History of the Agency
Chronology of Significant Policy Decisions and Events
(1967-2008)

Calendar Year 2008 (Through March 2008)

  1. Interlocal Agreement approved for SWCAA to provide $25,000 in funding to assist Lewis County Solid Waste Department with its recycling of about 90 mobile homes and 90 single family flood damaged homes rather than having them disposed of by outdoor burning. The Department of Ecology is also providing $100,000 to encourage recycling of these flood damaged homes. SWCAA's funding assistance will be charged to the agency's public education program because the project involves education through the use of alternatives to outdoor burning. (March 2008)
  2. Draft Air Quality Strategy Report for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area presented to SWCAA Board of Directors in preparation of its April 8, 2008 presentation to the Gorge Commission. The Science Summary Report which covers the air quality monitoring and computer modeling for forecasting visibility within the Gorge National Scenic Area out to 2018 was presented to the SWCAA Board of Directors and general public in late 2007. This project was primarily supported by $1.1 million in Congressional funding with $670,000 initially spearheaded by Washington's U.S. Senator Patty Murray and a second round of $422,000 spearheaded by Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. (March 2008)
  3. Board of Directors approves an Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2007/2008 Budget to authorize the spending of $250,000 received from the Department of Ecology for diesel emission reduction retrofit projects. It is Ecology's expectation that this $250,000 in funding be used to finish the school bus diesel emission reduction retrofit projects that SWCAA and the other Local Clean Air Agencies have been working on the past several years. The remaining funds in the former school bus diesel emission reduction project will then be available to assist local government fleets and private fleets such as garbage trucks, dump trucks, cement trucks, and others to also have diesel emission reduction retrofit equipment installed on these vehicles. (February 2008)
  4. Don Jensen, City of Longview Councilmember, elected Chair and Pat Jollota, City of Vancouver Councilmember, elected Vice Chair for calendar year 2006. (February 2008)
  5. Diesel School Bus Emissions Reduction Project - Approximately 635 school buses in SWCAA's southwest Washington jurisdiction have been installed with Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOC) to protect the health of school children from diesel emissions exhaust. In addition, 180 school buses have also been installed with crank case ventilation (CCV) filters to reduce the diesel emissions leaking into the interior of the school buses. (February 2008)
  6. Vancouver Woodstove Changeout Project - Received $260,000 grant from the Department of Ecology in July 2008 to achieve removal of approximately 150 uncertified wood stoves with clean burning wood stoves. Low income eligible candidates received $3,000 towards the removal of dirty uncertified woodstoves and other eligible candidates received $1,500 in funding assistance. The initial focus of removing dirty uncertified woodstoves was within a 1 mile radius of the Vancouver PM2.5 air quality monitor with households in other Vancouver neighborhoods assisted as funds allowed. The Vancouver PM2.5 monitor is at risk of exceeding the PM2.5 air quality health standard of 35 micrograms per cubic (i.e., 24 hour averaging time period based on a 3 year average). The Vancouver PM2.5 measurement for 2007 comparable to the EPA health standard was 40 micrograms per cubic meter which emphasizes the importance of the woodstove changeout program to reduce PM2.5 air quality levels in 2008 and 2009.

Calendar Year 2007

  1. Final Science Summary Report for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area was presented to the SWCAA Board of Directors and the general public. This Science Report was prepared by three (3) nationally recognized visibility experts (i.e., March Pitchford of NOAA, Dr. Mark Green of Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas, and Ralph Morris of Environ). A panel of three (3) other national visibility experts (i.e., Dr. Brian Lamb of Washington State University, Dr. Ralph White of university of California-Berkeley, and Dr. Bill Malm of Colorado State University/National Park Service critiqued the Science Report at a full day meeting which the general public was allow to observe and also interact with the scientists. (October and November 2007).
  2. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Maintenance Plan covering the time period of 2006 through 2015 approved by the SWCAA Board of Directors. The Vancouver region has been well below the carbon monoxide national ambient air for the past 10 years and is forecast to continue in that status through 2015. Therefore, no new requirements are proposed as part of this second 10-year Maintenance Plan and no new control measures are believed to e needed in order to maintain Vancouver below the carbon monoxide air quality health standard between 2006 and 2015. (March 2007).
  3. Don Jensen, City of Longview Councilmember, elected Chair and Pat Jollota, City of Vancouver Councilmember, elected Vice Chair for calendar year 2006. (February 2007)
  4. Economic development assistance provided by SWCAA - New construction air quality permits issued during the past 12 months = 89 permit approvals. The itemized breakdown of permits issued was: Clark County - 54; Cowlitz County - 22; Lewis County - 13; Skamania County - 0; Wahkiakum County - 0.
  5. Insuring clean, healthy air - Compliance inspections performed by SWCAA on industry during the past 12 months = 270 comprehensive inspections. Industrial and commercial companies with air quality permits receive comprehensive inspections and detailed written inspection reports. The itemized breakdown of inspections performed was: Clark County - 144; Cowlitz County - 65; Lewis County - 54; Skamania County - 4; Wahkiakum County - 3.
  6. Assisting southwest Washington residents by being responsive to their contacts with SWCAA - Air pollution complaints handled during the past 12 months = 598 complaints. The itemized breakdown of complaints handled was: Clark County - 351; Cowlitz County - 145; Lewis County - 96; Skamania County - 4; Wahkiakum County - 2.
  7. Fulfilling enforcement responsibilities to enforce air pollution regulations fairly - Enforcement actions initiated during the past 12 months = 172 citations. These citations were either giving the violator a warning and opportunity to correct the violation (i.e., Notice of Correction) or a Notice of Violation for it being the second offense and a civil penalty. Civil penalties collected annually have historically averaged about $45,000 per year. The itemized breakdown of enforcement actions handled was: Clark County - 95; Cowlitz County - 49; Lewis County - 25; Skamania County - 1; Wahkiakum County - 2.
  8. Agency workload volume - Number of active air pollution sources receiving oversight by SWCAA = 681 air pollution sources. These 681 air pollution sources are registered with SWCAA and monitored in the agency's database. The itemized breakdown for the location of these sources is: Clark County - 367; Cowlitz County - 166; Lewis County - 137; Skamania County - 7; Wahkiakum County - 4.

Calendar Year 2006

  1. Diesel School Bus Emissions Reduction Project - Approximately 571 school buses in SWCAA's southwest Washington jurisdiction have been installed with Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOC) to protect the health of school children from diesel emissions exhaust. SWCAA also has plans to provide funding to Clark County and the Vancouver Fire Department to reduce the diesel emissions on their diesel vehicles. Funding for this program has been provided to SWCAA by the state legislature through June 2008 to reduce the diesel emissions exposure of school while using school bus transportation. (December 2006)
  2. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Air Quality Study. Significant progress continues to be made on this multi-phase complex $1.2 million project that SWCAA is managing. The Computer Modeling Air Quality Forecast out to the year 2018 portion of this project is planned to be completed by March 2007. Work on the Gorge Science Summary Report, which summarizes the monitoring data and computer modeling information, is planned to be completed by June 2007. SWCAA and Oregon DEQ will prepare a recommendation and future strategy document during the Summer of 2007 that will be presented to the Gorge Commission in October 2007 for their concurrence.
  3. Adoption of Vancouver's Ozone Maintenance Plan for 2006-2015. A second 10-year Maintenance Plan that is required by the U.S. EPA was approved by the SWCAA Board of Directors. A key issue in the Ozone Maintenance Plan is a forecast showing the Vancouver/Portland interstate airshed will meet the new 8-hour ozone air quality health standard through 2015 with the existing programs that are in place from the previously adopted plan adopted by SWCAA in 1996. Therefore, no new requirements were implemented as part of this U.S. EPA mandated Ozone Maintenance Plan. The margin of buffer below the ozone air quality health standard is not as large as for carbon monoxide, but still encouraging based on the forecasted population growth in the region between now and 2015 (November 2006)
  4. Proposed Vancouver Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan for 2006-2015. No new requirements are being proposed as part of this second 10-year Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan. The carbon monoxide 8-hour average compliance level for 2004/2005 was 4.8 ppm which is significantly below the national ambient air quality health standard of 9.0 ppm. This significant level of margin below the health standard means that no new control measures are believed to be needed in order to maintain below the carbon monoxide air quality health standard between 2006 and 2015. (December 2006)
  5. Establishment of a Facility Reserve Fund Approved. Unspent revenues, if any, available on June 300th of each year have been approved to be assigned to a Facility reserve Fund to help pay for future office space costs for the agency. The purpose of this reserve fund is to assist with higher lease costs at the current location when the current lease expires in September 2010, facility improvements at the current lease location, tenant improvements at any new office space lease location, purchase and/or construction of a new office building and other similar needs of the agency. (October 2006)
  6. Conversion of SWCAA's Fleet to Hybrid Vehicles. SWCAA now has 7 of its 8 agency fleet vehicles as Hybrids with greater than 40 miles per gallon with the purchase of a Camry Hybrid and Ford Escape SUV Hybrid. SWCAA will soon replace the last regular gasoline vehicle with a hybrid so that 100% of the agency's fleet is low air pollution emitting vehicles.
  7. Vancouver/PDX Air Toxics Study Report Completed. A network of toxic air pollutant monitoring sties was operated within the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area during 2005 for a 12 month period and one of these sites was located in Vancouver, Washington. Members of the Clark County Airport Issues Roundtable (CCAIR) were concerned about the air pollution emissions from PDX jet aircraft and actively influenced the specific location of this monitoring site to learn the impacts of jet aircraft emissions in their neighborhood near downtown Vancouver. The conclusion of the report from numerous toxic air pollutants sampled is that the ambient air toxic levels in Vancouver are similar to levels in other urban areas. PDX jet aircraft emissions are similar to those emitted from automobiles which made it impossible to determine the relative contribution of aircrafts from monitoring results alone. However, ambient concentrations of pollutants were consistent with other locations indicting that jet aircraft emissions are not likely to be a major contributor. (December 2006)
  8. Longview Air Toxics Study Report Completed. The high density of heavy industry in the Longview/Kelso area caused SWCAA to apply for and be awarded a $55,000 EPA grant to measure ambient toxic air pollutant levels in the region. The large quantity of heavy industry residing in Cowlitz County caused this area to appear high on the list of Washington Counties with significant emissions of toxic air pollutants. SWCAA's study desired to learn whether these levels of reported emissions were resulting in ambient air concentrations that might present health concerns to residents. Numerous toxic air pollutants were sampled over a 12 month period and the report concluded that ambient concentrations are generally consistent with other urban areas. (December 2006)
  9. Don Jensen, City of Longview Councilmember, elected Chair and Pat Jollota, City of Vancouver Councilmember, elected Vice Chair for calendar year 2006. (February 2006)
  10. Economic development assistance provided by SWCAA - New construction air quality permits issued during the past 12 months = 99 permit approvals. The itemized breakdown of permits issued was: Clark County - 45; Cowlitz County - 26; Lewis County - 26; Skamania County - 2; Wahkiakum County - 0.
  11. Insuring clean, healthy air - Compliance inspections performed by SWCAA on industry during the past 12 months = 317 comprehensive inspections. Industrial and commercial companies with air quality permits receive comprehensive inspections and detailed written inspection reports. The itemized breakdown of inspections performed was: Clark County - 167; Cowlitz County - 72; Lewis County - 68; Skamania County - 7; Wahkiakum County - 3.
  12. Assisting southwest Washington residents by being responsive to their contacts with SWCAA - Air pollution complaints handled during the past 12 months = 470 complaints. The itemized breakdown of complaints handled was: Clark County - 317; Cowlitz County - 80; Lewis County - 70; Skamania County - 2; Wahkiakum County - 1.
  13. Fulfilling enforcement responsibilities to enforce air pollution regulations fairly - Enforcement actions initiated during the past 12 months = 127 citations. These citations were either giving the violator a warning and opportunity to correct the violation (i.e., Notice of Correction) or a Notice of Violation for it being the second offense and a civil penalty. Civil penalties collected annually have historically averaged about $45,000 per year. The itemized breakdown of enforcement actions handled was: Clark County - 83; Cowlitz County - 23; Lewis County - 21; Skamania County - 0; Wahkiakum County - 0.
  14. Agency workload volume - Number of active air pollution sources receiving oversight by SWCAA = 680 air pollution sources. These 680 air pollution sources are registered with SWCAA and monitored in the agency's database. The itemized breakdown for the location of these sources is: Clark County - 363; Cowlitz County - 164; Lewis County - 140; Skamania County - 8; Wahkiakum County - 5.

