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Home My WebLink AboutAir Quality Advisory Committee Charter Air Quality Advisory Committee Working with State and local partners to reduce PM2.5 in Ellensburg and surrounding areas PROJECT CHARTER 3/12/14 PURPOSE This project is part of an interagency agreement between Kittitas County Public Health Department (KDPHD) and Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) in an effort to maximize local partnerships to reduce PM2.5 air pollution in Kittitas County. The goals of this committee: • creating and implementing an assessment to determine knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and cultural barriers surrounding burning behaviors and other PM2.5 pollution contributors in Kittitas County • creating survey questions appropriate to determine cultural contribution to outdoor and woodstove burning as well as other PM2.5 pollution • providing input into survey generation and community participation opportunities • utilizing existing monitoring data and existing Ecology emissions inventory work to support assessment results • providing education for best practices for wood stove burning for maximum fuel efficiency and minimum pollution • completing a wood stove inventory of the community using Ecology’s resources as well as all available information from local resources, to include indoor open fire places and shop stoves in addition to standard wood stoves • creating an education and outreach campaign to reduce PM2.5 levels measured in Ellensburg by Ecology’s monitoring equipment atop Hal Holmes Center • Create a plan for future AQ projects and goals OVERVIEW Kittitas County lies along the East slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range. The geography of the county results in long periods of high pressure and air inversions where any smoke emitted into the atmosphere stays in the lower atmosphere until changing conditions clean out the valley. Air quality data from Ecology indicate Ellensburg has one of the highest levels of PM 2.5 in Washington State during winter home-heating season. Ellensburg has been identified by Ecology and the State 507 N. Nanum Street, St. 102 · Ellensburg, WA 98926 T: 509.962.7515 · F: 509.962.7581 www.co.kittitas.wa.us/health/ legislature as a vulnerable community for PM 2.5. Over the past few years, fine particle air pollution in the Ellensburg area has reached unhealthy levels several times. This is a concern not only for health reasons, but also because higher levels of fine particles could cause the Ellensburg area to violate the federal health-based air quality standard. KCPHD has evaluated air monitoring data from ECOLOGY’s air monitoring station in Ellensburg, Washington since at least 1999 as an environmental health indicator. In the 2012 Kittitas County Community Health Assessment, poor air quality was identified as an area of concern by a group of key community partners that were gathered to identify and bring focus to concerns affecting the health of the local community. In this assessment, it was also noted that Kittitas County has a significantly higher mortality rate for influenza and pneumonia compared to Washington State as a whole. This may be one of many factors related to poor air quality. Ecology approached KCPHD in late 2013 asking if they were interested in acting as the lead for a community effort using State funding to reduce PM2.5 in Ellensburg. Efforts to reduce air pollution now could avoid violating federal health-based air quality standards in the future. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT: 1. Assess current practices, beliefs, attitudes, habits and culture around air quality and burning in Kittitas County with input and feedback from the Air Quality Advisory Committee. a. Convene at least five community partners to form an Air Quality Advisory Committee. b. By May 31, 2014 conduct an inventory of the number of local wood burning households and catalogue wood burning behaviors in Kittitas County. c. By May 31, 2014 conduct a community survey, sampling at least 2 % of the county population. d. By May 31, 2014, collect qualitative information from at least 10 individuals in Kittitas County. 2. Utilize assessment results and known evidence-based or best practices to develop and implement an education and outreach plan to reduce PM2.5 in Ellensburg with input and feedback from the Air Quality Advisory Council a. By August 15, 2014 develop and implement an outreach and education action plan which includes at least three different activities. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Kittitas County Public Health Department – Robin Read – Administrator, Holly Myers – Environmental Health Supervisor, Amy Fuller – Assessment Coordinator, Alisa Spieckerman – CDC Public Health Associate − Convene and facilitate the AQAC − Incorporate input and feedback of AQAC and Ecology in all aspects of the project − Assists with development of charter, and project goals − Oversee implementation of goals and objectives for all aspects of this project 507 N. Nanum Street, St. 102 · Ellensburg, WA 98926 T: 509.962.7515 · F: 509.962.7581 www.co.kittitas.wa.us/health/ − Responsible for implementation of contract and submission of deliverables • Washington State Department of Ecology – Susan Billings, Central Regional Office, Air Quality Section Supervisor − Provide funding for the project − Serves as a voting member of the committee − Provide resources and technical assistance − Provide input into survey, assessment and inventory activities • Members (as individuals and/or representatives of agency divisions) − Attend and participate actively in regular meetings − This Air Quality Advisory Committee (AQAC) will serve to provide assistance, feedback and expertise on an air quality assessment and the development of an outreach and education program. COMMITTEE MEMBERS Patti Johnson Kittitas County Solid Waste Andrew Lyons HopeSource Brenda Larsen Kittitas County Fire Marshall Susan Billings - Washington State Department of Ecology Anne M Johansen, PhD Department of Chemistry, Central Washington University Jim Allen Cardiopulmonary Services, KVH Hospital Roylene Crawford Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce Mark Larson, MD Family Physician, KVH, KCPHD Health Officer Greg Armstrong/Jake Armstrong Armstrong Home Heating Rich Elliott City of Ellensburg Debbie DeSoer Ellensburg Library 507 N. Nanum Street, St. 102 · Ellensburg, WA 98926 T: 509.962.7515 · F: 509.962.7581 www.co.kittitas.wa.us/health/