WESTAR Council

WESTAR Council

FY2008-10 Work Plan

WESTAR Board of Directors

Brian Gustafson (SD), President

Willy Nagamine (HI), Vice President

Martin Bauer, Treasurer

Table of Contents

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1

A. Overview 1

B. Organization 2

C. Committees and Work Groups 5

II. PROJECTS 8

A. Operations 8

B. Training Project Activities Summary 9

C. Ad Hoc Travel 12

D. Other Projects 12

III. Budget 13

A. Expected Award and Budget 13

Western States Air Resources Council (WESTAR)

Work Plan for 2008-10

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Overview

The WESTAR Council is a non-profit regional association composed of delegates from fifteen western State Air Quality Agencies and, on an ex officio basis, four federal Land Management Agencies. The Council’s objectives are to:

·  Promote the exchange of information between states;

·  Serve as a forum to discuss western regional air quality issues of common concern;

·  Share resources for the common benefit of the member states;

·  Coordinate research;

·  Develop and deliver relevant air quality related training programs; and

·  Develop air quality-related policy and guidance.

WESTAR receives funding through grants and contracts to achieve these objectives. This work plan, covering calendar/fiscal years 2008 through 2010, identifies the actions and deliverables to be completed in the coming years. The funds used to support this work plan include new FY2008 funds, ad hoc travel funds allocated by some member states from their federal fiscal year 2007 grants, funds to support WESTAR’s management of the Western Regional Training Center, and carry-forward of WESTAR’s unspent funds from 2007. In addition, the work plan summarizes actions and deliverables for FY2009 and FY2010 based on an assumed level of funding, as discussed further in this document.

WESTAR’s business environment includes federal, state, and local governmental agencies, and other non-profit entities whose responsibilities and missions are similar to that of WESTAR. Our efforts are coordinated with these entities to avoid duplication and, where possible, to leverage and complement the work of others. WESTAR has developed strong working relationships with the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP), an organization of western states and tribes whose primary objective is implementation of the Regional Haze Rule in the western states, and the State and National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA), an organization of state and local air directors covering the entire United States. WESTAR staff, state air directors and their staff are active on WRAP and NACAA committees, in addition to their involvement in the Council and on WESTAR committees. The following table summarizes, in general terms, the relationship between WESTAR and these two organizations:

Comparison of WESTAR’s Objectives to

Those of WRAP and NACAA1

WRAP’s Objective
Provide stakeholder supported technical analyses and policy tools needed by western states and tribes in meeting the requirements under the Regional Haze Rule. / WESTAR’s Objective
Assist states in achieving their clear air goals, including meeting their obligations under the Clean Air Act. With respect to the Regional Haze Rule, WESTAR’s role is to ensure that the needs of all western states are being met by WRAP, and to assist states in meeting their regional haze obligations above and beyond the products delivered by the WRAP.
NACAA’s Objective
Promote the exchange of information and improve the effectiveness of air quality management in the US. / WESTAR’s Objective
Promote the exchange of information on issues that are a high priority to western states and that would not receive sufficient attention from NACAA or other organizations, and improve the effectiveness of western air quality managers where their issues and priorities may differ from those of NACAA.

1 This chart is for illustrative purposes only and is not meant to fully articulate the objectives of the organizations listed.

WESTAR’s training program is designed to meet the needs of western state air management agencies. The program is developed in coordination with EPA, other regional training providers, and the California Air Resources Board, ensuring that our training resources are targeted to the needs of western states while not duplicating the efforts of other training providers.

WESTAR’s training program creates a listing of upcoming educational opportunities offered in the west and other parts of the country by such providers as the California Air Resources Board (CARB), EPA's Area Training Centers at several universities throughout the country, EPA’s Regional Offices, EPA's Air Pollution Training Institute (APTI), EPA's Air Pollution Distance Learning Network (APDLN), and other training providers, as necessary. This list is emailed to appropriate state, local, federal, tribal and FLM air agencies.