Calendar Year 2005

  1. State Auditor's Office Financial Audit - single year audit of federal grants completed with conclusion that no findings issued to SWCAA for 12th consecutive year. (January 2005)
  2. Don Jensen, City of Longview Councilmember, elected Chair and Pat Jollota, City of Vancouver Councilmember, elected Vice Chair for calendar year 2005. (February 2005)
  3. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Air Quality Study - ambient monitoring data collection phase of this $1.8 million combined effort with Oregon DEQ completed in March 2005. Haze Gradient report completed in December 2005. Future project milestones include: (1) Ambient monitoring report to be completed in February 2006; (2) Computer modeling report to be completed in January 2007; (3) Gorge Science Summary report to be completed in June 2007; and (4) Assessment of results and evaluation of need for additional regulatory intervention report to be completed in August 2007 with presentation to the Gorge Commission. (March 2005)
  4. Clean Car Legislation passed in Washington - lower emission cars that will help address climate change decided by state legislature to be made available to Washington consumers beginning in model year 2009. Washington joins seven other states in adopting California's low emission vehicle program. Rules implementing this legislation are approved in December 2005 in time to provide automobile manufacturers with the required two years advance notification for 2009 model years. (May 2005)
  5. Longview Air Toxics Study - completed collection of ambient air monitoring data in May 2005. Laboratory data results provided to SWCAA in late 2005 with report being prepared by SWCAA on the results. EPA awarded $55,000 to SWCAA to perform Air Toxics monitoring in the Longview/Kelso to obtain ambient air monitoring data that will indicate whether Longview/Kelso's high levels of air toxic emissions inventory according to the National Air Toxics emission inventory translates into actual high levels recorded at a monitoring station. All of the federal funds were utilized to pay for laboratory analysis of the monitoring data. (May 2005)
  6. Fee increases approved by Board of Directors - first request to increase fees since 1998. Increased fees approved for Registration program, New Source Review program and Per Capita program. (November 2005)
  7. Statewide clean air status achieved - all areas of the State of Washington were declared at a news conference by Governor Christine Gregoire to have achieved clean air status. Washington State is the first state in the nation to achieve this milestone. (November 2005)
  8. Diesel School Bus Emissions Reduction Project - Approximately 375 school buses in southwest Washington have been installed to date with diesel oxidation catalysts to protect the health of school children. Funding has been provided by SWCAA by the state legislature to reduce the diesel emissions exposure of school children while riding on school buses. Statewide, approximately 3,650 diesel school buses have been installed to date with diesel oxidation catalysts. (December 2005)
  9. Economic development assistance provided by SWCAA - New construction air quality permits issued during the past 12 months = 108 permit approvals. The itemized breakdown of permits issued was: Clark County - 60; Cowlitz County - 17; Lewis County - 28; Skamania County - 2; Wahkiakum County - 1.
  10. Ensuring clean, healthy air - Compliance inspections performed by SWCAA on industry during the past 12 months = 320 comprehensive inspections. Industrial and commercial companies with air quality permits receive comprehensive inspections and detailed written inspection reports. The itemized breakdown of inspections performed was: Clark County - 164; Cowlitz County - 86; Lewis County - 59; Skamania County - 7; Wahkiakum County - 4.
  11. Assisting southwest Washington residents by being responsive to their contacts with SWCAA - Air pollution complaints handled during the past 12 months = 457 complaints. The itemized breakdown of complaints handled was: Clark County - 270; Cowlitz County - 91; Lewis County - 95; Skamania County - 1; Wahkiakum County - 0.
  12. Fulfilling enforcement responsibilities to enforce air pollution regulations fairly - Enforcement actions initiated during the past 12 months = 99 citations. These citations were either giving the violator a warning and opportunity to correct the violation (i.e., Notice of Correction) or a Notice of Violation for it being the second offense and a civil penalty. Civil penalties collected annually have historically averaged about $45,000 per year. The itemized breakdown of enforcement actions handled was: Clark County - 68; Cowlitz County - 3; Lewis County - 28; Skamania County - 0; Wahkiakum County - 0.
  13. Agency workload volume - Number of active air pollution sources receiving oversight by SWCAA = 675 air pollution sources. These 675 air pollution sources are registered with SWCAA and monitored in the agency's database. The itemized breakdown for the location of these sources is: Clark County - 364; Cowlitz County - 158; Lewis County - 140; Skamania County - 8; Wahkiakum County - 5.

Calendar Year 2004

  1. New Glass Plant approved by SWCAA for construction in Napavine, WA - This large project will be a significant employer for residents of Napavine, Washington and surrounding areas while using good air pollution control equipment.
  2. Diesel School Bus Emissions Reduction Project - Approximately 175 school buses in southwest Washington were installed this year with diesel oxidation catalysts through funding provided by SWCAA and the state legislature to reduce the diesel emissions exposure of school children while riding on school buses.
  3. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Air Quality Monitoring Project - Excellent progress is made during the summer and winter air quality monitoring phase of this project. SWCAA is the project manager for the $1.1 million in funding for this project provided by Congress.
  4. Carbon Monoxide and Ozone Maintenance Plans - Progress continues on completing these Maintenance Plan filings for the U.S. EPA to indicate how the Vancouver/Portland area will ensure EPA that good healthy air will continue to be present in the metropolitan area from 2007 through 2016.
  5. Longview Air Toxics monitoring study - The gathering of air toxics monitoring data begins in Longview to obtain an understanding of the actual levels of air toxic pollutants in the ambient air. This monitoring data can then be compared with an EPA computer modeling report that suggests high levels of toxic air pollutant exposure risks may exist in the heavily industrialized Longview/Kelso area.
  6. Don Jensen, City of Longview Councilmember, elected Chair and Bud Quinn, Skamania County Commissioner, elected Vice Chair for calendar year 2004. (February 2004)
  7. Economic development assistance provided by SWCAA - New construction air quality permits issued during the past 12 months = 101 permit approvals. The itemized breakdown of permits issued was: Clark County - 58; Cowlitz County - 19; Lewis County - 23; Skamania County - 1; Wahkiakum County - 0.
  8. Ensuring clean, healthy air - Compliance inspections performed by SWCAA on industry during the past 12 months = 292 comprehensive inspections. Industrial and commercial companies with air quality permits receive comprehensive inspections and detailed written inspection reports. The itemized breakdown of inspections performed was: Clark County - 158; Cowlitz County - 60; Lewis County - 65; Skamania County - 6; Wahkiakum County - 3.
  9. Assisting southwest Washington residents by being responsive to their contacts with SWCAA - Air pollution complaints handled during the past 12 months = 510 complaints. The itemized breakdown of complaints handled was: Clark County - 355; Cowlitz County - 76; Lewis County - 72; Skamania County - 7; Wahkiakum County - 0.
  10. Fulfilling enforcement responsibilities to enforce air pollution regulations fairly - Enforcement actions initiated during the past 12 months = 113 citations. These citations were either giving the violator a warning and opportunity to correct the violation (i.e., Notice of Correction) or a Notice of Violation for it being the second offense and a civil penalty. Civil penalties collected annually have historically averaged about $35,000 per year. The itemized breakdown of enforcement actions handled was: Clark County - 78; Cowlitz County - 17; Lewis County - 17; Skamania County - 1; Wahkiakum County - 0.
  11. Agency workload volume - Number of active air pollution sources receiving oversight by SWCAA = 660 air pollution sources. These 660 air pollution sources are registered with SWCAA and monitored in the agency's database. The itemized breakdown for the location of these sources is: Clark County - 353; Cowlitz County - 153; Lewis County - 140; Skamania County - 8; Wahkiakum County - 6.

