HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE agenda 031416AGENDA
Commission for the Environment
March 14, 2016
7:30 p.m.
Orange County Solid Waste Administration Building
1207 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill
Time Item Title
7:30 I. Call to Order
7:32 II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
7:35 III. Approval of Minutes — February 8, 2016 (Attachment 1)
7:40 IV. Energy and Water Usage - County Buildings & Facilities
Bouma will provide an update on 2015 energy and water usage for County buildings and
facilities, and introduce some draft materials being prepared for "Orange County Waste Wise
Events" for CFE consideration and feedback. Finally, Bouma will provide a preview of some of
the County's sustainability initiatives that will be of interest to the CFE. (Attachments 2 - 3)
8:10 V. Impaired Streams in Orange County
Davis will present the State's draft list of "impaired" rivers and streams in Orange County and
explain how additional stream monitoring by the County in 2012 -14 added to the data upon
which these determinations were made.
8:30 VI. CFE Outreach Opportunities / News Articles
The CFE will review recent and proposed news articles intended to educate /inform the public
about issues highlighted in the Orange County State of the Environment. The CFE will also
discuss participation in upcoming Earth Evening and Last Friday events. (Attachments 4 -7)
9:00 VII. Updates and Information Items
Staff and /or CFE members will provide updates on the following items:
➢ CFE membership roster (Attachment 8)
➢ CFE Committee priorities — revised draft (Attachment 9)
➢ Eno River hydrilla management project update (Attachment 10)
➢ Coal ash dump in Chapel Hill (Attachment 11)
➢ Photo Contest 2016 - "The Nature of Orange" (Attachment 12)
➢ Solarize the Triangle (Attachment 13)
➢ Green schools save little money — John Locke Fdn report (Attachment 14)
➢ Natural gas leak a disaster in Calif (Attachment 15)
9:20 VIII. Adjournment
Nextmeefing; April 11 (Hillsborough)
CFE Meeting Ground Rules (Adopted 9112111)
1. Keep to agenda topic under discussion
2. Share relevant information
3. One person speaks at a time after recognition by the Chair
4. Everyone is invited to participate in discussions / no one person should dominate
discussions
,. Strive to reach consensus first before voting
Activities the CFE expects to carry out in 2016:
• Continue to update the Orange County State of the Environment 2014 report
• Continue to explore ways to improve the County's ability to foster local sustainable
energy production and energy efficiency strategies, including developing incentives
for increasing energy efficiency in new construction
• Recommend ways to reduce the County's "carbon footprint" and implement the
County's Environmental Responsibility Goal (BOCC Priority #10)
• Continue to help with public outreach and management efforts related to hydrilla in
the Eno River
• Help initiate the development of a comprehensive conservation plan for Orange Co
• Co- sponsor the annual DEAPR photography contest (The Nature of Orange)
• Help plan for and participate in County's annual Earth Evening event
Concerns or emerging issues the CFE has identified for 2016:
• The CFE will continue to advocate for an expansion of the County's commercial food waste
pickup and composting services to reduce food waste in the solid waste stream
• The CFE remains interested in developing incentives for increasing energy efficiency in new
construction
• The CFE will continue to learn more about environmental justice matters and incorporate
relevant information and considerations in the State of the Environment report and its other
activities
• The CFE will continue to follow the Solid Waste Advisory Group's discussions of how to
improve the handling and disposal of Orange County's solid waste, and will advocate for
better long -term solutions
• The CFE will continue to advocate for increased efforts to gather information related to water
resources in Orange County and to increase public awareness and understanding of water
supply sources, related concerns, and what steps can be undertaken to maintain or improve
the quantity and quality of Orange County water supply resources
• The CFE will continue to address, as appropriate, the critical environmental issues for Orange
County as enumerated on page 3 of the 2014 State of the Environment report, which include
potential adverse effects from a) invasive, non - native, plant and animal species; b) reductions
in State -led collection of water resources data; c) potential drilling for natural gas in the Deep
River basin; d) urban sprawl; and CFE support for e) the responsible deployment of clean and
appropriately -sited renewable energy and reductions in energy use to help fight climate
change
Attachment 1
Orange County
Commission for the Environment
DRAFT Meeting Summary
February 8, 2015
Richard Whitted Meeting Facility, Hillsborough
PRESENT: Lydia Wegman (Chair), May Becker, Peter Cada, Tom Eisenhart, Loren Hintz,
Bill Newby, Rebecca Ray, Sheila Thomas -Ambat
ABSENT: Lynne Gronback, Jeanette O'Connor, David Welch
STAFF: Rich Shaw, Brennan Bouma GUEST: Kathleen Smith
Call to Order — Wegman called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm.
Additions or Changes to Agenda — There were none
III. Minutes — Wegman asked for comments on the December 14 meeting summary.
Eisenhart motioned approval as written; seconded by Cada. Approved unanimously.
IV. Welcome / Resolutions of Appreciation — Wegman welcomed Bill Kaiser back to the
CFE on which he had served previously including two years as chair. Wegman also
welcomed Kathleen Smith who has applied for CFE appointment and wanted to observe
the meeting. CFE members and staff introduced themselves to Kaiser and Smith.
Shaw presented draft resolutions of appreciation for three outgoing CFE members: Jan
Sassaman, David Neal, and Gary Saunders. CFE members offered no changes to the
resolutions: they were approved by acclimation. Shaw will prepare final versions of the
resolutions for Wegman's signature, and then send or deliver to each recipient.
