BC 2007 11 19 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

November 19, 2007 (Regular Meeting) RESOLUTION Page 635 WHEREAS, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners strongly supports clean-air standards at a level that ensures public health and improves quality of life for all our residents; and WHEREAS, both state and local governments and private industry are making measurable progress in improving air quality, with the national average for ozone levels having decreased by 21 percent from 1980 to 2006; aggregate emissions of six principal pollutants down more than half since 1980 despite a 96 percent increase in population; and programs in place to cut power plant emissions by more than 90°s from today's levels by 2010 in 30 eastern jurisdictions, reduce emissions vehicles by 77 to 95 percent from 2004 levels, dramatically reduce airborne levels of mercury and virtually eliminate diesel emissions; and WHEREAS, state and local governments and business are working diligently to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's current National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground level ozone by the 2020 deadline, investing approximately $20 billion each year, according to EPA estimates; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency, in the course of its required review of NAAQS, is nevertheless considering a further tightening of the ozone standard from 0.06 parts per million; and WHEREAS, further tightening the ozone standard, even before the current standard is met, could significantly expand the number of nonattainment areas and result in emissions controls in additional areas, thereby imposing significant administrative and regulatory burdens on more citizens, businesses and local governments; and WHEREAS, the burdens associated with a tightened standard would include almost certain plant and business closures and loss of jobs, along with higher energy and other prices to consumers, with total additional costs estimated at $10 billion to $22 billion per year; and WHEREAS, it is in fact likely that scores of local businesses in Cabarrus County will have to close their doors if the lowest proposed standard is established; and WHEREAS, significant questions have been raised regarding the science behind the EPA's proposal to tighten the ozone standard, and members of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), the Agency's own scientific advisory board, have disputed its conclusions; and WHEREAS, the Agency is proposing this action with virtually no evidence that the change in standards will result in significant health benefits and with no analysis of the enormous costs that will be charged to Cabarrus County businesses and consumers and to those communities that must implement new complicated compliance programs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, advise and strongly urge EPA to retain the existing NAAQS for ozone; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the EPA is urged to identify any unfunded mandates or other administrative and economic burdens for state or local governments or agencies that would derive from changes to the NAAQS for ozone; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners prepare and transmit properly inscribed copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Administrator of the United State Environmental Protection Agency, the Governor of the state of North Carolina, the Administrator of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and all other counties in the state of North Carolina. Adopted this the 19`" day of November, 2007. /s/ Robert W. Carruth Robert W. Carruth, Chairman Boardof Commissioners Attest: