NORTHEAST OHIO AREAWIDE COORDINATING AGENCY M E M O R A N D U M TO: Air Quality Subcommittee Members Samuel Alai, Mayor, City of Broadview Heights, Cuyahoga County Melinda Bartizal, Transportation Planner, Ohio Department of Transportation Jeff Brandon, Trustee Chair, Montville Township Walter “Skip” Claypool, Commissioner, Geauga County Maribeth Feke, Director of Planning, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Tim Fischer, Manager of the Division of Air Pollution Control, Northeast District Office, Ohio EPA John R. Hamercheck, Commissioner, Lake County David G. Hearne, Interim Commissioner, Cleveland Division of Air Quality Ted Kalo, Commissioner, Lorain County Bert Mechenbier, Air Pollution Control Supervisor, Lake County General Health District Sam Rubens, Administrator, Akron Regional Air Quality Management District Bryan Sokolowski, Chief of Air Monitoring, Cleveland Department of Public Health FROM: Maribeth Feke, Chair DATE: December 14, 2018 RE: Air Quality Subcommittee Friday, December 21, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. NOACA Offices 1299 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio Please note that in addition to the members listed above, any interested Board members are welcome to attend. I look forward to seeing you on Friday, December 21st at 9:00 a.m. at the NOACA offices. NORTHEAST OHIO AREAWIDE COORDINATING AGENCY Friday, December 21, 2018 – 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. NOACA Offices 1299 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 AIR QUALITY SUBCOMMITTEE Page 1. Minutes of September 21, 2018, Meeting 1-1 2. Public Comments on Current Agenda Items Oral 3. Chair’s/Executive Director’s Report Oral 4. Action Items 5. Presentation / Discussion Items a. Future Action i. Complete and Green Streets Policy 5-1 b. Information i. Air Quality Public Education and Outreach Strategy Update: Draft Strategy, and Communication Plan 5-3 ii. Gohio Commute Update and Performance Measures 5-5 iii. CY 2018 Air Quality Forecast Accuracy through November 30 5-7 iv. Update on STOP program 5-9 v. 2018 Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) Program Applications Update 5-11 6. Old Business 7. New Business 8. Adjournment Next Meeting: Friday, March 15, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. NOACA Offices Agenda Item No. 1 MINUTES NOACA Air Quality Subcommittee Minutes September 21, 2018 NOACA Offices 1299 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Present: Please see the attached attendance record. Ms. Maribeth Feke, Chair of the Air Quality Subcommittee, convened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Mr. Jeff Brandon to approve the minutes of the Air Quality Subcommittee meeting held on June 15, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Dave Schroedel. The motion passed by voice vote. Public Comments No public comments were made at this meeting. ACTION ITEMS No action items were presented at this meeting. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION ITEMS Air Quality Strategic Plan: Market Feedback Tool Findings Ms. Caroline Taich stated that an online survey was distributed in June 2018 to adults who live in the eight-county air quality management district in Northeast Ohio. Ms. Taich reviewed survey findings based on 301 responses. She noted that the next steps will involve the Markey Group finalizing NOACA’s Communication Plan; hosting a public meeting to get input on the plan; and presenting the Air Quality Strategy to the NOACA team, leadership and Air Quality Subcommittee. Mr. Brandon commented that he was surprised by the number of people who still get their news from a newspaper. Ms. Kristin Ferguson said some people get their news from Cleveland.com. Ms. Feke asked if people included their age on the survey. Ms. Taich said no. Air Quality Public Education and Outreach Strategy Update: Goals and Objectives Ms. Beverly Burtzlaff stated that the Strategy will guide NOACA staff’s outreach activities over the next 5-10 years. She reviewed the NOACA Air Quality Mission Statement (Parts 1-3); input from various sources; and goals (1-5) and objectives included in the action plan. 8024c 1 - Ms. Burtzlaff stated that staff will continue to work with the Markey Group on drafting the Air Quality Communications Plan, which will be completed and presented at a public meeting for input and then to the Subcommittee in December 2018 for review and feedback. Commissioner John Hamercheck asked Ms. Taich if she would be interested in talking with Lake Health staff. Ms. Taich said yes. Ms. Feke asked if the Subcommittee could receive the draft Plan the week before the meeting in December. Ms. Burtzlaff said yes. 2018 Commuter Choice Awards Ms. Burtzlaff provided an update on the 2018 Commuter Choice Awards. She noted that 29 organizations participated in the Northeast Ohio Clean Air Challenge and 20 organizations participated in the live challenge on Gohio Commute. Ms. Burtzlaff stated that the