongoing process.
6. Next Meeting
The AQC members had some discussion about alternative times for their regular meeting. A motion was
made to change the meeting to a lunch meeting on the fourth Monday of every month.
Action Taken:
Motion: A motion was made to change the AQC meeting to a lunch meeting starting at 11:30 a.m. until
1:00 p.m. the fourth Monday of every month.
Made: The motion was made by Gordon Miller and seconded by Marcus Hackler.
Vote: The motion was adopted unanimously.
MCAQ staff will verify the room schedule and get back with the AQC members. The February 22nd
meeting will start at this new meeting time.
7. Adjournment
6:17 p.m.
Mecklenburg County will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination
against people with disabilities. Mecklenburg County will make reasonable accommodations in all programs to
enable participation by an individual with a disability who meets essential eligibility requirements. Mecklenburg
County programs will be available in an integrated setting for each individual. If accommodations are necessary
for participation in any program or services, participants are encouraged to notify staff.