V. $2 Billion Statewide Bond Campaign — Shaw provided an overview of the $2 billion
bond campaign for North Carolina (Connect NC), scheduled for a vote as part of the
March 15 primary elections. He presented PowerPoint slides about the bond and the
kinds of projects to be funded in the categories of education, water and sewer
infrastructure, National Guard and public safety, agriculture, parks and zoos.
Shaw said that according to the bond campaign there is bipartisan support for the bond,
and that no tax increase is expected to pay for the bond over the next 20 years. He said
the bond package includes $75 million for state parks, with $4 million of that for the NC
Mountains -to -Sea Trail. Shaw noted that $2.8 million of the parks allotment would go to
improvements at Eno River State Park, and Orange County would also be in line for
funding to acquire land and trail easements for the Mountains -to -Sea Trail (MST).
CFE members discussed the contents of the bond package and identified elements
germane to the CFE's purview that could benefit Orange County. CFE members noted
Eno River State Park and the MST in particular, and also Jordan Lake since many
Orange County residents of visit that site. Thomas -Ambat said the county and its
municipalities might also benefit from funding to upgrade and retrofit water and sewer
infrastructure, thus improving water quality for residents and aquatic organisms.
Attachment 1
Hintz motioned that the CFE write a letter to newspapers in support of the State Bond.
Eisenhart seconded the motion; it carried unanimously.
Hintz motioned that the CFE letter identify Eno River State Park, Mountains -to -Sea Trail,
Jordan Lake, and public water and sewer infrastructure as potential areas of interest to
Orange County residents that could receive direct benefits from the bond. Thomas -
Ambat seconded the motion; it carried unanimously.
Wegman and Cada offered to prepare a draft letter and then to Shaw for circulation to all
CFE members for approval by email. Wegman thanked Shaw for this information.
VI. Lands Legacy Program Update — Shaw provided an update on plans to open two new
Orange County nature preserves: Hollow Rock Nature Park and the Seven Mile Creek
Preserve. He displayed a master plan map of the 75 -acre Hollow Rock park site, which
will include new parking area, nature trails, and bridges. Phase 2 will add a restroom
facility, interpretive signage, environmental education area, and platform overlooks. The
park is expected to open in May 2016.
Shaw showed a map of the Seven Mile Creek Preserve. This site will also feature
nature trails and a group camping area on land adjacent to the Moorefields historic site.
Construction of a small parking area will occur this summer, and the site is expected to
open sometime in late summer or early fall 2016.
Wegman thanked Shaw for the information. No action required.
VII. Committee Meetings — CFE members broke into three standing committees (Air and
Energy Resources, Water Resources, and Land Resources) to review a list of priority
issues /projects identified by each committee in 2014 -15. The committees met for about
30 minutes and then reported back to the full CFE.
Air and Energy Committee
Bouma reported that the Air and Energy Committee discussed five issues
GHG Emissions Inventory — The committee agreed to continue discussing whether it
would be worthwhile to update the County 2005 greenhouse gas emissions
inventory. They suggest looking into updating projections from last report based on
what we know has changed, and if estimates show large increase this may suggest
compiling a more complete update. Look for easy sources of energy usage that are
authoritative and updated regularly.
2. Green Building —The CFE submitted its resolution to BOCC in support of developing
a rebate on permit fees for green construction. The committee will await any
response from BOCC and continue to monitor the Chapel Hill pilot program.
3. Climate Change — The committee will write news article(s) about climate change,
alternative energy sources and efficiency, and ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
4. Energy Efficiency — The committee will research the possibility of working with
Piedmont Electric Membership Corp. or Duke Energy and a USDA program for low -
interest loans for energy efficient upgrades for its members /owners.
5. Food waste reduction issue — The committee recommends coordinating with the
SWAG and others to lend more focus on increased composting in the county.
2
Attachment 1
Water Resources Committee
Cada reported that the Water Resources Committee intends to conduct a literature
review of the science in support of maintaining vegetative buffers to protect water
quality. Hintz reminded the committee that buffers also protect habitat and biodiversity,
and they serve as wildlife corridors. Becker asked the committee to continue monitoring
the chemical treatment of hydrilla in the Eno River.
Land Resources Committee
Hintz reported the Land Resources Committee will collaborate with a group that intends
to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for Orange County —and perhaps a more
regional plan for Orange, Durham, and Chatham counties. The focus will be identifying
the most significant natural area corridors that are essential for native plants and wildlife.
Hintz also reported the committee wants to work with County staff to determine whether
conservation land is distributed equitably throughout the county so that everyone has
reasonable access to enjoy these areas.
Hintz said the committee wants to continue exploring ways to protect important native
plant habitat, including a project with the NC Botanical Garden and educating residents
on reasons to landscape with a diversity of regionally native plant species.
VIII. Updates and Information Items — Information on the following subjects was provided in
the meeting package; selected items were discussed: a) 2016 CFE meeting calendar, b)
CFE news articles re water availability and Solarize Orange, c) airport/airstrip rule
amendments canceled, d) Eno River hydrilla management, e) State guidance for local
stream buffer rules, f) COP21 agreement summarized, g) 2015 hottest year on record, h)
Solarize the Triangle, i) effects of solar panels on farm fields, j) conservative case for
solar subsidies, and k) Brumley Forest Nature Preserve.
IX. Adjournment — Wegman adjourned the meeting at 9:40 pm.
Summary by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff
3
Orange County Sustainability Program
�Y � �P
Coordinator: The Coordinator's role is to initiate and manage collaborative projects with both
County staff and residents.
Mission: Orange County Sustainability Program works to safeguard taxpayer dollars
while improving the social equity and environmental performance of County
operations and programs.
Work: Sustainability has been a part of Orange County's work and policies for decades.
