The NWDA Air Quality Committee, known as the Health and Environment Committee until a name change in February 2012, strives to monitor and improve the quality of the air in the Northwest neighborhood with the goal of creating a healthy environment for everyone living, working in, and visiting the neighborhood. Sharon Genasci chairs the Committee.
NWDA Air Quality Committee Agenda
AQC agenda, Monday, June 10th, 7:00 pm Breakfast Room, Silver Cloud Inn: (Kathy Sharp will Chair, while Sharon is away)
1. Briefing on Con-Way/NW Clean Diesel GNA – kathy
2. Discussion: PSR support Letter and Bill’s research
3. Preparation for NWDA Board meeting presentation of GNA.
4. Compile list of handouts for next NWDA Board meeting.
5. Website: discussion about getting out fliers with web address before summer odors.
NWDA Air Quality Committee Minutes 5.13.13
5.13.13
Minutes, NWDA Air Quality Committee Meeting
Present: Bob L, Myriam Alaux, Jorjan Parker, Evan Farnham, Sharon Genasci
Sharon gave an update on the Con-way Construction Clean Diesel GNA (Good Neighbor Agreement) negotiations, which are ongoing. The next meeting at Jill Long’s (Con-way lawyer) office will be on June 3rd. Bob L pointed out a typo in the draft, which was changed. The need for a baseline diesel particulate level for the Con-way area was discussed along with other matters concerning the GNA negotiations. It is hoped a good GNA for clean diesel in the Con-way master plan area will be the result.
Bob L and Sharon gave an update on the NAC (Neighborhood Advisory Committee, ESCO GNA) meeting on April 26, 2013. Bob L changed the odor complaint format for our website (www.portlandair.org) to allow complaints to be sent to ESCO, when ESCO is listed as the source. The complaints all go to DEQ as well, as to our committee. The reason for the change is because our format, which has more information than DEQ formatted complaints, will go to ESCO directly, to aid the company in their investigation into the reason for the strong odor. Sharon
pointed out there were a number of complaints about ESCO odors (ten since the last NAC meeting) which she brought to the NAC meeting, including one on Easter Sunday morning.
There was some discussion about new lawn signs, but they were put on hold
for the moment.
Sharon announced that PSR (Physicians for Social Responsibility) have drafted a letter of support for our campaign for clean diesel in the Con-way area.
Submitted by Sharon Genasci, Chair, NWDA AQC
City Club Vote on Air Toxics/ Note Clean Diesel
From: City Club Bulletin [mailto:rachel@pdxcityclub.org]
Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2013 7:01 AM
To: David Paul
Subject: Your News- Air Toxics Vote, Archives & Advocates
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MEMBER BULLETIN
VOLUME 95 ISSUE 36
HOW DID MEMBERS VOTE ON AIR TOXICS?
For the first time in City Club history members voted on a research report at a Friday Forum and online. Thank you to everyone who participated.
The final vote on Invisible Enemies: Reducing Air Toxics in the Portland Airshed, was 238-5. Over 97% of people who voted agreed with the report recommendations listed below.
Air Toxics Report Recommendations:
1. DEQ should acquire more metro-area monitoring stations, and analyze and publish the resulting data, to provide harder evidence of current levels of air toxics.
2. DEQ should more fully enforce existing wood stove certification laws.
3. All relevant government agencies within Oregon and Southwest Washington should strategically pool public education resources to achieve agreed-upon awareness goals for air toxics.
4. DEQ should begin to track and publish its general fund budget outlays according to geography and community served, as well as pollutant targeted.
5. The Environmental Quality Commission and the governor should exempt DEQ from Oregon legislative involvement for the purpose of federal supplemental funding applications to assist local jurisdictions.
6. State and local governments should explore public financing or loan options for woodstove replacements, diesel engine retrofits, and other solutions within their jurisdiction.
7. *** The Environmental Quality Commission should adopt the California emissions standard for heavy-duty diesel on-road trucks.
8. *** The legislature should authorize DEQ to regulate the operation of non-road diesel engines, and DEQ should develop and impose rules to reduce non-road diesel particulate emissions.
9. *** All government agencies within the airshed should adopt California’s construction contract requirements for off-road diesel equipment.
10. DEQ should determine the level of funding required to implement fully its Portland metropolitan area goals and plans for air toxics, and should request those funds from the legislature, which should provide them. It is appropriate for a higher portion of DEQ’s budget to come from the public now, as air toxics primarily spring from citizen behavior.
AQC Agenda, 5.13.2013
Agenda, AQC meeting, May 13, Silver Cloud Inn, Breakfast Room (24th Place & Vaughn) at 7:00 pm
1. Update on Con-way Construction Clean Diesel GNA – Sharon
2. Update on NAC meeting & ESCO complaints – Bob L & Sharon
3. Plan for new lawn signs
4. Reminder of NWDA Annual Meeting on May 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Good Samaritan Hospital, Wistar Morris Room (main hospital entrance, turn left and go to
south end of the floor.)
