PROPOSAL:
Appropriate Funds for Special Particulate Air Monitoring Program
SYNPOSIS:
The AQMD has been assisting in a special national particulate
monitoring program over the last three years collecting samples at various
locations in the South Coast Air Basin. This special particulate
monitoring program has been fully funded through the U.S. EPA. The federal
government is planning to expand the current program and anticipates fully
funding the expanded program in the near future. At this time, the federal
government indicated that funding for the current program will continue
for a period of time during the first half of Calendar Year 2006. It is
unclear at this time when the expanded program will begin and would only
begin when full funding is provided by the federal government. The
specific funding level for the expanded program will be based on the start
date. This action is to appropriate $158,338 which is to be reimbursed by
the U.S. EPA for the current program.
COMMITTEE:
Administrative, January 13, 2006, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Upon receipt of the award, appropriate $158,338 to the Science and
Technology Advancement FY 2005-06 Budget as provided in Attachment 1.
(Expenditure appropriations exclude Salary & Employee Benefits amounts and
Indirect Costs which were included in the FY 2005-06 adopted budget).
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
In January 2003, the U.S. EPA requested assistance from the AQMD to
collect particulate samples at various AQMD monitoring stations as part of a
special national program. Actual sample collection began in early February
2003 and will continue for the foreseeable future. The U.S. EPA has provided
funding to fully cover the cost of training, samplers, and consumables. U.S.
EPA is providing funding in the amount of $350,000 to continue the current
program for the first half of Calendar Year 2006. The funds are sufficient
for the AQMD to meet its obligations under the monitoring program. In
addition, U.S. EPA has indicated a desire to expand the current program. It
is unclear at this time when the expanded program will begin and would only
begin when full funding is provided by the federal government. The funding
mechanism for the expanded program is anticipated to be through another
federal agency. Staff will bring to the Board a proposed budget for the
expanded program in the near future.
Proposal
Staff has been in discussions with U.S. EPA staff and has reached
concurrence on the specific levels of funding to conduct and expand the
special particulate monitoring program. Specifically, U.S. EPA is setting
aside $350,000, which the AQMD formally applies for, to cover training,
consumables, FTE costs, communications, and mileage for the current
monitoring program. The funding will cover six months of sample collection
beginning January 1, 2006. It is anticipated that the expanded program will
begin at some point during the six month period. Staff will be in
discussions with U.S. EPA staff on developing a budget for the expanded
program. It is not clear at this point whether the federal government will
consider a funding period based on the AQMD fiscal year or continue to fund
on a calendar year or 12-month basis. Once a decision is made, staff will
bring a proposed budget for the Board’s consideration.
Staff has prepared a proposed budget for the six-month period of U.S. EPA
funding. The proposed budget is provided in Attachment 1. Staff is
requesting the Board to appropriate $158,338 upon receipt of the award, to
the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2005-06 Budget as provided in
Attachment 1, which will be reimbursed by EPA. (Expenditure appropriations
exclude Salary & Employee Benefits amounts and Indirect Costs which were
included in the FY 2005-06 adopted budget). Revenue for this grant
($350,000) has already been included in the FY 2005-06 adopted budget. If
the expanded program starts in the first six months of the U.S. EPA funding,
any unspent funds will revert back to U.S. EPA
Resource Impacts
U.S. EPA funding will fully support the special particulate monitoring
program for the period, including training, consumables, FTEs,
communications, and mileage.
Attachment (DOC 79kb)
1 – Proposed Special Particulate Monitoring Program Expenditure
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