Calendar Year 2003

  1. Air pollution caused by the continuous idling of Diesel Locomotive engines in Vancouver's switchyard reduced - SWCAA was awarded an $86,400 U.S. EPA grant for the first project in the western United States to reduce Switchyard Idling Diesel Locomotive engine air pollution emissions and noise caused by the continuous idling of these switchyard diesel locomotive engines. This project will install equipment to maintain the continuous pumping of critical locomotive fluids in the unit so that the diesel locomotive engine can be shut down. (December 2003)
  2. School children's exposure to diesel school bus emissions reduced - SWCAA was awarded a $54,150 U.S. EPA grant to install diesel oxidation catalysts on Centralia and Chehalis school district buses. SWCAA and three other Local Air Agencies in western Washington submitted a joint proposal in a national competition and were successful in winning a $366,000 grant with SWCAA's share to be $54,150. (November 2003)
  3. Updated SWCAA 400 regulations adopted - This regulation update was undertaken to improve the consistency between SWCAA's 400 regulation and a similar regulation used by the Washington Department of Ecology and also to correct issues identified by EPA since the last rule revision in March 2001 that they would like to have fixed. (October 2003)
  4. SWCAA moved to a new office building- After 15 years of leasing office space at 1308 NE 134th Street, the agency moved its operations to the EastRidge Business Park. Several improvements were made including new computer work station office environments for the agency's employees, improved safe egress for employee traffic leaving the business park and larger office space. (September 2003)
  5. Ebay used for auction of a surplus vehicle - After learning about the City of Vancouver's successful experiences, SWCAA successfully sold its surplus vehicle through Ebay and received a higher bid price than what the State Auction would likely have provided and at lower transaction cost. (August 2003)
  6. Long-term financial strength for the agency achieved with the establishment of new reserve accounts - The Board of Directors agreed with the Executive Director's recommendation to establish and fully fund a Depreciation Reserve account and a Vacation/Sick/Retirement Reserve account. The former Building Fund was drawn down to establish these new funds. (August 2003)
  7. Filled void in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area visibility studies created by the Washington Department of Ecology's budget decision to eliminate its Statewide Visibility Program - Because of budget cuts WDOE decided to eliminate its involvement with a visibility program for the State of Washington. Because air quality studies within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area were in midstream implementing stages, SWCAA assumed responsibility for project management of the ongoing Haze Gradient Study within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and also began project management and technical management of the $670,600 Congressional funded air quality study within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. SWCAA as able to absorb this additional work because of the short-term duration of the studies (i.e., about 18 months). (July 2003)
  8. Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) requests SWCAA perform air quality inspections for the EFSEC jurisdictional 520 megawatt natural gas fired Chehalis Power Plant - SWCAA enters into an agreement to perform the technical air quality compliance work on the first new EFSEC jurisdictional power plant built in the State of Washington since EFSEC was formed. (June 2003)
  9. Awarded $55,000 EPA grant to perform Air Toxics monitoring in the Longview/Kelso area - The purpose of this study is to obtain ambient air monitoring data that will indicate whether Longview/Kelso's high levels of air toxic emissions inventory according to the National Air Toxics emission inventory translates into actual high levels recorded at a monitoring station. (May 2003)
  10. School children's exposure to diesel school bus emissions reduced - SWCAA was awarded $599,250 in funding from the Washington state legislature to install diesel oxidation catalysts on diesel school buses in southwest Washington. The health impacts caused by diesel air pollution emissions in school buses are a significant concern or air quality officials around the United States. (May 2003)
  11. Board of Directors decided that it favors SWCAA to lease office space at a new office building rather than building and owning its own building - The Executive Director was authorized to find a new office building that better meets the agency's long- term needs and was given a financial constraint that the annual lease rate for this new location must not exceed $17.00 per square foot. EastRidge Business Park was selected at a lease rate of about $14.76 per square foot. (May 2003)
  12. Don Jensen, City of Longview Councilmember, elected Chair and Bud Quinn, Skamania County Commissioner, elected Vice Chair for calendar year 2003. (February 2003)
  13. Economic development assistance provided by SWCAA - New construction air quality permits issued during the past 12 months = 150 permit approvals issued. The itemized breakdown of permits issued was: Clark County - 82; Cowlitz County - 36; Lewis County - 28; Skamania County - 4; Wahkiakum County - 0. (Calendar Year 2003)
  14. Ensuring clean, healthy air - Compliance inspections performed on industry during the past 12 months = 363 comprehensive inspections. Industrial and commercial companies with air quality permits from SWCAA receive comprehensive inspections and detailed written inspection reports. The itemized breakdown of inspections performed was: Clark County - 196; Cowlitz County - 87; Lewis County - 69; Skamania County - 11; Wahkiakum County - 0. (Calendar Year 2003)
  15. Assisting southwest Washington residents -Air pollution complaints handled by SWCAA during the past 12 months = 363 complaints. The itemized breakdown of complaints handled was: Clark County - 274; Cowlitz County 26; Lewis County - 63; Skamania County - 0; Wahkiakum County - 0. (Calendar Year 2003)
  16. Fulfilling enforcement responsibilities - Enforcement actions initiated during the past 12 months = 120 citations. These citations were either a Notice of Correction giving the violator a warning and opportunity to correct the violation or a Notice of Violation for a second offense and a civil penalty. Civil penalties collected annually have historically totaled about $35,000 per year. The itemized breakdown for enforcement action was: Clark County - 81; Cowlitz County - 13; Lewis County - 26; Skamania County - 0; Wahkiakum County - 0. (Calendar Year 2003)
  17. Customer service feedback - Customer service postcard survey response during the past 12 months = No negative comments received. Customer service postcards are mailed out with all Final Air Quality Permits issued by SWCAA requesting comments on the service provided by SWCAA. The post card asks the following questions: (1) Were our responses prompt and courteous; (2) Was your concern adequately addressed; (3) Do you need additional assistance; (4) Do you wish to be contacted about the quality of our service; and (5) Please rate the overall quality of our service.
  18. Agency workload volume - Number of active air pollution sources operating in southwest Washington = 648 air pollution sources. These 648 air pollution sources are registered with SWCAA and monitored in the agency's database. The itemized breakdown for the location of these sources is: Clark County - 352; Cowlitz County - 150; Lewis County -132; Skamania County - 8; Wahkiakum County - 6. (As of December 31, 2003)

Calendar Year 2002

  1. Updated Outdoor Burning rule to make it a SWCAA local rule and included in this rule a summary of all Burning Permit fees. (May 2002)
  2. Assisted Lewis County in addressing Biosolids Odor problems from Fire Mountain Farms, Inc. through attendance at a public hearing and requesting incorporation of permit conditions that would reduce odors to a reasonable minimum. (September 2002)
  3. Attended several public meetings involving concerns of the Clark County Airport Issues Roundtable (CCAIR) and Portland International Airport (PDX).
    a. May 2002 - attended meeting with PDX officials and CCAIR representatives. Developed study proposal for funding by PDX that attempted to address the concerns of CCAIR members, but PDX rejected the proposal. The proposed work plan to assist CCAIR involved three phases: (1) Phase 1 involved a request to the Washington Department of Health and Southwest Washington Health District to perform an evaluation of whether a higher than normal incidence of cancer or similar illnesses exists in CCAIR neighborhoods. Phase 2 involved a computer modeling study to see if air pollutants might be reaching CCAIR neighborhoods from PDX operations. If the compute suggested that air pollutants might be reaching CCAIR neighborhoods insignificant levels, then a Phase 3 would be implemented to perform monitoring and determine if the air pollutants are actually reaching CCAIR neighborhoods and in what actual levels compared to the compute predicted levels. Phases 2 and 3 required funding by PDX.
    b. November 5, 2002 - Participated as a panelist for a Vancouver Planning Commission Public Forum titled "Land Use, Transportation and Air Quality" that also focused on PDX air quality issues.
    c. February 20, 2003 - Participated as a panelist for a Fort Vancouver Library Forum titled "PDX Operations - Air Quality and Noise."
  4. Implemented Wood Stove Rebate Program - used grant funds to provide southwest Washington residents with a $125 rebate on the purchase of a new low emission certified wood stove with the replacement and destruction of an old uncertified wood stove. This project stimulated the sale of 57 new low air pollution certified wood stoves.
  5. Incorporated air quality goals into Clark County's Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. Worked with Clark County's Long Range Planning staff to have them incorporate air quality goals for the first time in Clark County's 20-year Growth Management Plan.
  6. Incorporated air quality goals into the City of Vancouver's Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. Worked with the City of Vancouver's Long Range Planning staff to have them incorporate air quality goals for the first time in Vancouver's 20-year Growth Management Plan.
  7. Summer 2002 Ozone air pollution levels - no ozone air quality exceedances of the health standard occurred during the summer of 2002. Strong winds developed during the afternoon of nearly all of the hot 2002 summer days helping to keep the air healthy.
  8. Developed grant funding proposal for a Vancouver Idling Diesel Locomotive Project that reduces air pollution and noise from these idling locomotives. Also submitted a grant proposal to measure the levels of toxic air pollutants in the Longview/Kelso area.
  9. 2002 State Legislative Session Bills that were passed included: (1) Engrossed House Bill 2326 established a climate change information and policy clearinghouse within Washington State University's Energy Program and (2) Substitute Senate Bill 6329 which exempts high mileage hybrid vehicles from emission testing.
  10. A presentation was given to the Board of Directors on proposed revisions to SWCAA 400 "General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources."
  11. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area air quality issues: (1) Participated in ongoing air quality studies within the Gorge; (2) Held a public meeting on March 12, 2003 in Stevenson, Washington to update the general public on the status of the air quality studies and the Washington Department of Ecology and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality budget problems for the next biennium; and (3) SWCAA designated as the recipient and project manager for $670,600 in Congressional funding for the performance of air quality studies within the Gorge.
  12. Compressed work week adopted - SWCAA's office hours were increased to 50 hours per week and thereby providing better service to the general public by changing to 4 workdays at 10 hours each to benefit the public's access to SWCAA employees. This decision provided a SWCAA employee morale boost as well.
  13. Milestone achieved with SWCAA's motor vehicle fleet experiencing the arrival of its fifth (5th) Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV). (March 2002)
  14. SWCAA maintained a strong technical staff during the past 12 months that includes four (4) licensed Professional Engineers. State only expects that SWCAA one (1) licensed Professional Engineer on staff.
  15. SWCAA's financial condition conservatively managed with close attention paid to the Monthly Financial Report information to ensure the agency is under budget at the end of the fiscal year. Year-to-date expenses are under budget.
  16. Board of Directors compensation for Board meeting attendance was increased from $25 per meeting to $50 per meeting.
  17. Craig Pridemore, Clark County Commissioner, elected Chair and George Raiter, Cowlitz County Commissioner, elected Vice Chair for calendar year 2002. (February 2002)
  18. Success of SWCAA's national association (STAPPA/ALAPCO) - Received national recognition in National Journal's December 7, 2002 cover story "The Art of Persuasion: A Guide to Washington's Heavyweight Interest Groups and How They Are Vying for Advantage on 14 Issues", where STAPPA/ALAPCO was listed among the 11 key players associated with the Clean Air Act.
  19. Economic development assistance provided by SWCAA - New construction air quality permits issued during the past 12 months = 103 permit approvals issued. The itemized breakdown of permits issued was: Clark County - 53; Cowlitz County - 25; Lewis County - 16; Skamania County - 4; Wahkiakum County - 5. (February 2002 through January 2003)
  20. Ensuring clean, healthy air - Compliance inspections performed on industry during the past 12 months = 339 comprehensive inspections. Industrial and commercial companies with air quality permits from SWCAA receive comprehensive inspections and detailed written inspection reports. The itemized breakdown of inspections performed was: Clark County - 178; Cowlitz County - 79; Lewis County - 72; Skamania County - 6; Wahkiakum County - 4. (February 2002 through January 2003)
  21. Assisting southwest Washington residents -Air pollution complaints handled by SWCAA during the past 12 months = 364 complaints. The itemized breakdown of complaints handled was: Clark County - 278; Cowlitz County 23; Lewis County - 60; Skamania County - 1; Wahkiakum County - 2. (February 2002 through January 2003)
  22. Fulfilling enforcement responsibilities - Enforcement actions initiated during the past 12 months = 150 citations. These citations were either a Notice of Correction giving the violator a warning and opportunity to correct the violation or a Notice of Violation for a second offense and a civil penalty. Civil penalties collected annually have historically totaled about $35,000 per year. The itemized breakdown for enforcement action was: Clark County - 87; Cowlitz County - 20; Lewis County - 41; Skamania County -1; Wahkiakum County - 1. (February 2002 through January 2003)
  23. Customer service feedback - Customer service postcard survey response during the past 12 months = No negative comments received. Customer service postcards are mailed out with all Final Air Quality Permits issued by SWCAA requesting comments on the service provided by SWCAA. The post card asks the following questions: (1) Were our responses prompt and courteous; (2) Was your concern adequately addressed; (3) Do you need additional assistance; (4) Do you wish to be contacted about the quality of our service; and (5) Please rate the overall quality of our service.
  24. Agency workload volume - Number of active air pollution sources operating in southwest Washington = 635 air pollution sources. These 635 air pollution sources are registered with SWCAA and monitored in the agency's database. The itemized breakdown for the location of these sources is: Clark County - 352; Cowlitz County - 143; Lewis County -126; Skamania County - 8; Wahkiakum County - 6. (As of January 31, 2003)