The Orange County Sustainability Program works to build on our success to
date by collaborating with County staff and community groups on projects that
will help the County tackle current and upcoming economic, equity, and
environmental challenges.
2015 Project Wrote successful sioo,000 grant to pilot the use of propane bi -fuel vehicles and
Highlights: infrastructure in collaboration with the Sherriffs Office and Orange Public
Transportation.
140> Drafted Telework Policy and program in partnership with Human Resources for
implementation in the Spring of 2o16.
Collaborated with County residents and non - profits to pursue installation of the
County's first solar panels on the Rogers Road Community Center for the
M.hk__benefit of the community.
Worked with Housing, Human Rights and Community Development to
organize representatives from County departments and disability support
groups to assess accessibility at all County facilities and address any obstacles
identified.
Convened Sustainability Roundtable in partnership with Solid Waste to connect
all external governmental sustainability partners with jurisdiction in Orange
County.
Implemented a grant- funded idle reduction project with Emergency Services to
reduce diesel fuel consumption and improve air quality.
Assisted AMS Administrative staff in installing and publicizing the opening of
the County's first two public DC Fast Chargers for electric vehicles.
Provided staff support for the Commission for the Environment, facilitating the
Air and Energy Committee and leading efforts to create and publish two local
news articles and three radio spots.
Brennan Bouma, Orange County Sustainability Coordinator, [,a r, j, „ D
Orange County Sustainability Program
�Y � �P
Upcoming Reconvene Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee as Environment
Projects: and Sustainability Advisory Committee in partnership with DEAPR.
Establish Green Events Program for County staff events in partnership with
Solid waste.
Conduct fleet efficiency analysis and pilot of vehicle reservation and pooling
technology.
Brennan Bouma, Orange County Sustainability Coordinator, [,a rl; ( „�D
Publicity
Planning
Purchasing
Set Up
Send out online or email invitations (avoid direct mail publicity campaigns)
Collect RSVPs to get an accurate headcount to avoid over - ordering food
Laminate all posters and promotional materials so they can be re -used if event will recur
Identify a menu and a plan for how the food and drinks will be served
Identify items in waste stream as reusable, recyclable, compostable, or trash. Use "Sorting" tool for help.
Reserve a venue and identify the disposal options that are available. Decide whether you'll be collecting
compostables. Use "Sorting" tool for help.
Generate a list of all the serving items you will need
Use the "Suggestions" tool to order compostable and reusable event products
Use our "Caterers" tool to order food from local caterers
Contact OC Solid Waste Management to borrow signs and containers for waste sorting stations
Set up waste sorting stations with a clearly labeled compost, recycling, and trash bin
Remove all trash bins in the event area other than the trash sorting stations
Plan for how to manage full bags of compostable food and paper waste during and after the event
During the Event
Announce to the audience proper waste separation techniques
Monitor trash sorting stations to ensure recyclable and compostable materials are sorted appropriately
Manage any compost bins that fill up according to your plan
Near the end of the meeting /event, encourage participants to take food home
Once the Event is Over
Manage compost and recycling according to plan
If there are leftovers, encourage staff /volunteers to bring "tupperware" to take food home
If there is unserved /unopened food, take to Orange Congregations in Mission in Hillsborough, (919)
732 -6194; Interfaith Council Community House in Chapel Hill, (919) 967 -0643
Clean and return all borrowed items
Take down and store all posters and promotional materials
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Cie
ENVIRONMENT
LOSS Of -,tax
credits clouds
future of rooftop
solar energy
BY DAVID NEAL
This is another in a
series of articles by the
Orange County Commis-
sion for the Environment.
Each article highlights an
environmental issue of
interest to the residents
of Orange County. The
CFE is a volunteer ad-
visory board to the Board
of County Commission-
ers.
This past year,
with the help of
the Solarize
Orange cam-
paign, Orange County
experienced a surge in
the installation of rooftop
solar photovoltaic (PV)
systems.
In 2015 the Solarize
campaign helped 50
homes install rooftop
systems that can gener-
ate a total of 298 kilo-
watts (kW) of electricity
using sunlight. Each par-
ticipant saved an average
of $1,500 through bulk-
purchasing of solar pan-
els and related equip-
ment.
In combination with
the two previous Solarize
campaigns, solar PV sys-
tems have been installed
on a total of 135 homes in
Orange County, with the
capacity to produce 1
million kilowatt hours
(kWh) of clean energy
per year! This is the
greenhouse gas equiv-
alent of not burning
740,000 pounds of coal
or the amount of carbon
stored in 565 acres of
forest.
For more information in the
Orange County State of the
Environment 2014 report go to
bidy/ImTE5K2
Some of our neighbors
were spurred to go solar
by the anticipated expira-
tion of the state's renew-
able energy tax credit,
which our General As-
sembly let sunset at the
end of 2015. For others, it
was the dramatic de-
crease in the cost of solar
panels and their, installa-
tion. For some, an oppor-
tunity to reduce the
amount of air pollution
generated from the burn-
ing of fossil fuels, in-
cluding coal, that supply
much of our electricity
was enough of a motiva-
tor. All three of these
factors drove my family's
participation in the Solar-
ize Orange campaign.
Since we installed our
system, we have not paid
Duke Energy for a single
kilowatt hour. During
these short winter days,
we will need to rely more
on the electric grid for
power, but our panels
produce electricity every
day, even when overcast.