4.26.13 NWDA AQC Notes, NAC (Neighborhood Advisory Committe to ESCO) Meeting
Notes, ESCO GNA NAC (Neighborhood Advisory Committee) meeting 4.26.13
NAC members present: Aubrey Baldwin, Tom Giese, Bob Amundson, John Krallman (substitute rep), Sharon Genasci
Jay Fagan & Travis Quarles were ESCO representatives
Alllan Classen from the Examiner was present
The meeting was held at Friendly House. All present introduced themselves.
One of the first items on the agenda was approval of project 2 (GNA attachment A) which was ‘Add control to Air Arc Cutting Lower Finishing.’ This was, “For a test period of one month, ESCO will weigh each container of dust collected and record the amount of particulate removed”. ESCO has done this and found the following:
For the Time Period (2012) Amount of Dust
2/1 – 3/8 824 pounds
3/9 – 4/8 376 pounds
4/9 – 5/8 654 pounds
5/9 – 6/8 420 pounds
6/9 – 7/9 582 pounds
7/9 – 8/9 576 pounds
ESCO plans to repeat the weigh test in two years. Bob Amundson said it was his understanding that they are required to test for metals before putting them into the landfill. He requested they use those numbers to calculate how much lead, manganese etc. was removed because of the new controls.
Travis spoke about ESCO’s Annual Report. Slinger Bay, which, after the GNA agreement, was left with no controls at all, will have none until 2017. (The NWDA Air Quality Committee, in an ESCO GNA Minority Report contested this decision)
Travis spoke about the odor complaints. He said that most of the complaints were being addressed in the new controls. Sharon brought 10 new ESCO complaints to the meeting. One of them was on Easter Sunday morning. Sharon asked if ESCO was in operation on Sundays now? Travis said yes, they are working on Sunday too now. ESCO had not been able to discover what caused the problem with odors on Easter Sunday. But they promised to look into it again.
There was a discussion between ESCO employees and Bob L from the NWDA Air Quality Committee about the odor complaints. The AQC feels that the spirit of the GNA odor complaint agreement is not fulfilled, because:
1. ESCO investigates complaints but only the person complaining is allowed this information.
2. A password is required in order to get this information
3. ESCO only allows NAC members access to the their file on complaint findings and this only by going into ESCO’s offices and hand copying data. No photocopies, no chance to put the data on the website for everyone to see.
Allan Classen said he is planning to take the public tour, and he asked whether he could bring a camera? He was told no photos allowed on the tour.
Finally, John Krallman, lawyer for NCA told about plans to monitor for metals at Chapman School, using the funds ESCO offered in the GNA for this purpose. The data will belong to the NAC. In a month or so the NAC could see some raw data.
Submitted by NAC Rep. Sharon Genasci, NWDA Air Quality Committee
NWDA Air Quality Committee Minutes 4.8.13
4.8.13
Minutes, NWDA Air Quality Committee meeting
Present: Kathy Sharp, Bob L, Myriam Alaux, Evan Farnham, Jorjan Parker, Bill Welch, Sharon Genasci
Bob & Sharon began the meeting with an update on the website and odor complaints. The usual season’s odor complaints are coming in on www.portlandair.org. Several complaints came in last week documenting strong fuel smells, similar to those we had problems with a couple of years ago. The odors seem now to have stopped, though we will carry out our own investigations if they begin again. We also had several complaints about ESCO odors from neighbors. Neighbors living near the plant are saying that the odors continue about the same as before the GNA agreement was signed. One neighbor complained of strong ESCO odors on Easter Sunday. In the past ESCO told us they did not operate on Sundays.
Kathy & Sharon gave an update on the NWDA Con-way construction clean diesel GNA committee meetings. The next meeting with Con-way and developers is scheduled for April 22nd. Sharon and Kathy told the group that Attorney, David Paul, has agreed to work with the committee pro bono, pending agreement by the NWDA Board. He will offer more balance to the committee, since Jill Long, lawyer for Con-way represents Con-way at all meetings.
The AQC then put together a motion to the NWDA Board for the next meeting on the 15th of April as follows:
“A motion to recommend the inclusion of David Paul in the NWDA Con-way Clean Diesel Construction GNA Committee as the NWDA legal counsel.”
The group voted unanimously in favor of the motion.
Finally, Sharon reminded the group of the upcoming NAC (Neighborhood Advisory Committee) meeting on April 26th at 9:00 am at Friendly House. These are the quarterly meetings organized under the GNA with ESCO. The meetings offer a public opportunity for neighbors with questions or complaints to speak with ESCO employees during the public part of the meeting.
The Annual public tour of ESCO is scheduled for 10:00 am to 12:30 pm on April 30th. There are still a couple of spots open for neighbors who would like to attend.
For those interested:
Send an email to abaldwin@lclark.edu indicating the name, email address and phone number of each person who wishes to sign up.