Calendar Year 2001

  1. Formal Board action postponed on whether the agency should construct and own its office building. The Executive Director had recommended approval of this action item. Minimizing the agency's office lease expense was explained to be the last major cost item needing to be addressed by the agency. The approval of this item would ensure financial stability for the agency with respect to its escalating office lease expense. Long-term cost savings of approximately $700,000 were forecast to occur over the next 25 years if the agency were to construct and own its office building. These cost savings were forecast to reduce the pressure for future fee increases. The agency's office lease expense was forecasted to increase every year over the next 25 years whereas a mortgage would lock in this expense and eventually eliminate it when the mortgage is paid off. The agency's Building Fund Reserve of approximately $665,000 as of November 30, 2001 was decided to remain dedicated for the time being for this future possible use. (December 2001)
  2. State Auditor issues report on financial audit covering the time period of July 1, 1998 through June 30, 2001. SWCAA has been routinely audited on a two-year cycle, but was unable to be worked into the State Auditor's schedule in 2001 so the current audit is for a three-year time period. The auditing frequency will return to a two-year cycle for the next audit in 2003. During the December 7, 2001 Exit Interview, SWCAA was provided the following documents by the State Auditor: (1) Audit Report, (2) Management Letter, and (3) Title V program special audit report. The Audit Overview statement by the State Auditor stated: "The past two audits, spanning four years (1994-1998), have resulted in no reportable conditions. No findings were reported for the current audit. During our audits, we often make recommendations on methods to strengthen internal controls. The Agency understands the importance of internal controls and typically responds quickly to implement these audit suggestions." SWCAA communicated in a letter dated December 7, 2001 (i.e., the same day as the Exit Interview) that measures were being implemented immediately to address the two items addressed in the State Auditor's Management Letter. (December 2001)
  3. State Auditor presents Preliminary Exit Interview comments. Executive Director prepares memorandum to staff describing the changes that need to be implemented effective immediately. (October 2001)
  4. Board approves Proclamation of Appreciation to the City of Vancouver for its proactive initiative to improve air quality within the Clark County Ozone Maintenance Area. The U.S. EPA awarded the City of Vancouver a $60,000 Clean Air Transportation Communities grant. This grant will be used to implement in Vancouver a program similar to the "Flexcar Portland" car-sharing program. The goal is to reduce air pollution and free up parking spaces in the downtown Vancouver area. Car sharing program provides a motor vehicle to members who pay an initiation fee, monthly dues and a small hourly charge for usage. Seattle has a similar and several European cities have systems with several hundred vehicles. Some of Vancouver's grant funds will be used to offset the costs of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, offer membership discounts, and purchase electric bicycles. (October 2001)
  5. Board given presentation on air quality modeling. General background is provided on types of models, input data for the models and resources required to operate the computer models. (September 2001)
  6. Executive Director prepares policy memorandum for the handling of land clearing burning permit application fees. First, SWCAA employees issuing Land Clearing Burning Permits are not accept cash as payment for the permit fee under any circumstance. Second, a locked moneybag is to be utilized for the handling and transport of all checks that are received as payment of the land clearing burning permit fee. Third, the locked moneybag is to include a stamp that is to be utilized for all checks that are received. Immediately upon receiving the check the SWCAA employee is to stamp the check that has been received. The stamp is to place the following statement on the back of all checks received: "For Deposit Only To The Account Of The Southwest Clean Air Agency." Fourth, the locked moneybag is never to be taken home by a SWCAA employee under any circumstance. Fifth, if a SWCAA employee returns to the office too late to have the checks placed in the agency's safe, the employee is to place the locked moneybag in a locked drawer of his/her desk. Immediately the following business morning the employee is to request that the Executive Director, Operations Manager or Office Manager place the checks in the agency's safe. (September 2001)
  7. Board adopts Option No. 3 for agency's policy on Global Warming. Option No. 1 was to move forward with regulations to achieve emission reductions during the new source review permitting process. Option No. 2 was to move forward with a program limited to voluntary actions and market incentives. Option No. 3 was to move forward with a program limited to only inventorying the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted. Option No.4 would have postponed all action until Congress and President Bush specify the actions to be taken. Staff is authorized to gather emission inventory data and cautiously approves a public education program with the understanding that the agency would utilize EPA peer reviewed documentation to avoid embarking into controversial aspects of this issue. (August 2001)
  8. Two new agency budgeted positions filled: (1) Public Information Specialist and (2) Burning Permit Specialist. The Board agreed with the need for increased public education as part of the approval process for the Fiscal Year 2001/2002 budget. The Board also supported SWCAA filling the void created by the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) decision to cease issuing land clearing burning permits for the general public after July 1, 2001. This action increases total employment for the agency from 15 to 17 employees. (August 2001)
  9. Columbia River Gorge Commission issues decision concurring that the Air Quality Work Plan submitted to it is consistent with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act. The Southwest Clean Agency, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Washington Department of Ecology, and U.S. Forest Service prepared this document after extensive involvement with the six counties within the Gorge and the general public over the past 12 months. The Air Quality Work Plan indicates the need for the collection of additional monitoring data within the Gorge and the formation of a 29 member Advisory Committee to provide input to the three clean air agencies on the air quality strategy that would ultimately be submitted to the Columbia River Gorge Commission. (August 2001)
  10. Title V audit report prepared by Converse Consultants evaluating all Washington local air agencies plus the Department of Ecology's Central Region, Eastern Region and Industrial Section. A common theme of the issues raised by the audit is the need for the Department of Ecology to update the 1993 Title V rule to incorporate issues not well understood because of inexperience when this rule was adopted in 1993 before the Title V program formally began in 1995. (August 2001)
  11. Washington Supreme Court denies Seattle resident Greg Bowers' Petition For Review of the TransAlta coal-fired power plant Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Order to install full sulfur dioxide (SO2) scrubbing at this facility. (July 2001).
  12. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces and implements its policy to cease issuing land clearing burning permits to the general public after July 1, 2001. (July 2001)
  13. Washington State Supreme Court issues decision upholding SWCAA's RACT Order for the coal-fired TransAlta power plant. Seattle resident Greg Bowers appealed this Order for the past several years. (July 2001)
  14. Board given presentation on air quality monitoring. General background is provided on the types of air pollutants for which monitoring is being performed, health impacts of these air pollutants, the types of instruments being utilized and the location of the monitoring sites. (June 2001)
  15. Board adopts the Fiscal Year 2001/2001 budget. Agreement is reached to incorporate a portion of the Building Reserve fund into the budget for a possible decision this fiscal year on acquiring a new office building to reduce the agency's annual lease expense and address the traffic safety for egress and ingress from the current location's parking lot. The lease for the current office space at 1308 NE 134th Street expires on June 30, 2002. (May 2001)
  16. TransAlta agrees to $100,000 payment as part of EPA and SWCAA Section 167 Consent Order to allow beginning early construction of 240 Megawatt natural gas-fired combustion turbines. Funds to be used for modeling and other air quality projects in southwest Washington. (May 2001)
  17. SWCAA receives delivery of two Toyota Prius hybrid gasoline/electric vehicles. The agency now has three super ultra low emission vehicles (SULEV) within its fleet. (May 2001)
  18. Governor Locke issues several Executive Orders to address air quality permitting issues for energy projects being proposed in the response to the risk of electricity blackouts occurring in the western United States during summer 2001. Clark Public Utility files application to bring in fifty (50) temporary 1-Megawatt natural gas fired non-road generating units and place them adjacent to its 248 Megawatt unit. Cowlitz Public Utility District also proposes to bring in about 30 temporary 1 Megawatt non-road generating units. Several permanent power plants also proposed for southwest Washington including 248 Megawatt natural gas-fired units by Longview Energy and Mint Farm in Longview/Kelso area and 248 Megawatt TransAlta natural gas fired power plant in Central and 530 Megawatt Chehalis natural gas fired power plant. (April 2001)
  19. Public hearing held to adopt rule changes to address several administrative changes including incorporating the agency's new name and acronym at every point in the rules that the old name was mentioned, incorporating the legal description of the maintenance plan boundary for ozone and carbon monoxide to provide improved historical documentation as well as clarify an early 1980s filing that existed in 40 CFR Part 81, and other minor administrative issues. (February 2001)
  20. Craig Pridemore, Clark County Commissioner, elected Chair and Dennis Hadaller, Lewis County Commissioner, elected Vice Chair for calendar year 2001. (February 2001)
  21. U.S. Supreme Court issues decision upholding the key elements of the proposed 8-hour ozone ambient air quality standard. EPA issues a decision waiving Portland, Oregon's need to implement 1-hour ozone standard contingency measures in Ozone Maintenance Plan. SWCAA files a similar request for waiver with EPA. (February 2001)
  22. Washington Court of Appeals denies Seattle resident Greg Bowers request for reconsideration on the TransAlta coal-fired power plant Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Order to install full sulfur dioxide (SO2) scrubbing at this facility. (January 2001)

