MECKLENBURG COUNTY
-Air Quality Commission November 23, 2015
FY15 Annual Report to the Board of County Commissioners
According to Article I of the Charter of the Mecklenburg County Air Quality Commission (AQC), the
AQC shall submit an annual written report as to its activities, programs, and progress to the Board of
County Commissioners. Pursuant to that Charter provision, the AQC submits this report to the Board of
County Commissioners.
Current Members
of the AQC:
Chair:
Vice-Chair:
Members
McGrath, Peter
Long, Keith
Lansdell, Terry
Billheimer, Lauren
Paterson, Fern
Miller, Gordon
Watts, James (Jamie)
Hackler, Marcus
Hauser, Cindy DeForest
Newman Salvador, DeAndrea
Vacant
Vacant
Member Allocation
Attorney
Public
Transportation
Public
Public
Public
Engineer
Industrial
Scientist
Public
Environmental
Healthcare Profession
Peter McGrath
Marcus Hackler
New Members Appointed in FY15:
3
Air Quality Permit Reviews
Article (d) of the AQC Charter provides that the AQC shall “conduct public hearings and review and
advise on air program actions, pursuant to the local air pollution control ordinance.”
Mecklenburg County Air Pollution Ordinance, Regulation 1.5213 – “Action on Application; Issuance of
Permit,” provides that Mecklenburg County Air Quality’s permit application approvals are placed on the
agenda of the AQC, initiating the specified public comment period. Inclusion on the AQC agenda does
not imply or infer any action or opinion by the AQC or its members regarding any permit.
PEOPLE ● PRIDE ● PROGRESS ● PARTNERSHIP
700 N. Tryon Street ● Suite 205 ● Charlotte, NC 28202-2236 ● (704) 336-5430 ● FAX (704) 336-4391
http://airquality.charmeck.org
Air Quality Commission
November 23, 2015
Page 2
In FY 15, the AQC agenda included the following
Stationary Source Permits:
Gasoline Dispensing Facilities:
Transportation Facilities:
38
17
0
GRADE Selections
The AQC chair or his appointee participated in committee meetings resulting in the selection of 5
GRADE projects for funding. The total funding awarded by this FY15 selection process was $99,344.
Grants to Replace Aging Diesel Engines or GRADE is designed to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx), an
ozone forming air pollutant, by providing businesses and organizations funding incentives to replace or
repower heavy-duty non-road equipment with newer, cleaner, less polluting engines.
MCAPCO Revisions
Article I (j) of the AQC Charter provides that the AQC shall “advise the Board of Commissioners of
actions necessary to maintain a ‘certified’ local air pollution program.” In that regard, on August 25,
2014, the AQC advised the Board of Commissions that the AQC supported adoption of certain revisions
to MCAPCO.
Air Quality Commission
November 23, 2015
Page 3
Topics
Article I (b) of the AQC Charter requires the AQC “continually to study and evaluate methods of air
pollution management and control as may be required or appropriate to keep the local air pollution control
ordinance abreast of modern technology and scientific developments and make recommendations to local
elected officials and local government agencies relating to new advances in the technology of prevention
and control of such pollution.
Pursuant to that Charter provision the AQC, during its regular monthly meeting, examined the following
issues:













Near-road air pollution monitoring
Coal ash removal
Mecklenburg County Livable Communities Plan
Education Series on State Permitting Exemption Rule
Technical Systems Audit
FY2016 Budget Presentation
Short Haul Fleet Research
Monitoring Network Assessment
2015 Monitoring Network Plan
Particulate Matter Update
Monthly Ozone Reports
Open burning and prescribed fires
State Implementation Plan Update
Air Monitoring
The AQC receives monthly updates on air monitoring data collected by MCAQ.
Ozone Season (April 1st – October 31st)
Green = Good Air Quality
Yellow = Moderate Air Quality
Orange = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Year
Total number of
# of Code
Sampling Days
Green Days
2014
214
187
2015*
214
173
*2015 data is preliminary and has not been certified.
PM 2.5 – Calendar Year 2014
Year
Total number of
Sampling Days
2014
365
2015
365
# of Code
Green Days
272
284
# of Code
Yellow Days
27
39
# of Code
Orange Days
0
2
# of Code Red
or Higher Days
0
0
# of Code
Yellow Days
93
81
# of Code
Orange Days
0
0
# of Code Red
or Higher Days
0
0