A Quarterly Newsletter Focusing on Regional Excellence November 2010 - January 2011 Vol. 15: No. 4 MAG Continues Efforts to Prevent Disapproval of Dust Plan Region Could Face Economic Sanctions Under EPA Proposal he Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) continues efforts to Tsave the region from air quality penalties that may result from pend- ing action by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in January. The EPA is proposing to disapprove portions of the MAG Five Percent Plan for PM-10, which could prevent some transportation projects in the Maricopa region from moving forward and ultimately result in progressively dire economic sanctions for the region. The EPA published a Federal Register notice in September that proposed a partial approval and partial disapproval of the MAG Five Percent Plan for Participating via PM-10. EPA cited several issues with the plan, including failure to demonstrate attainment videoconfer- of air quality standards due to exceedances of those standards at the West 43rd Avenue ence was EPA monitor. MAG and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) continue to Deputy Assistant press the EPA to consider scientific data demonstrating that the four exceedances were the Administrator Janet result of dust storms or dust devils caused by high winds. McCabe. “We continue to request that the EPA delay its deci- sion so that it can adequately review the documenta- tion MAG and the state have provided proving these exceedances were caused by high wind events,” said MAG Chair Thomas Schoaf, mayor of Litchfield Park. “The Clean Air Act allows for such exceptions and does not punish a region for violations of air qual- ity standards that are caused by events such as dust storms, dust devils, wildfires, and forest fires. The residents of our region should not suffer because of high wind dust events that no plan can control.” (See also “Message From the Chair,” page 2.) MAG hosted a meeting and videoconference with the EPA to discuss air quality issues. Pictured are (left to right): MAG Executive Director Dennis Smith, Litchfield Park Mayor Mayor Schoaf noted that if the EPA moves forward with Thomas Schoaf, U.S. Representative Harry Mitchell, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith and Mary final disapproval of the plan, it will put $1.7 billion in Baumbach, who attended on behalf of U.S. Representative Jeff Flake. Continued on page 6 Message From the Chair ..................... 2 Road Safety Assessment Program ....... 7 Voices From the Council ...................... 3 CSI: Domestic Violence ........................ 8 INSIDE Regional Profile: Supervisor Wilcox ...... 4 New MAG Website Launched ............. 10 Don’t Trash AZ Tarp Contest ................. 5 Regional Community Network ............ 11 this issue Five Percent Plan for PM-10 (cont.) ..... 6 Calendar ......................................... 12 Message From the Chair MAG Regional Council Members hen the Environmental Fact #3. We care about the air our Executive Committee Members Protection Agency (EPA) residents breathe. That is why we Mayor Thomas Schoaf W Litchfield Park, Chair announced its plans to disapprove have taken aggressive action to Mayor Hugh Hallman the region’s Five Percent Plan for protect public health. Our plan Tempe, Vice Chair PM-10 in September (see cover includes 53 of the most stringent Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers Avondale, Treasurer story), newspaper accounts pro- measures in the country to reduce Mayor Scott Smith claimed that the region was being dust pollution. These measures are Mesa, At-Large Member Mayor “punished” for failing to heed on top of 77 measures still being Mayor Jim Lane Scottsdale, At-Large Member Thomas Schoaf implemented under the region’s “repeated warnings” about dust Mayor Michael LeVault City of Litchfield pollution. Unfortunately, these previous Serious Area Plan. Youngtown, At-Large Member Park stories ignored some important Councilmember Peggy Neely facts about our region’s air quality. Fact #4. Every city and town in the Phoenix, Past Chair nonattainment area, and Maricopa Councilmember Robin Barker Fact #1. In 2008—the year cur- County, have implemented dust Apache Junction rently in question by the EPA— control measures. Our tracking Mayor Jackie Meck Buckeye there were 11 exceedances of the report indicates these local govern- Mayor David Schwan air quality standard at just four ments have gone above and beyond Carefree monitors on eight separate days. these commitments. Councilmember Dick Esser Cave Creek This means that our air was clean Mayor Boyd Dunn 99.8 percent of the time. Our air Fact #5. The EPA has admitted Chandler was also clean at the monitors that the exceptional events rule Mayor Michele Kern more than 99 percent of the time is flawed, and many states are El Mirage President Clinton Pattea in 2009. concerned about inconsistencies Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in how it is administered. The Mayor