Calendar Year 2000

  1. Washington Court of Appeals issues a 43-page decision that gives strong support to SWCAA for its Centralia Power Plant Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Order. SWCAA's March 1999 victory with this RACT Order before the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) was appealed by Mr. Greg Bowers to King County Superior Court. SWCAA's confidence in its RACT Order caused the agency to file a request for direct review by the Washington Court of Appeals. (December 2000)
  2. Outdoor burning law and regulations become effective on December 31, 2000 that prohibit outdoor burning within the Battle Ground urban growth area, Centralia/Chehalis urban growth areas, and Longview/Kelso city limits. (December 2000)
  3. Monitoring study begun to establish levels of toxic air pollutants present in the Vancouver atmosphere. This study is being performed in conjunction with simultaneous monitoring being done by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality at sites in Portland, Oregon. (December 2000)
  4. Washington environmental groups file Notice of Intent to Sue Washington's air quality agencies for failure to issue all Title V permits within the 3-year statutory time frame specified in the Federal Clean Air Act. Environmental groups request individual meetings with each of the air quality agencies. SWCAA requests that it be dropped from the lawsuit because it has issued all of its Title V permits (i.e., 8 permits issued Final and 1 permit issued Draft). None of the 50 states issued their Title V permits within the 3-year time period between 1995 and 1998. A national high rate of incompletion still exists as of December 2000. (December 2000)
  5. Short supply of electricity in the western United States as well as Pacific Northwest results in two proposals of 245 megawatts of natural gas powered plants being proposed for construction in Longview and reactivation of a proposal for 530-megawatt natural gas power plant to be constructed in Chehalis. (November 2000)
  6. SWCAA receives delivery of its first Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV). Air pollution emissions from the Toyota Prius are so low that only a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV), such as a 100% battery vehicle, is better. This gasoline electric hybrid vehicle is rated better gasoline mileage in rush hour commuter traffic than highway traffic (i.e., 50 miles per gallon City and 45 miles per gallon Highway). Other Clark County public agencies announce their intent to purchase SULEV vehicles. (October 2000)
  7. EPA finalizes its decision to reinstate the 1-hour ozone standard with an effective date of October 18, 2000. The final rule includes language for SWCAA and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to work with EPA Region 10 on whether it is necessary for the contingency measures in the 1996 Ozone Maintenance Plan to be triggered. No exceedances of the 1-hour or 8-hour ozone standard occurred during summer 1999 or summer 2000. (October 2000)
  8. Capability developed to perform limited in-house geographical information system (GIS) mapping. (October 2000)
  9. Report published on speciation of air pollution measured at the Moose Lodge site. Analysis of particulate matter filters was performed to begin understanding probable source categories that are contributing to visibility problems within the Vancouver urban area. (September 2000)
  10. Agency creates in-house position of Database Programmer to replace the previous use of an outside consultant for database programming. The objective was to improve responsiveness and deadline compliance that was not being met by the contractor while maintaining approximately the same labor cost. (August 2000)
  11. Board of Directors adopts Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) as the new name for the agency. (July 2000)
  12. Board adopts resolution to encourage the purchase of clean emission vehicles by all Clark County public agencies (i.e., Clark County, City of Vancouver, City of Camas, City of Washougal, City of Battle Ground, Vancouver School District, Evergreen School District, Battle Ground School District, and Clark Public Utilities. (June 2000)
  13. Milton Cox receives unanimous vote of the Board of Directors to become the new Member-At-Large. Mr. Cox is a retired Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge. (June 2000)
  14. Progress continues on asbestos removal preparation for about 120 homes in Aldercrest Subdivision in Kelso. A slow moving landslide has destroyed the entire subdivision. The City of Kelso and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have purchased the homes and are preparing to demolish them. (June 2000)
  15. Columbia River Gorge Commission adopts an amendment to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area's (CRGNSA) Air Quality Management Plan. The new language drops the language that a study be performed to evaluate conversion of the Scenic Area to Class 1 status, but substitutes new language that requires continued monitoring of air pollution and visibility within the Scenic Area as well as performing studies to identify all sources, both inside and outside the Scenic Area, that significantly contribute to air pollution levels. (May 2000)
  16. Board adopts proposed rule for reducing emissions from gasoline barge loading operations. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality adopted the equivalent rule several months earlier for gasoline barge loading operations at the terminals at the Port of Portland. This rule was needed to fill a void created in the 1996 Ozone Maintenance Plan when a proposed gasoline pipeline from Bellingham to the Tri-Cities area was canceled. The proposed pipeline would have reduced the need for gasoline barge loading operations in the Vancouver and Portland area that is barged up the Columbia River. (May 2000)
  17. Washington State Legislature restores approximately 90% of the revenue lost by Washington's air quality agencies by passage of Initiative 695. This initiative included elimination of the Clean Air Excise Tax that provided $2.00 of license tab revenues to Washington's air quality agencies. (May 2000)
  18. Board of Directors adopt a new Mission Statement for the agency and list the Board of Director's Values to guide the agency's operations. Discussions are also initiated on the need to change the agency's name to better meet the public education and air quality challenges facing the agency in the future. (March 2000)
  19. House Bill 2421 was introduced by Representative John Pennington to amend the Washington Clean Air Act (RCW 70.94) with 10 changes, including mandating the splitting up of SWCAA in two separate local air quality agencies (Clark and Skamania Counties versus Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Lewis Counties). Board adopts unanimous resolution opposing the splitting up of the agency and directs Mr. Elliott communicate this position at the hearings on House Bill 2421. The language splitting up the agency is stricken from the proposed bill before being passed out of the House Agriculture and Ecology legislative committee. House Bill 2421 ultimately died in the House Finance Committee. (February 2000)
  20. Board decides that a January 16, 2000 windstorm was not significant enough to merit emergency declaration that would allow burning of this debris. Chipping of the debris was determined to be a better option for the environment and because of the small and random areas impacted. Southern Clark County has been a no burn area since 1994. (February 2000)
  21. Board of Directors re-elects Jack Burkman, City of Vancouver Council member, Chair and John VerValen, City of Centralia representative, Vice Chair. (February 2000)
  22. Member At Large Mark Miller announces his resignation from the Board of Directors after serving on the Board for almost 11 years. (January 2000)
  23. PM2.5 monitoring site established in Centralia at the Centralia College as a temporary site to obtain background information on air quality. Installed instrumentation includes the PM2.5 air quality sampler and a nephelometer. (January 2000)
  24. Moose Lodge air quality monitoring site in Vancouver switched from monitoring PM10 to monitoring PM2.5. Shift is motivated by U.S. EPA's adoption of a new fine particulate matter ambient air quality standard that places greater importance on health effects of particles less than 2.5 microns in size. (January 2000)

Calendar Year 1999

  1. U.S. EPA announces its plans to reinstate the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality health standard. A District of Columbia court decision in May 1999 overturned EPA's new 8-hour ozone standard. EPA had earlier rescinded the former 1-hour ozone standard in July 1997 when it adopted the new 8-hour standard. This new action impacts the Vancouver/Portland area because of poor ozone air quality experienced after the 1-hour standard was rescinded (1 exceedance in 1996 and 3 exceedances in 1998). EPA's proposal indicates that the Vancouver/Portland region is required to trigger the ozone contingency measures outlined in the Vancouver and Portland Maintenance Plans approved by EPA in May 1997. (December 1999)
  2. Initiative 695 approved by Washington's voters. This initiative impacts all air quality agencies in Washington because it eliminates the Clean Air Excise Tax, which provides $2.00 of each license tab renewal to support Washington's air quality agencies. The primary focus of voters in passage of Initiative 695 was the elimination of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax and capping of license tab fees at $30 per vehicle. (November 1999)
  3. Board adopts new Business Rule language to specify the basis for filling vacancies in the Member At Large position. (November 1999)
  4. Board amends Business Rule language to specify that the Chair of the Board must be an elected official. This action was taken after learning that such language was the intended outcome of Representative Pennington's Second Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1354 that amends RCW 70.94.130 and became effective on June 11, 1998. (October 1999)
  5. Ozone level monitoring being performed at temporary sites in Woodland and Hockinson sites is completed for the summers of 1998 and 1999. This information is intended to provide information on the geographical spread of ozone in Clark County and thereby supplement the permanent ozone-monitoring site located near Mountain View High School in east Vancouver. (October 1999)
  6. Formal Board action postponed on whether the agency should construct and own its office building. The Executive Director had recommended approval of this action item. Minimizing the agency's office lease expense was explained to be the last major cost item needing to be addressed by the agency. The approval of this item would ensure financial stability for the agency with respect to its escalating office lease expense. Significant long-term cost savings were forecast to occur over the next 25 years if the agency were to construct and own its office building. These savings were explained to reduce the pressure for future fee increases. The agency's office lease expense was forecasted to increase every year over the next 25 years whereas a mortgage would lock in this expense and eventually eliminate it when the mortgage is paid off. The agency's Building Fund Reserve of approximately $306,000 as of September 30, 1999 was decided to remain dedicated for this future possible use. (October 1999)
  7. Board requests review of conflict of interest statutes to evaluate concerns raised by a local citizen and Representative John Pennington about the status of Board Member At Large Mark Miller's recent employment by PacifiCorp's Centralia Power Plant in July 1999. Mr. Miller was a small business owner in Centralia until he sold the business in summer 1999 and accepted the PacifiCorp offer of employment. Board concludes that no conflict of interest exists when Mr. Miller excludes himself from all matters relating to his employer, PacifiCorp. (August 1999)
  8. Board adopts a policy on competitive bidding which states: "Purchases in an amount of over $10,000 should be issued for public bids. An exception may be granted where the Executive Director concludes that only a single source exists who is best qualified to meet the needs of the proposed project." (June 1999)
  9. Board adopts Business Rule language modification consistent with Second Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1354 that amends RCW 70.94.130 and became effective on June 11, 1998. Representative John Pennington sponsored this legislation. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency actually drafted this language after meeting with Representative Pennington to hear his concerns. This legislation states: "In no event may a regular alternate serve as permanent Chair." (May 1999)
  10. Streamlining and simplifying of the agency's inspection workload for air pollution sources is achieved through the merging of the Orders of Authorization to Operate and the Inspection Report into a single report. Air pollution sources are henceforth provided a single comprehensive report to advise them of their compliance status. (March 1999)
  11. Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) issues unanimous decision in support of the Centralia Power Plant Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Order. This Order requires an expenditure of approximately $225 million to cap sulfur dioxide emissions at 10,000 tons per year beginning on January 1, 2003. (March 1999)
  12. Board approves an increase in the agency's Registration Fee for sources emitting less than 100 tons per year of air pollution. This is the first increase in this fee since 1992. Basis for fee is shifted to a "polluter pays" concept and two year phase-in to mitigate its impacts. (February 1999)
  13. Washington State University (WSU) publishes report on ozone modeling study for southwest Washington and the impact of Cowlitz County industrial sources on ozone levels in the Vancouver/Portland air shed. Report concludes that Cowlitz County industry is not a significant contributor to ozone levels in the Vancouver/Portland metropolitan area. (February 1999)
  14. Camera installed on top of Smith Tower in downtown Vancouver and nephelometer installed on Vancouver's McLoughlin Middle School looking at Mount Hood are operational. The camera's pictures establish a qualitative record of visibility in the Vancouver urban area. The nephelometer compliments the camera's information by providing a quantitative measure of visibility reduction due to light scattering caused by particulate pollution suspended in the atmosphere. (February 1999)
  15. State Auditor issues third consecutive audit of SWAPCA with "no findings." Report states "management has demonstrated a genuine concern for the safeguarding of public resources, which has resulted in an exemplary audit history." Audit covers the time period of July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1998. (February 1999)
  16. Board of Directors elects Jack Burkman, City of Vancouver Council member, Chair and John VerValen, City of Centralia representative, Vice Chair. (February 1999)
  17. Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) in Olympia holds 5 day hearing on appeal by a Seattle citizen of the Centralia Plant Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Order which caps sulfur dioxide emissions at 10,000 tons per year. Seattle citizen seeks either closure of the power plant and mine or conversion of the power plant to utilize natural gas. (January 1999)
  18. Board postpones action on 9 month stay request of Centralia Plant Owners for sulfur dioxide emission limit compliance dates, but approves 60 day stay of March 31, 1999 project milestone on Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Order for coal-fired Centralia Power Plant. (January 1999)
  19. Carbon monoxide saturation study completed for Vancouver area. Results of the several sites monitored during the winter of 1998/1999 indicated that the Atlas and Cox near Fort Vancouver Way and Fourth Plain Boulevard continues to measure the highest carbon monoxide concentrations even with the substantial population growth in the other areas of the metropolitan area. (January 1999)

