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CC - Authorization to Submit Letter to California Air Resources Board (CARB) Requesting the Inglewood Oil Field be Included in the Study of Neighborhood Air near Petroleum Sources (SNAPS).
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Meeting Date: May 14, 2018
Contact Person/Dept: Heather Baker, Assistant City Attorney;
Melanie Doran Traxler, Inglewood Oil Field Specific Plan Project Manager
Phone Number: (310) 253-5660; (818) 248-7158
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (05/09/18);
Department Approval: Carol Schwab (05/08/18)
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RECOMMENDATION
The City Council Oil Drilling Subcommittee, consisting of Council Members Meghan Sahli-Wells and Göran Eriksson (the “Subcommittee”), and City staff recommend the City Council authorize the submission of a letter to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) requesting the Inglewood Oil Field be included in the Study of Neighborhood Air near Petroleum Sources (SNAPS).
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Report on Oil and Gas Facilities
In February 2018, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) released a report titled “Public Health and Safety Risks of Oil and Gas Facilities in Los Angeles County,” which provides a broad overview of relevant public health research and investigations of oil and gas production operations that may be relatable to urban oil and gas operations through the Los Angeles Basin. In this report, DPH synthesized information from multiple lines of evidence, including a review of epidemiological literature, environmental and health impact assessments, neighborhood health investigations, and consultations with various jurisdictions regarding oil and gas ordinances. This report is intended to provide local policy‐makers with an overview of relevant public health research and investigations and direction on potential measures that can be considered to reduce potential health impacts.
As noted in the DPH report, to better characterize air quality in communities near oil and gas operations, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) completed a fence line monitoring study and CARB launched the Study of Neighborhood Air near Petroleum Sources (SNAPS), as discussed further below.
A copy of the DPH report is available on the City’s website and can be accessed at <https://www.culvercity.org/home/showdocument?id=12738>.
AB617 - Community Self-Recommendation for SCAQMD Monitoring Assistance
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is actively conducting comprehensive community-based efforts that focus on improving air quality and public health in environmental justice communities. These efforts come about primarily as a step towards implementing Assembly Bill 617 (AB617), which focuses on sources of non-vehicular air pollution, including both criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants from those sources. Other bills provide significant new funding and resources to expand SCAQMD’s community-based programs to reduce air pollution and protect public health, with a focus on environmental justice communities. (For more information, visit SCAQMD’s website at <http://www.aqmd.gov/nav/about/initiatives/environmental-justice>).
As a result, SCAQMD has begun extensive outreach to residents and other stakeholders to describe these programs, seek input on them and request communities to self-report their interest in participation. One such program is the Community Monitoring and Analysis program, for which SCAQMD will deploy systems to monitor air quality in selected communities where this information is most needed. Analysis of the data collected will inform future community emissions reduction plans and will be used to track progress.
In light of this time sensitive opportunity (submissions were due May 7, 2018), the Subcommittee, with the concurrence of the City Manager, authorized City staff to submit a Community Self-Recommendation for the City of Culver City and/or individual neighborhoods within the community, requesting assistance from SCAQMD for deployment of a community air monitoring campaign and for development of a community emissions reduction program specific to oil and gas operations within the Inglewood Oil Field. The City’s Self-Recommendation Form was submitted to SCAQMD on May 4, 2018 (Attachment 1).
Study of Neighborhood Air near Petroleum Sources (SNAPS)
As discussed in the DPH report and SCAQMD outreach information, current monitoring and enforcement activities tied to urban oil fields within the Los Angeles Basin can be sporadic, and it is difficult to understand long‐term exposure risks for people living near oil and gas operations in the absence of continuous monitoring. To better characterize air quality in communities near oil and gas operations, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has launched the Study of Neighborhood Air near Petroleum Sources (SNAPS), under which several communities will be selected each year for site-specific and detailed study. It is intended that results from these efforts be used to inform future air monitoring policies and practices. SNAPS is an extension of the AB 617 Community Air Protection Program, but with a very specific target of monitoring neighborhoods in close proximity to petroleum-sourced air polluting facilities.
Under SNAPS, mobile monitoring trailers will be equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring technologies capable of measuring toxic air contaminants (TACs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), metals, and criteria pollutants. CARB staff will initially deploy a mobile air monitoring vehicle in communities to collect preliminary screening information and to respond quickly to significant events statewide where near-immediate air monitoring is warranted. Also, CARB staff will use that information as well as other criteria, including community concerns, to locate stationary trailer(s) at a site for several months.
While the SNAPS program is intended to be ongoing, CARB will limit the study to two or three community sites each year. Over the past several months, CARB staff held several public meetings throughout the state to provide opportunities for discussion on the site selection process and study approach. Community member and stakeholder feedback received during that outreach will be considered throughout the process.
The Subcommittee has discussed that oil and gas development in the Los Angeles Basin presents unique public health and safety concerns that are not well understood or documented. Through the SNAPS program, there is a unique opportunity for high-level technical support (via CARB) to conduct studies and develop focused air quality data for neighborhoods within Culver City that may be affected by air pollutants and toxic air contaminates originating from oil projection operations within the Inglewood Oil Field.
The Subcommittee and City staff recommend the City Council authorize (1) the submission of a letter to CARB setting forth a formal request for the City of Culver City to be considered during the first round of study site selection for the SNAPS program; and (2) City staff to work with the Subcommittee to prepare the letter.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact to submit the SNAPS request letter.
ATTACHMENTS
1. AB617 Community Self-Recommendation Form
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Authorize the submission of a letter to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) requesting the Inglewood Oil Field be included in the Study of Neighborhood Air near Petroleum Sources (SNAPS);
2. Authorize City staff to work with the Subcommittee to prepare the letter; and
3. Authorize the Mayor to sign the letter on behalf of the City.