results of the June Challenge were as follows: Northeast Ohio Clean Air Challenge Results Total trips: 4,373 Money saved: $12,498 Total distance: 42,443.1 miles Calories burned: 432,243 CO2 saved: 12 tons Participants: 212 Ms. Burtzlaff stated that this year’s winners were as follows: Rating Winners Gold Century Cycles Silver Cleveland Museum of Natural History Bronze University Circle, Inc. Cleveland Foundation Cleveland Clinic Rathbone Group, LLC Thompson Hine, LLC Best in Class Winners Size Organization Large Business >100 Thompson Hine, LLC Small Business <100 Century Cycles Large Non-Profit/Government >100 Cleveland Museum of Natural History Small Non-Profit/Government <100 University Circle, Inc. Ms. Burtzlaff mentioned that NOACA staff will begin planning the 2019 Commuter Choice Awards. 8024c 1 - Gohio Commute Update and Performance Measures Mr. Tim Kovach stated that the user and systemwide metrics as of August 31, 2018, were as follows: User and Systemwide Metrics Total users: 5,614 CO2 avoided: 89.96 metric tons Total trips (all modes): 44,950 CO avoided: 1,167.91 kg Total non-SOV trips: 36,304 NOx avoided: 214.31 kg Total VMT avoided: 357,590 VOCs avoided: 51.51 kg Total calories burned: 3,546,029 PM2.5 avoided: 12.10 kg Mr. Kovach stated that 44 organizations recently created subsites on Gohio Commute, bringing the total number of subsites/networks on the platform to 74. He reviewed the platform administration and enhancement metrics. Mr. Kovach stated that staff will continue to promote Gohio Commute to interested organizations; work with RideAmigos to improve the platform and enhance user experience; and create new events on the platform. Mr. Kovach announced that NOACA is sponsoring an event in October called Lake “Eerie” Bike Challenge. He noted that NOACA staff will be holding weekly prize drawings for the participants. Overview of the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule Mr. Kovach stated that NHTSA and EPA issued the revised fuel economy and CO2 standards for 2022-2025 on August 24, 2018. He said the SAFE Vehicles Rule would freeze standards at 2020 levels through 2025 and withdraw California’s waiver to propose its own standards. Mr. Kovach noted that NHTSA projects with the proposed Rule would save money, reduce traffic fatalities and induce people to purchase new vehicles. However, he also noted that the Rule would lead to increased consumption of nearly 80 billion gallons of gasoline and the release of 800-900 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (9% increase) through 2035; impacting air quality and public health by way of increased pollutants through 2050; and leading to 134-299 premature deaths; and nearly 17,000 lost work days. Mr. Kovach mentioned that NOACA staff, in partnership with Cuyahoga County, analyzed the impact the proposed Rule would have on Northeast Ohio. He noted that under the existing standards, the average fuel economy of passenger vehicle fleet in Cuyahoga County would improve fuel efficiency from 21.8 mpg in 2020 to 31.9 mpg by 2040; and by freezing fuel economy at 2020 levels, it would increase GHG emissions by 2.6% through 2040. Mr. Kovach advised that the Rule would cause more than 900,000 tons of CO2 to be released into the environment every year. Mr. Kovach stated that staff will submit comments on the proposed Rule to NHTSA and EPA by the October 23 deadline and provide the Subcommittee with updates at future meetings. Ms. Feke asked if a forecast will be done to show the impact to public transit. Mr. Kovach said staff will need to think about the impact. 8024c 1 - Mr. Brandon asked if California’s emissions standards are higher or lower than Ohio’s standards. Mr. Kovach said California’s current emissions standards are higher and will remain in place until 2030. Commissioner Hamercheck asked how NOACA will handle inquiries of real or theoretical numbers. He advised staff that there will be some pushback on the proposed Rule. He said he was uncomfortable with NOACA supporting the CO2 data included in the presentation. Mr. Kovach said the data came from the EPA MOVES 2014a model. Commissioner Hamercheck said MOVES is a theoretical model. He said he was uncomfortable with NOACA’s use or support of a model that states a specific amount of CO2 will be put into the environment. Commissioner Hamercheck suggested that NOACA be a little more sensitive about how information is presented to the public. Mr. Kovach mentioned that the data and impacts came from NHTSA, not NOACA. He mentioned that Cuyahoga County uses a regulated model it received from the Federal Government. Commissioner Hamercheck asked if NOACA is required to comment on the proposed Rule. Mr. Joe MacDonald stated that NOACA is invited, but not required to provide comments. Mr. Kovach talked about how the new Rule would make it difficult for the NOACA region to comply with the new standards. Commissioner Hamercheck asked if staff could request EPA to relax the new air quality standards.