B. Organization

The WESTAR Council is composed of the Air Program Administrators of the 15 western states:

Alaska Idaho Oregon

Arizona Montana South Dakota

California Nevada Utah

Colorado New Mexico Washington

Hawaii North Dakota Wyoming

In addition, there are four Federal Land Management agencies associated with WESTAR. They are:

USDI Bureau of Land Management

USDI National Park Service

USDA Forest Service

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service

Common to all WESTAR member agencies is an obligation to manage air quality. States are responsible for ensuring that their citizens are protected against unhealthful levels of air pollution, while federal land management agencies are charged with protecting against adverse impacts on air quality related values within parks, wildlife preserves, wilderness areas, and other similar federal lands. The WESTAR Council offers a unique and important opportunity for these governmental entities to coordinate their efforts and work towards integrating air quality management strategies.

The WESTAR Executive Board directs and oversees WESTAR staff on behalf of the Council, and acts for the Council on matters not requiring action by the full membership. The duties of the WESTAR Executive Board are as follows:

President The Council President is responsible for: supervision of the Executive Director and coordination of Council business with the Office of the Executive Director; approval of the agenda and chairing Council meetings; and general oversight of Council activities.

Vice President The Council Vice President is responsible for conducting the duties of the President in his or her absence. The Vice President automatically assumes the Presidency at the first WESTAR Council business meeting each year.

Treasurer Responsibilities of the Treasurer include oversight of the Council’s finances in coordination with the Office of the Executive Director.

There are currently four permanent WESTAR staff members:

Executive Director The Executive Director’s responsibilities include: establishment of grants and contracts on behalf of the Council; management of the financial affairs of the Council under the oversight of the Treasurer; preparing agendas for Council meetings (for the President’s approval); and preparation and distribution of minutes. As authorized by the membership or the officers of the Council, the Executive Director is authorized to negotiate and enter into agreements and contracts with other organizations and to conduct projects and studies authorized by the Council. The Executive Director is responsible for preparation of quarterly reports describing Council activities, financial status and other Council business matters. The Executive Director is supervised by, and reports directly to the President of the Council.

Technical Coordinator The Technical Coordinator manages the association’s technical projects; provides staff assistance to Committee Chairs; prepares reports, surveys, letters, and recommendations to the Council on technical matters; assists the Training Manager deliver training, when needed; acts as liaison with other regional bodies, including NACAA, WRAP, etc.; and prepares work plans and budgets for review by the Executive Director and consideration by the Council.

Training Manager The Training Manager’s primary responsibility is to plan for, prepare, and deliver high quality, relevant air quality related training to WESTAR members and others through the Western Regional Training Center; coordinate with other training organizations to leverage other course offerings; keep abreast of the training needs of its members; and prepare work plans and budgets for review by the Executive Director and consideration by the Council.

Office Manager The Office Manager handles the administration of the WESTAR home office; handles accounts payable; maintains files and records for review by Grantors; assists the Executive Director with calendaring, scheduling, meeting and conference call arrangements; prepares routine correspondence; makes arrangements for twice annual business meetings; and assists the Technical coordinator and Training Manager as needed.

In addition, WESTAR currently employs one project staff, funded through a contract with the Western Governors Association (WGA):

Caucus Coordinator The State Caucus Coordinator is responsible to the western state air directors (the State Caucus) and the Executive Director to maintain their awareness, and encourage full participation by states in developing WRAP work products. This includes providing communication services and policy issue analyses related to regional haze work of the WRAP. The State Caucus Coordinator also provides liaison to participating tribes and general staff support for WRAP’s Air Managers Committee.

C. Committees and Work Groups

Committees within WESTAR address key technical and policy issues important to the member states. In addition to a Training Advisory Committee, there are four WESTAR operating committees: Sources, Technical, Planning, and Mobile Sources. The general areas of responsibility for the committees are summarized below.

1. Sources Committee

The charge of the Sources Committee is to identify and address issues related to the sources of air pollution. This will be accomplished, among other ways, through:

·  Sharing of information amongst states;

·  Tracking the activities of NACAA and WRAP;

·  Helping WESTAR take the lead, where appropriate, for achieving policy change; and

·  Developing guidance documents and information.

The Sources Committee is responsible for all issues related to non-mobile sources of air pollution, including:

·  Point/stationary sources and source regulation, for example:

o  New source review, BACT, PSD

o  Title V permitting

o  MACT, BART

o  Power generation emissions

·  Area source emissions, controls, and programs, for example:

o  Emissions from agricultural operations

o  Fugitive dust

o  Consumer products

o  Land use and emissions

o  Outdoor burning

In addition, the committee’s scope includes enforcement and compliance, emissions from foreign countries and tribal lands, pollution prevention, and environmental justice.