Unfortunately, clouds
of a different sort hang
over the Solarize initia-
tive. The expired state
renewable income tax
credit had made solar PV
systems significantly
more affordable, allow-
ing homeowners to re-
FACEBOOK.COM/CHAPELHILLNEWS1 » TWITTERMM/THECHAPELHILLNEW!
coup up to 35 percent of
their costs. Without it,
solar is out of reach for
many Orange County
residents.
Those who balk at state
or federal tax credits for
renewable energy sys-
tems should remember
that fossil fuels and nu-
clear power have re-
ceived substantial sub-
sidies for generations. In
addition, the use of fossil
fuels incurs social and
health costs that we all
bear in the form of in-
creased rates of asthma
and other respiratory
illnesses, polluted surface
waters, and altered land-
scapes. We should pet-
ition our state repre-
sentatives to restore the
state renewable tax credit
and thank our congres-
sional delegation for
recently extending the
federal tax credit through
2020.
In spite of the loss of
the tax credits, between
now and April 30, two of
the biggest Solarize cam-
paign organizers in North
Carolina, NextClimate
and NCWARN, are join-
ing together to "Solarize
the Triangle." Besides
increasing solar installa-
tions, the Solarize cam-
paign is working to lower
the cost of solar through
education and easing'
access to more affordable
financing.
On a larger scale, the
market for residential
solar could be expanded
by changing state policies
that prevent third-party
power purchase agree-
ments. In these arrange-
ments, solar energy com-
panies install solar panels
for little to no cost and
then bill the homeowner
for the energy these pan-
els produce. In states
where these agreements
are allowed, they have
been very successful at
bringing solar to home-
owners who otherwise
might not be able to af-
ford solar power.
A solar system is a
great hedge against in-
creases in electricity
rates, and provides tangi-
ble savings to those who
otherwise may spend
much of their limited
income on electricity. My
family is thrilled to have
been able to afford the
upfront costs and partici-
pate in the Solarize
orange campaign. As a
community, let's find a
way to make the benefits
of solar available to all of
our neighbors.
David Neal s a member of
the Orange County.
Commission for the
Environment.
Environment
TO THE EDITOR:
The Orange County Conunission for the Environment
(CFE) encourages Orange County voters to vote in favor
of the Connect NC Bond referendum, which will appear
on the March 15 ballot. The Bond would provide $75
million (out of a total $2 billion package) to build and
improve facilities at state parks, which would help fund
work on visitor centers, hiking trails, and campgrounds.
Among the parks and trails that would receive signifi-
cant funding from the bond are Eno River State Park
and the NC Mountains -to -Sea Trail, both of which are
see LETTERS page 5
CONTIMUED FROM PAGE 4
pa�_tially local cu in our county. The
bond funding will enable the county
to invest in improving and expanding
trails at Eno River State Park and help
acquire properties or easements neces-
sary to complete the NC Mountains -to-
Sea trail within the county. In addition,
the bond includes funding for Jordan
Lake State Recreation Area, which is
enjoyed by many residents of the county.
By funding improvements to these trea-
sured state parks and trails, all county
residents will have an opportunity to
benefit hom the Connect NC Bond ini-
tiative for years to come.
The bond also provides over $300
million in loans and grants for the .
improvement of water and sewer infra -
structure statewide. Orange County will
be well- positioned to apply for these
funds to repair, rebuild, update, and
strengthen the county's water and sewer
systems. These improvements could
help prevent the loss of treated drink-
ing water through leaking water sup-
ply pipes, an important consider-
ation especially,in periods of drought.
Additionally, these funds can be used to
address sanitary sewer infrastructure that
is dated or in disrepair, thereby reduc-
ing chronic leakage from pipes, as well
as sewage overflow events during heavy
rain storms.
For all these reasons, the CFE strong-
ly encourages voters to support the
Connect NC Bond referendum on March
15.
Sincerely,
Lydia Wegman, Chair
Orange County Commission for the Environment
Attachment 6
ORANGE COUNTY
COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Since February CFE members have worked with staff to develop monthly articles for the Chapel
Hill News and The News of Orange County. Thus far there have been articles on hydrilla in the Eno
River, electronic vehicle charging stations, the benefits of native plants, problems caused by the
emerald ash borer and other invasive species, and the effects of fracking on Orange County.
Revised Calendar for Preparing /Puhlishing News Articles
March 2016
Topic
SOE
Committee (Lead)
Completion
Publication
H drilla in the Eno
I
pp. 69 -70
Water Cada /Davis
Aril, 2015
Aril 29, 2015
New electric vehicle
charging stations
pp. 21 -22
Air & Energy Bouma
Aril 15, 2015
May 17, 2015
Pollinator Issues
pp. 43 -44
Land O'Connor /Shaw
une 15, 2015
Pending
Terrestrial invasives /
choosing native s
PP 43 -44
Land Resources
Hintz /Shaw
Aug 15, 2015
Aug 19, 2015
Potential effects of
frackin in Orange Co.
pp 71 -72
Water (Davis /Sassaman)
Nov 15, 2015
Nov 25, 2015
Solarize Orange /
Barriers to solar
development
N/A
Air & Energy (Neal /Bouma)
Jan 15, 2016
Feb 24, 2016
Water conservation
pp. 47- 54
Water Cada /Davis
Dec 15, 2016
Pending
Support for State Bond
pp. 37 -42
We man/Cada
Feb 15, 2016
March 2, 2016
State funding for aquatic
weed control in rivers?
pp. 69 -70
Water /Davis
Land conservation
Hollow Rock ark?
. 37 -42
Land /Shaw
Air & Energy /Bouma
Reconsider schedule for 2016 (change to quarterly?)
Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation
PO Box 8181 /306 -A Revere Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245 -2510
1.