Jay Schlum Fact #2. The Maricopa Asso- rule is being questioned not only Fountain Hills Mayor Ron Henry ciation of Governments and the by Arizona, but also by 14 other Gila Bend Arizona Department of Environ- western states that must frequently Governor William Rhodes mental Quality have submitted contend with dust storms, wildfires Gila River Indian Community Mayor John Lewis and forest fires. scientific evidence to the EPA Gilbert demonstrating that all but one of Mayor Elaine M. Scruggs the exceedances of the standard in Fact #6. While the EPA cites issues Glendale 2008 were caused by dust storms with the plan involving emission Mayor James M. Cavanaugh Goodyear or dust devils as the result of high sources and whether the levels Mayor Yolanda Solarez winds. We live in the desert where attributed to each source are still Guadalupe dusty, silty soils prevail. Congress accurate, the truth is that the MAG Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox Maricopa County allows regions to be excused from plan addresses ALL sources of dust Mayor Scott LeMarr penalties for exceptional events pollution. Paradise Valley like high winds that cannot be Mayor Bob Barrett Peoria controlled by measures in an air Fact #7. The EPA had the MAG Mayor Gail Barney quality plan. EPA has ignored the plan for three years, yet failed to Queen Creek data. President Diane Enos Continued on page 3 Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Councilmember Sharon Wolcott Thomas Schoaf Surprise Mayor, City of Litchfield Park, Mayor Adolfo Gamez Regional Council Chair Tolleson Mayor Kelly Blunt Dennis Smith, Executive Director Wickenburg MAGAZine is a quarterly newsletter of the Maricopa Associa- Lindy Bauer, Sarath Joshua, Victor Flores and Felipe Zubia tion of Governments. It focuses on the issues and concerns of Audrey Skidmore, Jason Stephens, Arizona Department of Transportation the cities, towns and tribal communities of Maricopa County. Contributors F. Rockne Arnett If you know of a friend or colleague who would like to receive Kelly Taft, Editor Citizens Transportation Oversight Committee MAGAZine, please call the MAG office, (602) 254-6300. Gordon Tyus, Graphic Design www.mag.maricopa.gov/members.cms Page 2 MAGAZine Voices From the Council 2010 The 12 miles of HOV lanes being added to the Santan Freeway (Loop 202) Message from will have a very positive impact for Southeast Valley commuters in the coming years. Funded through MAG’s voter approved Proposition 400, this project the Chair (continued) will include HOV connections to the Price Freeway (Loop 101) and I-10, making it an attractive route for those who carpool. And, the design-build take any action on the plan or method of development will ensure a timely project. to notify the region about any perceived technical issues. The —Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn Clean Air Act envisioned a collaborative process with state Through the Luke Forward Campaign, we have successfully signed up over and local governments, which 17,000 supporters from across the state and raised over $29,000 to ensure hasn’t been demonstrated by that Luke Air Force Base (AFB) becomes an F-35 training base. We are ask- EPA. ing citizens and businesses to continue to voice their support of Luke AFB by signing up at www.lukeforward.com. The future of Luke AFB depends Fact #8. If the EPA follows largely on the community support it receives, so now is the time to speak up through with the proposed ac- and let our voices be heard! tion within 30 days from final —Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs action, a conformity freeze will occur. This freeze will not Regional decisions should be made based on what is best for the region. That allow amendments to the MAG concept should not be treated as a radical idea. Many times, lines on a map Transportation Improvement shouldn’t be the determining factor for regional project boundaries. We are Program. If a new air quality part of an intertwined metro area. When one city experiences success, the plan is not approved, it could surrounding cities benefit as well. This philosophy of regionalism is easily mean serious economic sanc- applied to transportation planning. Leaving one city and entering another tions for our region, including on a train, bus, bicycle, or in an automobile, should not be obvious; it should the potential loss of $1.7 billion be seamless. Working together to create a transportation system that makes it in federal highway funding and easy for our residents and visitors to travel from one side of the Valley to the the tens of thousands of jobs other with ease should be a selling point for all of us. It can be difficult to that go with it. put aside parochial interests and have faith in the idea of true regionalism, but many members of MAG are working toward that goal. I am pleased and These are just a few of many proud to see the progress. important facts that the residents in our communities —Mesa Mayor Scott Smith should know.