Specific priorities are detailed on WESTAR website at www.westar.org.

2. Technical Committee

The purpose of the WESTAR Technical Committee is to provide a forum for information exchange, analyses and technical recommendations of air quality issues for the benefit of the WESTAR member states. The committee tracks the activities of NACAA and WRAP to determine if WESTAR state priorities are being addressed, and advocates for activities that are important from the western state perspective.

The Technical Committee is responsible for all technical air quality management issues, including:

·  Air quality monitoring

·  Emissions inventories

·  Meteorology

·  Air quality modeling

Key issue areas for tracking and monitoring by the Technical Committee include:

·  Toxics modeling, monitoring, emission inventory

·  Data management related to emission inventory and modeling (quality, quantity, consistency and interstate issues).

·  Regional haze technical tools development

·  Fugitive dust emission inventory and modeling

·  Fire (ag, prescribed and wild) emission inventory and modeling

·  National monitoring strategies, priorities, policy and funding

·  Increment tracking, cumulative impacts, FLAG and AQRVs

Specific priorities are detailed on WESTAR website at www.westar.org.

3. Planning Committee

The purpose of the WESTAR Planning Committee is to identify air quality issues that have a distinct impact on western states and ensure that western concerns are addressed.

The Planning Committee is responsible for major issues related to air quality planning, including:

·  Ozone NAAQS implementation

·  PM NAAQS implementation

·  Standards reviews

·  MOBILE 6.0, 6.1, 6.2 models (in coordination with Mobile Sources Committee)

·  Multi-pollutant legislation

·  NSR reform (in coordination with Sources Committee)

·  PSD (in coordination with Sources Committee)

·  Regional haze plan development

·  Smoke management programs

·  Air toxics

·  External relations

The committee tracks the activities of NACAA and WRAP to determine if WESTAR state priorities are being addressed, and advocates for activities that are important from the western state perspective. Specific priorities are detailed on WESTAR website at www.westar.org.

4. Mobile Source Committee

The purpose of the Mobile Source Committee is to provide a forum for information exchange and analysis of mobile source air quality issues for the benefit of WESTAR member states. The scope of the committee’s responsibilities include tracking, assessing and conducting technical reviews of issues related to on- and off-road (non-road) mobile sources. The committee tracks the activities of NACAA and WRAP to determine if WESTAR state priorities are being addressed, and advocates for activities that are important from the western state perspective.

The Mobile Source Committee is responsible for the following issues:

·  Diesel – on/off-road

·  Clean and alternative (i.e. CNG, biodiesel) fuels

·  On-board diagnostic systems

·  Toxics – gasoline and diesel

·  Emissions inventory model

·  Other off-road (i.e. motorcycles, etc.)

·  Paved/unpaved road dust

·  Mobile source modeling

·  Federal measures (trains, aircraft, ships)

·  Conformity

Specific priorities are detailed on WESTAR website at www.westar.org.

5. Training Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Training Advisory Committee is to provide advice and guidance to the WESTAR Training Manager on the training needs of the member states, local agencies, and federal land management agencies. The advice of the Training Advisory Committee, coupled with on-going input from WESTAR’s four operating committees, is used to develop training plans that meet the needs of member states and local agencies. The Training Advisory Committee’s input is also essential when national/western issues that may affect training opportunities, and ultimately, the professional and personal development agency staff, and the ability of air quality agencies to meet annual business objectives.

II. PROJECTS

A. Operations

The purpose of the Operations project is to develop, implement, and support the technical activities at WESTAR that benefit member states. Funding for this project comes entirely from member state contributions. In addition, personnel from member states and federal land management agencies contribute their time and expertise to many of the tasks performed under this project. For example, members of WESTAR’s committees are often asked to review and draft documents for consideration by other committee members, and make presentations at conference calls and meetings. While funds from WESTAR’s Operations project pay for the conference call itself, the time spent by staff doing research on the issue, and the time spent on conference calls are additional contributions by WESTAR members. Un-reimbursed staff time working on Operations projects is vital to our success.