2016 CFE Outreach Opportunities
March 2016
Events
• Earth Evening April 29th, 6 - 8 pm, River Park, Hillsborough
• Last Fridays Downtown Hillsborough, approx. 6 :30 — 9 pm
ht 22tz
➢ May 27
➢ June 24
➢ July 29
➢ August 26
➢ September 23
2. Potential Topics?
• CFE Newspaper Articles
• Hollow Rock Nature Park Opening
• Recruitment of New Members
• Other ??
Air and Energy Resources Committee (May, Tom, Bill N.)
1. Climate Change — Climate change, alternative energy sources and efficiency, and
steps to reduce their (and County government's) carbon footprint.
Water Resources Committee (Peter, Rebecca, Sheila, Bill K.)
1. Eno Hydrilla Management Task Force Pilot Study:
a. Educate the public about second year of project in the Eno
b. Provide info concerning communicating with NCGA about enabling legislation
2. Water Supply — Local water supplies and what steps can be taken to improve/
maintain quality and quantity of water supplies into the future.
Land Resources Committee (Loren, Jeanette, Lydia, David, Lynne)
1. Native Landscaping - Reasons to choose a diversity of regionally native species for
landscaping and other ways to promote biodiversity.
Orange County
COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
(updated January 2016)
POS #
DATE OF APPOINTMENT
TERM
TELEPHONE
TOWNSHIP OF
[NAME
HOME ADDRESS
COMMITTEE (Representation)
ENDS
E -MAIL
RESIDENCE
May Becker #1
9/21 /10 & 11 /6/14
511 Cotton Street
Air & Energy Resources
12/31/17
919 - 969 -7439
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(At Large)
tomatocutter@yahoo.com
Peter Cada #10
9/21/10 & 11/6/14
420 Coach House Lane
Water Resources
12/31/17
919 - 485 -2071
Eno
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(At Large)
peter.cada@tetratech.com
Thomas Eisenhart #6
1/22/15
605 Jones Ferry Road, Apt TT15
Air & Energy Resources
12/31/16
919 - 360 -7468
Chapel Hill
Carrboro, NC 27510
(At Large)
tomeisenhart@gmaiI.com
Lynne Gronback (Vice Chair) #14
3/17/15 & 12/15/15
2420 Sunnyfield Court
Land Resources
12/31/18
919 - 219 -3219
Bingham
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(At Large)
Lgronback@gmail.com
Loren Hintz #4
1/27/09
804 Kings Mill Rd.
Land Resources
12/31/16
919 - 933 -8987
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(Biological Resources)
ldhintz@beIlsouth.net
Bill Kaiser #5
12/15/15
2112 Markham Dr.
Water Resources
12/31/18
919 - 933 -9794
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(Water Resources)
w_mckaiser hotmaiLcom
William Newby #2
5/20/14
2821 Becketts Ridge Road
Air & Energy Resources
12/31/16
919 - 541 -5296
Hillsborough
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(Air Quality)
newby.william@epa.gov
Jeanette O'Connor #9
5/21/13 & 11/6/14
117 S Peak Dr.
Land Resources
12/31/17
703 - 678 -6893
Chapel Hill
Carrboro, NC 27510
(At Large)
jeanette.oconnor gmaiLcom
Rebecca Ray #15
11/19/13 & 12/15/15
5617 Jomali Drive
Water Resources
12/31/18
919 - 383 -0685
Eno
Durham, NC 27705
(At Large)
rebecca.ray@nc.rr.com
Sheila Thomas -Ambat #8
11/6/14
103 Hunter Hill Place
Water Resources
12/31/16
919 - 225 -4744
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(At Large)
staemail@yahoo.com
Lydia Wegman (Chair) #3
11/19/13 & 11/6/14
5704 Cascade Drive
Land Resources
12/31/17
919 - 886 -8775
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(At Large)
Inwegman@gmail.com
David Welch #11
9/21/10 & 11/6/14
20 East Drive
Land Resources
12/31/17
919 - 406 -2101
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(At Large)
davwelch@hotmail.com
VACANT #7
//16
Resources
12/31/16
At Large)
VACANT #12
/ /16
Resources
12/31/18
(Engineer)
VACANT #13
/ /16
Resources 12/31/18
At Lar e
David Stancil 245 -2522
Director, Dept. of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Rec.
dstancil @orangecountync.gov
Rich Shaw 245 -2514
Land Conservation Manager
rshaw @orangecountync.gov
Tom Davis 245 -2513
Water Resources Coordinator
tdavis @orangecountync.gov
Brennan Bouma 245 -2626
Sustainability Coordinator
bbouma @orangecountync.gov
3/8/2016
CFE Committee Priorities
(DRAFT Revision - February 201 6)
Air and Energy Resources Committee
(May Becker, Tom Eisenhart, Bill Newby)
1. GHG Emissions Inventory — Consider whether it is feasible and worthwhile to conduct a
comprehensive update of the County 2005 greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
2. Green Building — Help the County develop an incentive program for green construction.
3. Climate Change — Educate county residents about climate change, alternative energy sources
and efficiency, and steps to reduce their (and County government's) carbon footprint.
4. Energy Efficiency — Partner with Piedmont Electric Membership Corp and /or Duke Energy
to take advantage of USDA program for low- interest loans for energy efficient upgrades for
its members /owners.
Water Resources Committee
(Peter Cada, Rebecca Ray, Sheila Thomas - Ambat, Bill Kaiser)
1. Stream Buffers — Conduct a literature review of the science in support of maintaining
vegetative buffers to protect water quality, aquatic habitat, and biodiversity.
