ADEQ will hold public meeting in Yuma Tuesday

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public meeting in Yuma on Tuesday as part of the process of developing new administrative rules for the statewide air quality emissions bank.

This “bank” is a type of pollutant regulation tool that allows businesses and other sources of air pollution to get “credit” with the state for “permanent, quantifiable and enforceable” decreases in five types of emissions: carbon monoxide, particulate matter, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide or volatile organic compounds (a component of ozone).

These reductions can be achieved through the use of new technology, cutting pollution-producing activities or other methods. Once a producer earns a credit and it is certified, that credit can be sold to other businesses or producers who want to start or increase their operations in the state, and are expected to put out more of the pollutant that the other source just reduced.

This ability is especially important in “nonattainment areas” where air quality does not meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum standards for pollutants. Part of Yuma County has been in a nonattainment area for PM10 (dust) particulates for decades, and the county also does not meet the revised ozone standard and could be classified as a nonattainment for that gas as well.

The state Legislature expanded the types of emission credits that can be used for the emission bank last year, and ADEQ is working on new language to amend the state’s administrative rules regarding the bank.

“Establishing the emissions bank rules, with your input, will provide businesses looking to locate in Yuma an opportunity to offset their emissions,” the meeting announcement from ADEQ said.

The session will be held 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Aldrich Auditorium at Yuma County Department of Development Services, 2351 W. 26th St., Yuma. To RSVP or for more information contact Natalie Muilenberg at (602) 771-1089 or nm3@azdeq.gov.

Online viewers can follow the presentation via WebEx by using:

Meeting number (access code): 806 024 620 Password: d3fU3Zt7 Call-in: 1-240-454-0879

Yuma Sun staff writer Blake Herzog can be reached at (928) 539-6856 or bherzog@yumasun.com.