Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Board Meeting – October 25, 2024 (Note: Transcript references October 24, 2024)

The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Board of Directors met on the date provided as October 25, 2024 (though the opening of the transcript states "October 24th, 2024"). The meeting covered recognition of departing board members, adoption of a consent calendar, a public hearing on contingency measures for ozone standards, a report on the Air Toxics Hotspots Program, and an informational presentation on greenfield development and its relationship to air quality and climate goals. The board recognized four departing members for their service.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar (items 2–7) was adopted by motion and vote. Prior to adoption, a public comment was received from Shiloh Costello, Manager of Sustainable Communities and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at SMUD. Ms. Costello expressed strong support for the partnership between SMUD and AQMD, highlighting projects like the Del Paso Heights Mobility Hub and future projects in South Sacramento, and emphasized SMUD's commitment to equitable clean energy transitions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Shiloh Costello (SMUD) spoke in support of the consent calendar items, praising the partnership and clean mobility investments. (Recorded before consent calendar vote.)
• Evan Edgar, engineer for the California Compost Coalition, commented during the public hearing on Rule 489. He argued for an exemption for agricultural composting facilities not holding a solid waste permit, noting that such facilities provide carbon farming co-benefits and are subject to a lesser regulatory tier. He urged the board to expand the exemption.

Discussion Items

1. Contingency Measures for Ozone Standards and Rule Adoption (Item 8)

• Staff presented proposed Rule 489 (green waste composting operations) and Rule 490 (liquefied petroleum gas transfer and dispensing) as contingency measures for the 2008 and 2015 ozone standards. The rules would only take effect if the region fails to attain the standards.
• Director Hume asked detailed questions about the cost-effectiveness calculations and the origin of the rules. Staff clarified the rules are district-generated and required by EPA to avoid sanctions.
• For Rule 489, staff noted only one affected facility (Lopez Ag Products), which had no objections and was interested in best practices even before the rule takes effect. Estimated cost: $41,900/year; VOC reduction: 34 tons/year at $0.79/pound.
• For Rule 490, estimated VOC reduction of 73 tons/year at $5/pound. The Western Propane Gas Association provided comments, but no changes were made.
• Staff responded to public comment from Evan Edgar by confirming that the rule only applies to facilities with a solid waste permit, thus agricultural composting without such permits is already exempt. Staff agreed to follow up with the speaker.
• The board adopted both rules (motion and second; voice vote with no opposition noted).

2. Air Toxics Hotspots Program Report (Item 9)

• Matt Baldwin presented the 2024 Air Toxics Hotspots Report (AB 2588). Key points: The total cancer risk for Sacramento County is estimated at 395 in a million (down from 706 in 2012), with diesel particulate matter as the primary contributor. Of facilities assessed, five were intermediate risk and five low risk; 360 gas stations analyzed (41% intermediate, 59% low risk). No dry cleaners remain due to phase-out of perchloroethylene. The report was received and filed without board questions.

3. Greenfield Development and Air Quality/Climate Goals (Item 10)

• Dov Caden (SACOG) and Paul Philly (AQMD) presented on how greenfield development impacts vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions. They discussed the tension between SB 375 targets and the transition to zero-emission vehicles, noting that even with full electrification, VMT reductions remain important for air quality and infrastructure costs.
• Director Cerna, who requested the item, raised the complexity of using VMT arguments when EV market share grows. James Corless (SACOG ED) noted that SB 375 may need updating and that a statewide working group is forming.
• Paul Philly provided case studies from the region showing that VMT per capita is higher during early buildout of greenfield communities and that location, phasing, and blueprint principles are critical. Examples included Laguna West, Folsom Ranch, and a community that shifted from active-mode infrastructure to zero-NOx appliances in its mitigation plan to maintain air quality gains.
• Board members discussed the need for triggers in development agreements, the challenge of coordinating schools and transit, and the importance of complete communities. No formal action was taken; the presentation was informational.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar: Adopted unanimously.
• Rule 489 (Green Waste Composting Operations): Adopted as a contingency measure, with revisions based on EPA comments (non-substantive).
• Rule 490 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Transfer and Dispensing): Adopted as a contingency measure.
• Air Toxics Hotspots Program Report: Received and filed.
• Greenfield Development Presentation: Informational; SACOG will bring similar discussion to its board in November.
• Staff directed to forward adopted rules to CARB for submittal to US EPA.

Note: The meeting date is recorded as October 25, 2024 in the user-provided context, but the transcript begins with "October 24th, 2024." This discrepancy is noted.