2. Hydrilla Treatments — Continue to educate the public about hydrilla and other invasive species
of concern; continue to monitor chemical treatments to assure they are not harmful to rivers.
3. Surface and Ground Water Quality — Increase the collection of data for surface and ground
water quality; increase public education so it might lead to more funding for data collection.
4. Water Supply — Continue to educate county residents about our water supply and what steps
can be taken to improve /maintain quality and quantity of future water supplies into the future.
Land Resources Committee
(Loren Hintz, Jeanette O'Connor, Lydia Wegman, David Welch, Lynne Gronback)
1. Comprehensive Conservation Plan — Collaborate on the development of a comprehensive
conservation plan for Orange County for Legacy program and others to protect natural areas
and wildlife habitat. Consider ways to ensure conservation land is distributed equitably
throughout the county so that everyone has reasonable access to enjoy these areas.
2. Native Plant Habitats - Renew collaboration with NC Botanical Garden and others to identify
significant roadside habitat for native plants; then ask NCDOT and other utilities to eliminate
the use of herbicides to manage vegetation in those special roadside habitats.
3. Native Landscaping - Educate homeowners and businesses on reasons to choose a diversity of
regionally native species for landscaping and other ways to promote biodiversity.
4. 2016 State Bond — Educate county residents on reasons to vote in favor of the $2 billion State
Bond (March 15, 2016 primary elections)
ORANGE, COUNIA
Departmeift c, /':F nviroiimeyiL,
Agriculture, Parks& Reereation.
TP IT, rOTETTITIT191lu N
To:
Orange County Commission for the Environment
From:
Tom Davis, Water Resources Coordinator
Date:
March 8, 2016
RE:
Eno River Hydrifla Management Funding
01/1 7`�'J!?Al airu/ Cth, TURA I RI-.."SOURCES DAIMON
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510 Fax: (919) 644-3351
November 30, 2015
Mr. Tom Davis, Water Resources Coordinator
Orange County
306A Revere Rd.
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Re: Future State Funding for Aquatic Weed Control Projects
Dear Mr. Tom Davis;
PAT MCCRORY
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
As a unit of local government currently receiving financial assistance for aquatic weed management
through our cooperative funding program, this letter is intended as notification of a change in the funding
process for the Aquatic Weed Control Program (AWCP). Under G.S.143- 215.73F [Shallow Draft
Navigation Channel Dredging and Lake Maintenance Fund] —Uses of Fund.; states the following:
"(2) For aquatic weed control projects in waters of the State located within lakes under Article
15 of Chapter 113A of the General Statutes. Funding for aquatic weed control projects is limited
to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in each fiscal year."
The above referenced statute limits the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality — Division
of Water Resources' (DEQ -DWR) AWCP to only provide technical assistance and funding of projects
that are located within lakes. In the past, the AWCP funding was provided through the Water Resources
Development Projects with no limitations on aquatic weed control projects in the states surface waters.
This change in the use of funds for the AWCP may affect one or more of your projects, for which the
DWR has previously provided technical and financial assistance. We understand this operational change
may result in management issues with existing aquatic weed infestations within your jurisdiction that
previously qualified for technical and financial assistance. At this time, only projects located within lakes
will be eligible for the technical and financial assistance.
Thank you very much for your attention to this important matter. Please contact Linwood Peele at
linwood.peeleCuncdenr.gov or(919)707-9024, or Tom Fransen at toln.fransen(a,.ncdenr.�-,ov or(919)707-
9015, if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Tom Fransen, Water Planning Section Chief
Division of Water Resources
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699 -1611
919 707 9000
From: Friends of Bolin Creek [mailto:FriendsBolinCreek@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016
Friends of Bolin Creek
. ........ .
Protecting our Bolin Creek Watersbed
hrtp:/A,)ohncreek,org
Clean Up the Coal Ash Dump in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Police station, 828 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill
In May 2014, the Town of Chapel Hill informed the public that a
coal ash landfill was found to be located on the site of the Chapel
Hill Police Building. For more than a decade in the 1960s and '70s,
this property was used as a burial pit for coal ash. The coal ash in
this unlined landfill contains known hazardous substances,
including heavy metals that have leached out into the environment
and will continue to do so.
The discovery of the coal ash deposit was likely made during a
2013-14 review of town property launched by the staff when
considering the sale of town assets. The presence of the coal ash
waste undoubtedly complicates the decision to sell the property.
Whatever the town decides to do about the location of a new police
station, we would expect that our Town will clean up the site.
Chapel Hill residents deserve no less.
allow the coal ash to remain in an unlined pit in the center of town.
Here is topqagr tj�ca l rnap showing the location of the coal deposit.
The Town hired a consultant Falcon Engineering to make tests and
to report to the North Carolina Department of the Environmental
Quality (DEQ). Soil samples taken on the site by Falcon in early
2014 identified elevated levels of coal ash metals in the ground
water such as arsenic, mercury, chromium, lead, thallium, and
other dangerous pollutants. Well test results have been mixed at a
new set of well locations, where the consultant used filtered
samples without finding high levels of dissolved coal ash
pollutants.
Friends of Bolin Creek has raised questions about the procedures
used and the choice of location for the tests, and we have
communicated our concerns to the Town and Department of
Environmental Quality.
The Town has posted a Web page called "Chapel Hill Coal Ash
Disposal Site Remediation Project" containing relevant documents
b.e-r-e-, In mid 2015, Friends of Bolin Creek requested help from the
Southern Environmental Law Center for legal and support services.
Clean up makes a difference. According to a January 29, 2016
report, groundwater contamination dramatically declined along the
Catawba-Wateree River after a South Carolina utility removed the
coal ash under a settlement negotiated by the Southern
Environmental Law Center. See article.