Calendar Year 1998

  1. SWAPCA receives delegation from the Department of Ecology to make reasonable progress determination for the Centralia Plant Owners regarding the tax credits provided for them by Substitute House Bill 1257 to implement the Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Order. (December 1998)
  2. Board discusses updating the agency's Mission Statement. Board also reviews first ever draft Strategic Plan and draft Fiscal Policy. Final action was postponed. (November 1998)
  3. SWAPCA receives delegation from the Department of Ecology to update and implement state emission reduction plans (SERPs) for emergency air quality episodes. (November 1998)
  4. Board approves Per Capita Fee increase. A new fee of $0.30 was set after remaining at $0.2549 since 1982. (October 1998)
  5. Board approves New Source Review Fee increases. These fees had remained unchanged since 1992. (October 1998)
  6. Board adopts Resolution 1998-9, which rescinds resolutions passed in 1988 and 1989 on Emission Reduction Credits. The old resolutions hindered EPA's willingness to approve SWAPCA's regulations for emission trading. (October 1998)
  7. SWAPCA celebrates its 30th Anniversary. (June 1998)
  8. Board adopts Business Rules changes to meet on the first Thursday of the month, makes revisions to the order of business, and adds a Consent Agenda category. (March 1998)
  9. Compliance Assurance Agreement and Performance Partnership Agreement between SWAPCA, WDOE, and EPA results in fair expectations and understandable requirements for each of the three parties. (March 1998)
  10. Board of Directors elects Bill Lehning, Cowlitz County Commissioner, Chair and John VerValen, City of Centralia representative, Vice Chair. (February 1998)
  11. Web page established with identifier of www.swapca.org. (January 1998)

Calendar Year 1997

  1. Board approves Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Order for the Centralia Power Plant setting sulfur dioxide emission limit at 10,000 tons per year and necessitating $250 million expenditure to meet the requirements. (December 1997)
  2. Board discusses land clearing burning policy in Phase 2 and 3 areas of southern Clark County where outdoor burning has been prohibited. Decided to approve land clearing burning requests within the Maintenance Plan area on a case-by-case variance basis rather than any universal relaxation. (October 1997)
  3. Staff announces to the Board that the backlog of New Source Review (NSR) permit applications is now at a historical low. Up to 5 year backlog and delay existed in 1992. (August 1997)
  4. EPA adopts new Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality health standard and also changes the Ozone (O3) national ambient air quality standard to be based on an 8-hour time period rather than a 1-hour peak level. (July 1997)
  5. State Auditor issues second consecutive audit of SWAPCA with "no findings." Audit covers the time period of July 1, 1994 through June 30, 1996. (April 1997)
  6. EPA approves SWAPCA's Ozone Maintenance Plan and redesignates southern Clark County (i.e., Maintenance Plan area) to "clean air" status for Ozone. (March 1997)
  7. Board approves Long Term Disability coverage as a benefit for SWAPCA employees. (March 1997)
  8. Board of Directors elects Linda Horowitz, City of Vancouver Council member, Chair and Bill Lehning, Cowlitz County Commissioner, Vice Chair. (February 1997)

Calendar Year 1996

  1. Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) group announces proposed target solution to cap the sulfur dioxide emissions from the coal-fired Centralia Power Plant at 10,000 tons per year after December 31, 2002. (December 1996)
  2. EPA approves SWAPCA's Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan and redesignates southern Clark County (i.e., Maintenance Plan Area) to "clean air" status for Carbon Monoxide. (October 1996)
  3. Board endorses Civil Penalty Schedule updating which incorporates the principles of the Regulatory Fairness Act of 1995 in which first violations are generally treated with education effort rather than a civil penalty. (October 1996)
  4. Board holds public hearing on adopting updated Asbestos Regulation 476. (September 1996)
  5. Board adopts Area Source Regulations for volatile organic compounds as part of Ozone Maintenance Plan. Adopted rules were 493-200 (spray paints), 493-300 (architectural coatings), 493-400 (motor vehicle refinishing), and 493-500 (area source common provisions). (May 1996)
  6. Board approves Ozone Maintenance Plan for Clark County. Plan focuses on reducing vehicle emissions as the most cost effective alternative. (February 1996)
  7. Board adopts Sick Leave Policy referred to as a "6/6" standard. Exceeding a combination of 6 unscheduled sick leaves and 6 days of sick leave per year is a threshold for management to express increasing concerns about a need for improvement. (April 1996)
  8. Board of Directors elects Mark Miller, City of Centralia representative, Chair and Joel Rupley, Cowlitz County Commissioner, Vice Chair. (February 1996)

Calendar Year 1995

  1. Board approves Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan for southern Clark County. Projection of acceptable carbon monoxide air pollution levels allows plan to discontinue the use of oxygenated fuel during winter months. (December 1995)
  2. Board approves staff initiating a Memorandum of Agreement with Department of Ecology in which SWAPCA's authority for the small quantity of emissions at Reynolds Metals is transferred to the Department of Ecology to simplify regulatory oversight at this facility. (October 1995)
  3. Board amends Business Rules to include changes for comments from the public during the public comment period. (September 1995)
  4. Board holds Public Hearing held for Regulation 400 modifications to address 400-075 and 400-111 issues. Also adopted Regulation 460. (September 1995)
  5. A second carbon monoxide monitor becomes operational in Clark County at 78th Street and Highway 99 to enhance likelihood of EPA approval of Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan. (August 1995)
  6. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) de-certified from representing employees of SWAPCA by vote of 7 to 2. SWAPCA returns to non-union organization. (May 1995)
  7. SWAPCA purchases an ambient air quality monitor to get real-time readings of fine particulate matter (PM10) near Vancouver Mall. (May 1995)
  8. Board amends Business Rules to hold all Board meetings at SWAPCA's office. Rotating the Board meetings to each of the jurisdictions had not increased attendance by the general public as had been hoped. (May 1995)
  9. EPA approves filing by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to separate Portland and Vancouver into separate Nonattainment Areas for carbon monoxide. (March 1995)
  10. Board approves Customer Service Policy statement to be incorporated into the Employee Handbook. (March 1995)
  11. State Auditor issues audit of SWAPCA in which report has "no findings." Audit covers the time period of July 1, 1992 through June 30, 1994. (February 1995)
  12. Board of Directors elects Mark Miller, City of Centralia representative, Chair and Doug Larson, Member At Large, Vice Chair. (February 1995)
  13. Board approves staff initiating a Memorandum of Agreement with Department of Ecology in which SWAPCA's authority for the small quantity of emissions at the Weyerhaeuser Longview site is transferred to the Department of Ecology to simplify regulatory oversight at this facility. (January 1995)
  14. Management develops a Field Inspection Manual for staff. (January 1995)
  15. Memorandum of Understanding signed with Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC) for development of vehicle emissions component of Ozone Maintenance Plan. (January 1995)
  16. Board holds public hearing to cap the fee collected by oxygenated fuels regulation 492-050 at $40,000 per year. (January 1995)

Calendar Year 1994

  1. SWAPCA and State of Washington receive delegation of Title V Air Operating Permit program from EPA. (December 1994)
  2. Board holds public hearing to adopt Regulation 406, which is the Title IV acid rain regulation. (November 1994)
  3. Board endorses third and last stage of outdoor burning phase out in southern Clark County to occur with 21-day burn period in Fall 1994. (October 1994)
  4. Board adopts Civil Penalty schedule revision to improve the decision making process for establishing civil penalty amounts. (August 1994)
  5. Staff completes Carbon Monoxide saturation study in Clark County to determine if high air pollution levels exist at locations other than the permanent Atlas and Cox monitor near Fort Vancouver Way and Fourth Plain Boulevard. (March 1994)
  6. Board adopts Reserve Account policy, which sets upper bound for this account based on 10% of the Agency's total budget and a minimum balance of one month's salary for agency (i.e., about $50,000). (February 1994)
  7. SWAPCA prepares the statewide Title IV Acid Rain rule for the Department of Ecology since SWAPCA regulates the largest sulfur dioxide source in Washington. (February 1994)
  8. SWAPCA assembles Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) consisting of local citizens to develop draft Ozone and Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plans. (February 1994)
  9. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) wins vote to represent non-management employees of SWAPCA. (February 1994)
  10. Board of Directors elects Linda Horowitz, City of Vancouver Council member, Chair and Doug Larson, Member At Large, Vice Chair. (February 1994)

