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New Legal Firm to Represent ORCAA

Clean air has a new champion.

The Board of Directors of Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) named Law, Lyman, Daniel, Kamerrer & Bogdanovich, P.S. as the agency’s new legal representation.

Two members of the firm will address ORCAA’s legal needs. Jeffrey S. Myers brings a strong background in state and local government representation and in public records issues.  He previously served in the Ecology Department of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Much of his current work focuses on land use and environmental property issues. He also conducts public agency trainings on the state Public Records and Open Meetings Acts. Julie Kamerrer offers experience as a prosecuting attorney, having worked in that capacity for the City of Shelton as well as for Thurston County. She also brings private practice experience in labor and employment issues.

“We are excited to be working with Jeffrey and Julie,” said Fran McNair, executive director of ORCAA. “We are fortunate to be working with such an exceptional firm with solid experience in environmental and administrative law. They will be a great resource for our agency.”

In seeking a new law firm, ORCAA worked with both the Thurston County Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Association.  “We had a great list of strong candidates,” McNair said. “In the end, we felt Law, Lyman, Daniel, Kamerrer & Bogdanovich provided the best match to our agency needs.”

Myers and Kamerrer said they were looking forward to the challenges presented by ORCAA. “We are excited to assist ORCAA in its mission to protect air quality and build a sustainable environment in our community,” Mr. Myers said.

For additional information about ORCAA and its clean air policies, contact the agency at 1-800-422-5623 or visit www.orcaa.og. Information about the law firm can be found at www.lldkb.com.

admin
February 14, 2012
Exec. Director's Desk, News and Information
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Grants available for “Alternatives to Burning” programs

Washington Cities and Counties Eligible for “Alternatives to Outdoor Burning” grants

The Washington State Legislature has set aside monies to help small cities and communities deal with the problems of outdoor burning. Administered by the Department of Ecology, the Coordinated Prevention Grant (CPG) program has more then $2 million to allocate for “Alternatives to Burning”

Grant applications must be submitted before August 30, 2011, and the grant funds award will be available January 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. The grant terms do require a 25% local match of funds.

The CPG Program protects human health and the environment by reducing human exposure to toxins; reducing waste; ensuring proper management of solid and household hazardous waste; and promoting energy and resource conservation. CPG provides funding assistance to local governments for planning and implementing some programs in their local solid and hazardous waste management plans.

Ecology staff suggests that the primary expertise for project design is the solid waste contact at the city or county level and the CPG grant officers from Ecology.  CPG grant officers are also available to assist communities with their application(s).  Grant officer contacts are listed in the CPG Guidelines on Ecology’s website at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/grants/cpg.html.

The 2012-2013 (CPG) Guidelines are posted on Ecology’s website at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/grants/cpg.html . These guidelines include pertinent information about the Alternatives to Burning grants opportunity. See Chapter 6.

CPG Program staff will also host a webinar on July 28.  The webinar is for local governments applying for the 2012-2013 regular cycle Coordinated Prevention Grants AND/OR “Alternatives to Burning” funds.   Program staff will discuss funding, the application process, and other basics from the Guidelines. See the links above for more information.

 

admin
July 14, 2011
Burn Status, Exec. Director's Desk, News and Information, Upcoming Events
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Public Invited to Comment on Draft Air Permit

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) firmly believes in its motto,  “Clean Air is Everyone’s Business.” As such, ORCAA seeks to keep everyone within our jurisdiction well informed about the actions­—and proposed actions—we take.

Public comment is currently being accepted on a draft Air Operating Permit (AOP) renewal for for Simpson Lumber Company, LLC (Simpson) located in Shelton, Washington, pursuant to Title V of the federal Clean Air Act and Chapter 173-401 of the Washington Administrative Code. This is a draft of the AOP renewal that will be in effect for five years. This will be the second renewal of the AOP for Simpson’s lumber mill in Shelton.

The draft AOP contains enforceable conditions designed to ensure compliance with applicable air pollutant emission limitations and control requirements. Simpson’s Shelton lumber mill requires an AOP because it has the potential to emit more than 100 tons per year of several regulated air pollutants including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter.

Copies of the draft AOP Renewal and the associated Technical Support Document (TSD) for Simpson are on file and available for review at the Shelton branch of the Timberland Public Library located at 710 W Alder Street in Shelton, and at ORCAA’s office in Olympia. The draft AOP and TSD are also available online here.

Comments may be submitted to ORCAA in writing. Written comments should be addressed to: ORCAA, 2940-B Limited Lane NW, Olympia, WA 98502, and will be accepted up to close of business on Monday, August 15, 2011. Comments should pertain to adequacy of the draft AOP in assuring compliance with applicable air quality regulations and standards. Any concerned party may request a public hearing within the specified public comment period. The request should include information to justify the need for a public hearing. If there is significant public interest, ORCAA will hold a public hearing.

admin
July 7, 2011
News and Information, Permits
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ORCAA Expands its Transparency with New Data Site

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) firmly believes in its motto,  “Clean Air is Everyone’s Business.” As such, ORCAA seeks to keep everyone within our jurisdiction well informed about the actions­—and proposed actions—we take.

To ensure our operations as are open and transparent as possible, ORCAA staff has launched a new program of information sharing. Utilitizing the best available technology, we’ve created an online data sharing site, http://data.orcaa.org

This site provides an online database of ORCAA documents, including air monitoring data and emissions reports; permits and permit applications; compliance and inspection reports; and administrative policies, plans and documents.

Interested parties may sign up to be notified when the site is updated, with notifications through text messages (SMS) or email.

The site will be populated with new documents as they become available as well as archive data as time permits.

 

admin
July 5, 2011
Exec. Director's Desk, News and Information, Uncategorized, Upcoming Events
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NEWS: Fireworks May Impact Air Quality

Each year we celebrate our national birthday with colorful bursts of black powder – fireworks which ignite around American neighborhoods on the Fourth of July.

These pyrotechnical displays provide brilliant light shows each Independence Day, but they also cause spikes in air pollution levels that may be hazardous to the health of some individuals. The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) has noticed elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution at many of its monitoring stations during previous Independence Days. In some cases, levels at the monitoring sites reached Moderate Air Quality for more than a full day after the Fourth.

The smoke from fireworks displays generally dissipates within a few hours, but individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions may be impacted during that time.

ORCAA acknowledges that fireworks are a source of air pollution, but does not advocate a ban on the devices. Rather, ORCAA seeks to ensure people are aware of the potential health risk posed by exposure to the pollution from these devices.

To minimize impacts from fireworks pollution, individuals should reduce or eliminate their use of personal fireworks ­– these tend to concentrate their smoke near ground level. Instead, residents may attend community-sponsored aerial fireworks displays. These create pollution as well, but generally much higher above the ground where it can dissipate more completely before reaching people at ground level.

Folks who do set up fireworks on their own should keep the devices well clear of buildings and combustible materials (including vegetation). Besides the health risks from the air emissions of fireworks, the devices also pose serious fire-safety risks. They must also be careful when disposing of the debris afterwards. After dousing the paper and plastic with water (to reduce risks of fire), the waste material should be disposed of with your garbage. The waste should never be burned – not only does state law prohibit burning the material, but the colorful wrappings contain chemicals that could release additional dangerous toxics into the air if burned.

Of particular concern are illegal fireworks manufactured outside the United States as they frequently contain lead (lead is banned in fireworks production in the U.S.).

ORCAA encourages all residents to have a fun, but safe and healthful, Fourth of July Holiday.

admin
June 29, 2011
Exec. Director's Desk, Health, News and Information, Upcoming Events
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