"These results confirm that when you remove the polluting coal
ash, you also eliminate pollution of groundwater," said Frank
Holleman, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law
Center. "Duke Energy and North Carolina's Department of
Environmental Quality must wake up to this reality, learn from
South Carolina, and move all of Duke Energy's polluting coal ash
from unlined waterfront pits to safe dry lined storage. Otherwise,
North Carolina's groundwater will be polluted for years to come."
North Carolina has more than 30 such sites in 14 different
locations across the state. A pipe running under one of the ponds
run by Duke Energy in Eden NC ruptured in February of 2014. The
coal ash spilled, largely affecting the Dan River which flows into
Virginia. The spill is the third largest of its kind in U.S. history.
� �=� ���
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May 27, 2014
Mr. Lance Norris
Public Works Director
Town of Chapel Hill
Public Works Department
685Uk4iUhVuseRoad
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 275l6
Re: Coal Combustion Products (CCP) Limits Exhibit
828 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Dear Mr. Norris:
Falcon Engineering, Inc. (Falcon) is pleased to provide the requested exhibit showing the approximate
limits of Coal Combustion Products (CCP) located at the property identified as 828 Martin Luther King Jr
Blvd in Chapel Hill, NC. This provided figure is only an exhibit and does not present o definitive
delineation of these buried materials. Based upon the completed site work, which included limited soil
boring locations and visual evaluation of site conditions, Falcon is able to approximate these limits. In
order to provide u more exact delineation o more extensive sampling and subsurface investigations
would borequired.
This exhibit provides data gathered as port of sampling and vboo| observations performed as pod of
twelve (12) soil boring locations (indicated as GP) and the installation of three (3) monitoring wells
(indicated as MVVi The southern limits of this approximate area are based upon field observations and
confirmatory soil samples collected at three (3) distinct locations. All soil boring locations were surveyed
by licensed land surveyor for accuracy and data reliability. At each soil boring |ocohon. Falcon
provides an estimate of native soil cover that was encountered covering the CCP and the depth at
which the CCP was observed during these borings. These soil cover and CCP depths are provided for
informational purposes only and demonstrate the highly variable condition present at this site.
VVe appreciate the opportunity to serve the Chapel Hill Community. U you have any questions, please
give me a call at (919) 871-0800.
Sincerely,
FALCON ENG|NEERING,|NC.
Josh Dunbar, PE
Director of Design Services
Enclosures
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The study looked at
schools in Wake, Durham
.................................. I ................
....
BY T. KEUNG HUI
kliui@iieivsobset,ver.com
A new report for the John
Locke ]Foundation says
green schools in North
Carolina and nationally fall
short of their promised
energy savings and can be
less energy - efficient than
traditional schools.
The report looked at
green schools in four North
Carolina school districts,
including Wake and Dur-
ha n counties, and found
most were less energy-
efficient than similar
schools in their districts.
The report, which was
released this week, says
that the failure of those
schools to produce energy
savings as promised is an
"environmental failure."
Proponents of green
building say that most
schools built according to
environmentally sensitive
principles do save money
and can have other bene-
fits for students. The
schools cited in the report
had received certification
from the U.S. Green Build-
ing Council's Leadership
in Energy and Environ-
mental Design (LEED)
system.
The report was written
by Todd Myers, envi-
ronmental director of the
conservative Washington
Policy Center in Seattle.
"Even when green
schools are among the.
best in the district, the
amount of extra (construc-
tion) money spent out-
weighs the savings, ".
Myers said. "You're essen-
tially spending a dollar to
save a dime at best. But
most schools don't even
end up with that much."
Joe Desormeaux, Wake
County's assistant super-
intendent for facilities,
said schools could have
similar results because the
district has for years tried
to make all schools ener-
gy- efficient.
"Our goal is to make a
good, energy - conscious
school all along whether it
has LEED certification or
not," Desormeaux said.
In Wake County, Myers
said, Alston Ridge Ele-
mentary School in Cary
uses more natural gas per
square foot than compara-
ble district schools. But
4� -2Y- 2 o f (,
rn
YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY SPENDING
DOLLAR TO SAVE A DIME AT BEST. BUT
MOST SCHOOLS DON'T EVEN END U
WITH THAT MUCH.
Todd Myers, environmental director of the
conservative 6flashington Policy Center
Myers adds that it's not 'a
surprising result because
very few of the points that
Alston Ridge received for
its LEER certification
came from the energy
efficiency area. The school
got extra points in areas
such as indoor air quality.
The U.S. Green Building
Council cited a 2006
report that found that
green schools, on average,
use 33 percent less energy
and 32 percent less water
than conventionally con-
structed schools.
"'Today, nearly thou-
sands of K -12 school pro -
jects participating in
LEER are saving energy,
water and precious re-
sources, reducing waste
and carbon emissions,
creating jobs, saving mon-
ey, driving innovation and
providing healthier., more
comfortable spaces for
children to learn, play and
grow," the U.S Green
Building Council said in a
written statement.
In Durham, Myers said
W.G. Pearson Elementary
and Sandy Ridge Ele-
mentary ranked 10th and
15th, respectively, among
28 comparable district
schools in energy cost per
square foot. Myers said
both schools were also
much less energy- efficient
than the older Holt Ele-
mentary School.
The Green Building
Council said there are
other benefits to green
schools, such as providing
more natural lighting,
better acoustics and clean-
er, fresher, air.