Calendar Year 1993

  1. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) files notification to represent non-management employees of SWAPCA. (December 1993)
  2. Board approves Air Operating Permit Regulation 401, which completes delegation request package for submittal to EPA. (November 1993)
  3. Board adopts modified Vacation Leave accrual policy to reduce accrual rate for new employees hired after December 1, 1993. No changes were made for existing employees or to the Holiday or Personal Leave policy. (October 1993)
  4. Board adopts policy that all employees who directly purchase the stock of companies regulated by SWAPCA (excluding mutual funds) are required to provide immediate disclosure to the Executive Director. (October 1993)
  5. Partnership with Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) becomes operational to offer Business Assistance program in response to provisions in the Federal and Washington Clean Air Acts. (September 1993)
  6. Board holds public hearing for Regulation 400 modifications to 400-075 and other 400 subsections. (September 1993)
  7. Board adopts the agency's first ever written Personnel Manual for SWAPCA employees. (July 1993)
  8. Vehicle emission testing begins in southern Clark County. Portland, Oregon has been testing vehicle emissions since 1975. (June 1993)
  9. Board discusses increasing the compensation paid to Board members. Decision made to continue with compensation at $25 per meeting plus mileage. (June 1993)
  10. Legal counsel advises SWAPCA that a quorum for conducting formal business is 6 Board members because state law does not allow a quorum to be based on anything less than the total Board membership of 11. Question raised because of difficulties in getting the Wahkiakum County representatives to attend Board meetings. (June 1993)
  11. Board holds public hearing for Regulation 400 modifications including 400-075 and 400-115 and adoption of 401, 476, 492, 493, and 426. Regulation 476 includes new fees for asbestos projects, which allows SWAPCA to reactivate inspections, which were discontinued in 1986. (June 1993)
  12. Staff publishes first Annual Reports on SWAPCA's activities and accomplishments for the general public. (June 1993)
  13. Board approves Business Rules changes to have Board meetings rotated to meet in Wahkiakum, Lewis, and Skamania Counties during the summer months to encourage public participation. (May 1993)
  14. Board approves new job descriptions to provide for employee career paths. Results in Air Quality Engineers I to III and Air Quality Specialists I to II. Board also endorses dropping the 14-step pay program in favor of a program that establishes a salary range for employees and movement within the salary range based on performance and merit. (April 1993)
  15. Board endorses converting agency's vehicles to a central pool that keeps the agency's vehicles overnight at the office. Previously, employees were taking the vehicles home each night. Similarly, it was decided that the job responsibilities of the Executive Director did not justify the assignment of a vehicle to take home. (February 1993)
  16. Board endorses implementation of second stage of outdoor burning phase out in southern Clark County (i.e., Phase 2) to allow last 21-day burning opportunity in affected area in Fall 1993. (February 1993)
  17. Board of Directors elects Linda Horowitz, City of Vancouver Council member, Chair and Doug Larson, Member At Large, Vice Chair. (February 1993)
  18. Board adopts a policy allowing vacation leave and sick leave for PERS 1 employees which exceeds the state PERS criteria to be included into retirement benefits. Decided that only PERS 1 employees are allowed to include vacation and sick leave above the PERS criteria into retirement pay. Current benefits are cash out of up to 30 days annual leave and cash out of 25% of the accumulated sick leave with a maximum eligibility of 30 days. (January 1993)
  19. Board amends Business Rules to require Board members to have alternates designated to attend meetings on their behalf, changes in the order of business, and meeting locations. (January 1993)

Calendar Year 1992

  1. Board approves creation of Operations Manager position. Tom Tabor, former interim Executive Director, fills this position. (December 1992)
  2. State Auditor issues its audit in which they report a finding that concerns them. The issue relates to bonus payments given to interim Director Tom Tabor by the Board. Audit covers the time period of July 1, 1990 through June 30, 1992. (November 1992)
  3. Board approves shifting to a Collection Agency for unpaid civil penalties to eliminate court costs for such efforts. State of Washington contract utilized to select the Collection Agency. (October 1992)
  4. Title V of Federal Clean Air Act of 1990 and Washington Clean Air Act of 1991 requires implementation of new nation wide program, which necessitates hiring of several engineers for this program. These engineers will also help to eliminate the large New Source Review backlog. State law requires at least one licensed Professional Engineer be on staff for permit review and approval. (October 1992)
  5. Board adopts Emission Reduction Credit (ERC) regulation relaxation so SWAPCA is no more stringent than the minimum federal EPA criteria. This decision made Vancouver's and Portland's programs equivalent and reduces complaints of inequity by businesses. (October 1992)
  6. Board approves a voucher approval level of $750 for the Executive Director. Previously, all bills waited for payment at the monthly Board meetings causing complaints and late payment charges. (October 1992)
  7. Board amends Business Rules in which meetings being alternated equally between City of Longview City Council Chambers and City of Vancouver City Council Chambers are adjusted to have two meetings per year at SWAPCA's office. (October 1992)
  8. Board adopts a 3-year phase out of outdoor burning in southern Clark County. The Washington Clean Air Act requires this action for Nonattainment Areas. (October 1992)
  9. Board of Directors hires Robert Elliott as Executive Director of SWAPCA. (June 1992)
  10. Backlog of New Source Review (NSR) permit applications is determined to be at historical high of up to 5-year delay. SWAPCA has only 1 engineer to work in this area. (June 1992)
  11. Skamania County initiates inquiry to the Department of Ecology about withdrawing from SWAPCA because of concerns over SWAPCA's inflexible outdoor burning policy. (May 1992)
  12. Board adopts Regulation 400 modifications. (February 1992)
  13. Board of Directors elects Hal Palmer, City of Longview Council member, Chair and Doug Larson, Member At Large, Vice Chair. (February 1992)

Calendar Year 1991

  1. Carbon monoxide monitor at Atlas and Cox near Fort Vancouver Way and Fourth Plain, Vancouver, Washington records 2 exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide. Unhealthy air and EPA designation as a Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status occurs when 2 or more exceedances occur over any 8 consecutive quarters. (December 1991)
  2. Board accepts interim Director's Management Plan for Registration Fee increase from $50 per emission to $100 per emission unit and changes to New Source Review fees. (December 1991)
  3. Board passes motion for Board member compensation fee of $25 to be reinstated retroactive to July 1, 1991. (November 1991)
  4. Dick Serdoz resigns as SWAPCA's Director. SWAPCA employee Tom Tabor assumes interim Director position. (November 1991)
  5. Board discusses weekend complaint response duty and how staff is compensated for this work (i.e., 2 hours compensatory time for being on call and 1.5 times each hour actually responding to complaints) (April 1991)
  6. Board of Directors elects Bernard Cossette, City of Cathlamet representative, Chair and Doug Larson, Member At Large, Vice Chair. (February 1991)
  7. Washington state legislature passes the Washington Clean Air Act of 1991, which parallels the Federal Clean Air Act of 1990.

Calendar Year 1990

  1. Carbon monoxide monitor at Atlas and Cox near Fort Vancouver Way and Fourth Plain, Vancouver, Washington records 2 exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide. Unhealthy air and EPA designation as a Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status occurs when 2 or more exceedances occur over any 8 consecutive quarters. (December 1990)
  2. Board meeting time changed from 3:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (June 1990)
  3. Board of Directors elects Gregory Cox, Lewis County Commissioner, Chair and Bernard Cossette, City of Cathlamet representative, Vice Chair. (February 1990)
  4. The Federal Clean Air Act of 1990 designates the Vancouver/Portland air quality maintenance area as an interstate Ozone Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status for exceeding the national ambient air quality health standard for ozone in 1990. The metropolitan area attained the ozone standard during the period of 1987 to 1989, but violated again in 1990. This law also designates the Vancouver/Portland air quality maintenance area as an interstate Carbon Monoxide Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status for exceeding the national ambient air quality health standard for carbon monoxide in 1990.
  5. Congress passes the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This law creates new permitting and fee assessment program for major sources of air pollution (Title V), requires large reductions in sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants (Title IV), accelerates the regulation of hazardous air pollutants (Title III), and implements other programs.

Calendar Year 1989

  1. Carbon monoxide monitor at Atlas and Cox near Fort Vancouver Way and Fourth Plain, Vancouver, Washington records 2 exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide. Unhealthy air and EPA designation as a Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status occurs when 2 or more exceedances occur over any 8 consecutive quarters. (December 1989)
  2. Board discusses staff policy on confidentiality of the names of persons who notify SWAPCA with complaints. This issue is later addressed in state law by RCW 42.17.310 in which information may be kept confidential if disclosure would endanger any person's life, physical safety, or property. (August 1989)
  3. Board receives Human Resource Strategies salary review report. Board communicates that merit raises should only be given for above satisfactory work. (April 1989)
  4. Board of Directors elects Scott Collier, City of Vancouver Council member, Chair and Bernard Cossette, City of Cathlamet representative, Vice Chair. (February 1989)

Calendar Year 1988

  1. Carbon monoxide monitor at Atlas and Cox near Fort Vancouver Way and Fourth Plain, Vancouver, Washington records 3 exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide. Unhealthy air and EPA designation as a Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status occurs when 2 or more exceedances occur over any 8 consecutive quarters. (December 1988)
  2. Board approves a Retirement Policy consisting of: (a) Cash out of up to 30 days annual leave; and (b) Cash out of 25% of the accumulated sick leave with a maximum of 30 days pay. (May 1988)
  3. Board of Directors elects Dennis Webber, City of Longview Council member, Chair and Scott Collier, City of Vancouver Council member, Vice Chair. (February 1988)

Calendar Year 1987

  1. Carbon monoxide monitor at Atlas and Cox near Fort Vancouver Way and Fourth Plain, Vancouver, Washington records 4 exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide. Unhealthy air and EPA designation as a Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status occurs when 2 or more exceedances occur over any 8 consecutive quarters. (December 1987)
  2. Board discusses and approves Business Rules for SWAPCA. (December 1987)
  3. Board discusses the issue of each regular Board member appointing an alternate. It was the general consensus that each Board member should make his or her own decision as to whether or not to appoint an alternate. (September 1987)
  4. Board establishes that future annual employee performance evaluations should be done in the spring. (September 1987)
  5. Board Salary Review Committee establishes a 14-step merit plan for salaries with 0%, 2.5%, and 5% increments established. It was suggested that any merit step increase could be recommended. (June 1987)
  6. Director reports to the Board that a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emitter of less than 1 ton/year will be considered a small source of air pollution and not need to be registered or pay fees. (May 1987)
  7. State Audit results in a good report on internal controls and accounting procedures. (March 1987)
  8. Board of Directors elects Harold Vandenburg, Skamania County Commissioner, Chair and Bruce Hagensen, City of Vancouver Council member, Vice Chair. (February 1987)
  9. Board adds a public comment period to the Board meeting agenda. (January 1987)
  10. EPA adopts a new particulate matter national ambient air quality standard for Fine Particulate Matter (PM10), which replaces the Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) standard in effect since 1970. Vancouver becomes attainment area for PM10 standard whereas it had compliance difficulty with TSP standard.