Sharon Genasci, Chair, NWDA Air Quality Committee
NWDA Air Quality Committee Agenda 4.8.13
April 8, 2013, @ 7:00 p.m,
Silver Cloud Inn, Breakfast Room
NW 24th Place & Vaughn
1. Welcome & Introductions
2. Odor complaints update – Bob L & Sharon
3. Con-way construction clean diesel update – Kathy & Sharon
4. Upcoming NAC meeting & ESCO tour – Sharon
5. Other business
NWDA Air Quality Committee Minutes
3.11.13
Minutes, NWDA Air Quality Committee Meeting
Present: Bill Welch, Bob L., Kathy Sharp, Myriam Alaux, Jorjan Parker, Evan Farnham, Sharon Genasci
We first had an update on the status of the Con-way Construction Clean Diesel GNA work from Kathy and Sharon. A meeting is planned for next Tuesday at Jill Long’s office (She is the Con-way lawyer). Craig Boretz, CEO, Con-way, Jill Long, Tom DiChiara, CE John, Don Forrest, New Seasons, Kevin Downing, ODEQ, Kathy Sharp, NWDA Board and Sharon Genasci, NWDA AQC Chair will be there to discuss the NWDA proposal for clean diesel in the Con-way master plan area construction.
By way of preparation, Kathy, Kevin and Sharon held a conference call with Ramesh Ramen from New York. He was a project manager running a clean diesel project for the twin towers area construction after September 11th. He was very encouraging about the use of clean diesel in New York, where it has been policy for many years. He offered assistance to help contractors in the Con-way area to learn more about the program and its importance.
Sharon explained a motion to add the words, “and all parties connected to Con-way
development in the master plan area” to the existing NWDA Board motion (10.15.12) to help clarify that negotiations for a clean diesel GNA will of necessity involve contacting all parties involved in the Con-way development. The new motion reads,
“The NWDA AQC asks the Board to affirm the intent and content of the Clean Diesel Draft Discussion Points for a Con-way clean diesel GNA (Good Neighbor Agreement). The NWDA/AQC representatives will use the Discussion Points as a guide in negotiating with Con-way and all parties connected to Con-way development in the master plan area, but the Board acknowledges that the give and take between the parties may ultimately result in a GNA that differs in some respects from the Discussion Points.”
This motion passed the committee unanimously, and will go to the NWDA Board.
Bob L spoke about the website issues. He was asked by the committee to make some changes to the odor complaint form to adjust to the new practice decided at the last GNA Advisory Committee to send all Esco odor complaints to Esco, so they can investigate what was happening at the plant at the time of the complaint.
Kathy talked about the Conduct of Construction piece she is working on to
add such issues as dust and noise to the Con-way GNA after the clean diesel part is agreed.
Submitted by Sharon Genasci, Chair, NWDA Air Quality Committee
NWDA Air Quality Committee Agenda 3.11.13
Meeting on Monday, March 11, 2013 at Silver Cloud Inn Breakfast Room (Vaughn & 24th Place) at 7:00 pm
1. Update on NWDA Board vote on Kathy Sharp, point person for
Conway construction clean diesel GNA and subsequent plans. – Kathy & Sharon
2. Update on NWDA Air Quality Committee Work Plan – Sharon
3. Update on website and odor complaints, Bob L.
NWDA Air Quality Committee Minutes
2.11.13
Minutes, NWDA Air Quality Committee Meeting
Present: Kathy Sharp, Jen Menhard, Myriam Alaux, Bob L, Evan Farnham, Jorjan Parker, Sharon Genasci
First item of business was the AQC work plan, which Sharon had revised and sent out to the group. There was discussion and further revision. The group voted unanimously in favor of the final revised version of the AQC work plan. This will be prepared and turned in to NWDA for the Board to consider.
Finally, Kathy and Sharon briefed the group on the progress of the Con-way construction clean diesel GNA meetings we have had with Jill Long, Con-way lawyer, including a telephone conference call with Ramesh Ramen a Clean Diesel Project Manager in New York, Tom Di Chiarra, C.E. John Construction, Sam Rodriguez, Mill Creek Residential, Kevin Downing DEQ, Jill Long, Juliet Hyams, Kathy Sharp and Sharon Genasci from NWDA. Ramesh has extensive experience working with clean diesel in the 9.11. reconstruction area.
In January Juliet Hyams submitted her resignation from the clean diesel group, due to a conflict of interest. This resulted in the cancellation of a meeting between our clean diesel group, Kevin Downing and New Seasons Grocery, which is the first tenant going into the Con-way master plan area. They expressed an interest in learning more about clean diesel in the construction of their new grocery.
At the next Board meeting the Board will select a new point person for the clean diesel group from the Board. The AQC voted unanimously in favor of a motion to appoint Kathy Sharp as the new point person.
Sharon Genasci, Chair NWDA Air Quality Committee