"Green schools empha-
size high indoor air qual-
ity, remove toxic materials
and products and reduce
CO2 emissions," accord-
ing to the Green Building
Council. "Green schools
offer welcoming learning
environments that lessen
distractions and encour-
age student participation."
But Myers said at the
center of the green
schools' claims is that the
higher cost of school con-
struction is worth it be-
cause they are helping to
save the planet by saving
energy.'
"School districts and
taxpayers are paying extra
money to feel good about
the environment even if
they're not making
schools better for the
environment," he said.
T. Keung Hui:
919 -829 -4534, @nckhui
■
I
JT
"A
By Justin Worland
THE COMMUNITY OF PORTER RANCH LOOKS LIKE ANY
other prosperous Los Angeles suburb: green lawns, tree-lined
streets, three-car garages. But in the hills behind houses that
might have sold for a million dollars just months ago, an es-
timated 65,000 lb. of methane gas per hour is spilling from a
7-in. hole in the ground, forcing thousands of people to flee
their homes and polluting the climate—and it's all invisible.
The rupture in an underground pipe linking one of the
country's largest natural-gas storage reservoirs, known as Aliso
Canyon, to the earth's surface has created one of the worst en-
vironmental disasters in recent memory. And the leak, which
began in October, will take months more to fix. Children in the
area have experienced headaches, bloody noses and vomiting.
The Federal Aviation Administration declared the area a no-
fly zone out of concern that an aircraft might ignite the highly
flammable invisible natural gas. California Governor Jerry
Brown declared a state of emergency this month.
The accident may be unique in its enormous scale—one
day of the leak warms the climate at a rate equivalent to driv-
ing more than 4.5 million cars for a day—but it's just one of
thousands of leaks plaguing the country's vast natural-gas
system. Wear and tear on the system has worsened in re-
cent years as new fracking technology has greatly expanded
the area being drilled. The boom has generally been a good
thing—natural gas burns cleaner than coal, and the promotion
of gas has been a key part of Obama's climate program. But
natural gas's green credentials are diminished by leaks. And
new research shows that leaks are uncomfortably common.
It's not clear what caused this leak. industry experts point
to the age of the Aliso Canyon storage facility—it's more than
6o years old —as well as equipment that, while meeting regu-
latory requirements, has not been updated in decades. What's
clear is that the Southern California Gas Co. was slow to rec-
ognize the scale of the disaster after it discovered the leak in
late October. The company first tried to plug the leak by fill-
ing the well's shaft with fluid. But the pressure of the gas as it
pushed up from the ground was simply too strong.
The company acknowledged in December—after an esti-
mated 50,000 metric tons leaked—that it had no alternative
but to drill a relief well. The process, similar to the method ulti-
mately used to stop the 2olo BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico,
involves drilling a new well that curves around and intercepts
the leaky well deep underground. Engineers will then fill the
relief well with mud and fluid intended to seal the original well.
Southern California Gas says the operation should be done by
March. "We share everyone's concerns about this leak's ongo-
ing impact on the community and environment, and we are
working as quickly and as safely as possible to stop it," says Gil-
lian Wright, a customer-service executive for the company.
That's a time frame that pleases no one. Porter Ranch resi-
IRFAN KHAN-LOS ANGELES TIMES /AP
"Phis
dents say they've experienced a slew of
is die
short-term illnesses they connect to the
begirvining,
gas spill. Property values have plum-
We'r(?
meted. Environmentalists warn that
the longer the leak goes on, the bigger
goirig to
the impact all that methane—a more
(?e this
powerful greenhouse gas than carbon
a ,..1 o ve
dioxide - -will have on the climate.
the pleAce."
But the gas company argues, and
R. REX PARRIS,
engineers who work on drilling proj-
attorney for
ects agree, that there's simply no way
Porter Ranch
to fix the well faster. "This is very big
residents
and complex," said Timothy O'Connor,
director of the Environmental Defense
Fund's California oil and gas program.
"Does that mean you get a free pass be-
cause your leaks are very difficult? Or
does that mean you should be held to a
higher standard of care?"
Aliso Canyon is not the only storage
facility in the U.S. that is at risk of leak-
ing. There are more than 40o natural-
gas storage facilities fashioned out of
former mines and other underground
formations that together store some
3.6 trillion cu. ft. of natural gas. The gas
is moved to U.S. homes, businesses and
power plants through a vast network of
pipes and service lines.
Adam Brandt, a Stanford professor
who studies energy engineering, ar-
gues that such a complex system needs
regular maintenance. "It's like going to
the dentist and fixing problems while
SOURCES: EDE; EPA; LATIMES; ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
they're small," he says. But much of the
natural-gas network has operated for
decades with little investment in ef-
forts to inspect and update the system,
while regulations are outdated and often
lightly enforced. A full accounting for
methane leaks is difficult to compile,
but recent research has estimated that
natural-gas-gathering facilities alone
leak ioo billion cu. ft. of methane each
year—more gas than the entire country
burns in a day. obama proposed new
rules last year to reduce fugitive meth-
ane emissions from the power sector, but
even if finalized—the rules face GOP and
industry opposition—they would ad-
dress only a small portion of total leaks.
The Porter Ranch spill may be a
wake-up call. California launched
an emergency rulemaking effort this
month that requires the use of infrared
technology to detect leaks—methane
is visible on infrared video —and reg-
ular testing of safety valves used on
wells. Without such efforts, energy
and environmental-policy makers may
need to rethink how they use gas to
fight climate change. "This is the begin-
ning. We're going to see this all over the
place," said R. Rex Parris, an attorney
for displaced residents. "These wells
are messed up just like our roads and
bridges are messed up. But at least you
can see that." a
ROOM