Calendar Year 1986

  1. Board adopts Regulation 400 modifications after a public hearing. (December 1986)
  2. SWAPCA's office moves to 1308 NE 134th Street in Vancouver. (October 1986)
  3. Board of Directors hires Dick Serdoz as Director of SWAPCA. (May 1986)
  4. Staff reports to the Board that the agency would not be involved in asbestos site inspections, but would follow up on disposal sites. (March 1986)
  5. SWAPCA Director Ed Taylor announces his terminal cancer diagnosis. Board member Bill Clarke receives appointment as temporary Director of SWAPCA. (January 1986)

Calendar Year 1984

  1. State Audit determines SWAPCA is in compliance with fiscal requirements as well as applicable laws. (December 1984)
  2. Board adopts Regulation 400 amendments after a public hearing. (April 1984)

Calendar Year 1983

  1. Board discussion continues on the Contingency Fund Policy. Consensus exists for the following principles: (a) a fixed level or "cap" on the dollar amount in the fund was not in the best interest of the agency; (b) the level should be kept at a reasonable amount in order to permit the agency to operate for a reasonable period after the loss of Federal Grant support; and (c) the above principles would allow the Board to make decisions based on the best interests of the member jurisdictions. (September 1983)
  2. Board adopts a Contingency Fund Policy which states: (a) possessing such a fund is a method of prudent and good management; (b) the fund provides for unexpected catastrophic cost increases for required services; and (c) special projects could be funded that would not be reoccurring in nature and have specific results. (July 1983)
  3. Board adopts regulation revision for sulfur dioxide emission limit averaging time period. This regulation change impacts the Centralia Power Plant. (April 1983)
  4. Pulp and Paper industry and Aluminum industry succeeds in lobbying for creation of an Industrial Section within the Department of Ecology to provide statewide multi-media regulation of their facilities rather than local control. Within SWAPCA's jurisdiction, a transfer of authority occurs for Fort James' Camas Pulp Mill, Vancouver's Vanalco Aluminum Plant, and Longview's Weyerhaeuser Pulp Mill and Longview Fibre Plant.

Calendar Year 1982

  1. Board approves sending letters to companies who do not pay their registration billings indicating that civil penalties will be assessed for nonpayment. (April 1982)

Calendar Year 1981

  1. Board discussion continues on establishing a Registration fee system. (October 1981)
  2. Board indicates preference for SWAPCA to dovetail its burn season dates with those of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for the Portland area to keep confusion to a minimum. (September 1981)
  3. Board adopts Resolution 1981-5 to place general funds and penalty funds in separate accounts. (September 1981)
  4. Board holds a second public hearing on Registration program that would include fees. (August 1981)
  5. Board decides to reconsider establishment of Registration fees and other amendments to the program. (July 1981)
  6. Board holds public hearing on amending the Registration program to include fees. Board rejects implementing the fees after the June public hearing. (May and June 1981)
  7. Board recommends implementing Registration fees and Application fees as revenue source. (April 1981)
  8. Board consensus favors staff providing assistance to small operators whenever possible through engineering assistance. (February 1981)

Calendar Year 1980

  1. Carbon monoxide monitor at Justin's Photos between Evergreen and Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver Washington records 2 exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide. Unhealthy air and EPA designation as a Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status occurs when 2 or more exceedances occur over any 8 consecutive quarters. (December 1980)
  2. Board of Directors endorses elimination of Chief of Control and Abatement position. (December 1980)
  3. Board authorizes either the Chair or the Executive Director to postpone any regular meeting in the interest of saving time or money. (October 1980)
  4. Staff announces closure of SWAPCA's Longview field office. (July 1980)
  5. Board discusses their need to become familiar with SWAPCA's responsibilities so that they can establish appropriate policies for the staff. (May 1980)
  6. Staff provides report to Board on the outdoor burning program. (May 1980)

Calendar Year 1979

  1. Carbon monoxide monitor at Justin's Photos between Evergreen and Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington records 2 exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide. Unhealthy air and EPA designation as a Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status occurs when 2 or more exceedances occur over any 8 consecutive quarters. (December 1979)
  2. Board decides to retain the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) as a group. (December 1979)
  3. Board holds public hearings on changes to SWAPCA's 400 regulations. (November and December 1979)
  4. Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) submits its regulation changes to the Board. (October 1979)
  5. EPA designates Vancouver, Washington as a Nonattainment Area for both Ozone (O3) and Total Suspended Particulate (TSP). (June 1979)
  6. Board adopts the position that they favor the control of air pollution at the local level and communicates this position to Senator Rasmussen. (March 1979)

Calendar Year 1978

  1. Carbon monoxide monitor at Justin's Photos between Evergreen and Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington records 15 exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide. Unhealthy air and EPA designation as a Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status occurs when 2 or more exceedances occur over any 8 consecutive quarters. (December 1978)
  2. Board approves paint spray booth program and related control measures. (November 1978)
  3. Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) develops a statement of its purpose and objectives. (April 1978)
  4. Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meets to review SWAPCA's regulations. (February 1978)

Calendar Year 1977

  1. Board requests that a review of SWAPCA's regulations be made for possible updating. (December 1977)
  2. Board communicates that additional means should be utilized against repeat offenders if civil penalties appear to be ineffective. (July 1977)
  3. Congress passes Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977. This law implements a significant number of new federal programs. This law also designates the Vancouver/Portland air quality maintenance area as an interstate Ozone Nonattainment Area or "dirty air" status for exceeding the national ambient air quality health standard for ozone.

Calendar Year 1976

  1. Board supports the stringency of the Agency's enforcement program and the New Source Review (NSR) program. (December 1976)
  2. Board adopts Resolution 1976-3, which establishes Environmental Procedure Guidelines. (August 1976)
  3. Board establishes its meeting day as Tuesday. (June 1976)

Calendar Year 1975

  1. Department of Ecology performs audit of SWAPCA and concludes that the agency is meeting the requirements expected of them. (December 1975)
  2. Board discusses the need to establish a firm policy under which the agency will act to permit managed industrial growth in southwest Washington. (June 1975)
  3. Board adopts Resolution 1975-2, which increases the mileage reimbursement to 15 cents and establishes a basis for meal and lodging reimbursement. (May 1975)
  4. Washington state legislature passes a bill requiring the budget year for all air pollution control authorities to be from July 1 through June 30. (May 1975)

Calendar Year 1974

  1. Board adopts a Per Capita Fee of $0.15449 for the 1975 calendar year budget. (May 1974)
  2. EPA approves boundary designations, which describe Vancouver's air quality maintenance area. (May 1974)

Calendar Year 1973

  1. Board adopts increase in mileage reimbursement from 10 cents to 12 cents effective January 1974. (August 1973)

Calendar Year 1972

  1. Board adopts a Per Capita Fee of $0.15 for the 1973 calendar year budget. (May 1972)
  2. Board adopts revision in open burning policy after discussing House Bill 47, which requires SWAPCA to issue natural vegetation burning permits. (March 1972)

Calendar Year 1971

  1. Board adopts policy change to establish control areas for burning. A one-permit system begins with the Fire Districts acting as the sole permit writer. (June 1971)
  2. Board approves a policy in which backyard burning is prohibited in Clark and Cowlitz Counties since reasonable alternative methods of refuse pickup and/or disposal exist. (June 1971)
  3. Board creates position of Vice Chair. (February 1971)

Calendar Year 1970

  1. Congress passes Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970. This law combines federal responsibilities for air pollution control into a single agency and names it the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Law also requires creation of national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) to protect human health.
  2. Board utilizes Jay Rockey Public Relations, Inc. to present SWAPCA's goals and accomplishments to the public. (October 1970)
  3. Board adopts a Per Capita Fee of $0.10 for the 1971 calendar year budget. (June 1970)
  4. EPA announces designation of an Air Pollution Control Region for southwest Washington and northwest Oregon that encompasses Clark and Cowlitz Counties in Washington and the three adjacent counties in Oregon. (June 1970)
  5. Senior class of Columbia River High School donates $500 to SWAPCA as their Earth Day 1970 contribution to clean up the environment. Fifth grade class of St. Joseph's School, Vancouver, donates $5 to SWAPCA as part of Earth Day 1970 activities which they raised by collecting 1 ton of paper and selling it. (May 1970)
  6. SWAPCA is requested by the Southwest Washington Health District to find new office space because of overcrowding in the Health District's office building. SWAPCA moves its office to 7601 NE Hazel Dell Avenue in Vancouver, Washington. (January 1970)

Calendar Year 1969

  1. Board adopts Regulation 2. (October 1969)
  2. Board adopts amendments to Regulation 1 and a civil penalty schedule. (October 1969)
  3. Board establishes policy that burning permits will not be issued to conduct building demolition and land clearing after January 1, 1970. An area of five miles surrounding cities of population 5,000 or greater and 3 miles around small-incorporated cities was designated as the area where permits will not be issued for land clearing. (September 1969)
  4. SWAPCA establishes a field office in Longview. (January 1969)

Calendar Year 1968

  1. Drafting of Regulation 2 by staff begins. (December 1968)
  2. Board holds public hearing and adopts Regulation 1. (November 1968)
  3. Formation of Technical Advisory Committee occurs to obtain local citizen input. (May 1968)
  4. SWAPCA is requested by Clark County to move its office because of overcrowding in the Clark County Courthouse. SWAPCA relocated its offices to share space with the Southwest Washington Health District. (June 1968)
  5. Clark County's air pollution agency reaches an agreement with Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, and Wahkiakum Counties to become a regional air pollution agency called the Southwest Air Pollution Control Authority (SWAPCA). (May 1968)

Calendar Year 1967

  1. Washington state legislature passes Washington Clean Air Act of 1967.
  2. Clark County employs Ed Taylor as its air pollution manager. The Clark County air pollution agency's office is established in the Clark County Courthouse.