Agenda - 01-31-2012 - 3 - Laserfiche WebLink

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42 Commission for the Environment December 2011 • Advise County staff on implementing selected objectives of the Comprehensive Plan • Help develop a comprehensive conservation plan for Orange Co (BOCC Priority #1) • Continue to monitor UNC's transition from coal to biomass for power generation • Provide recommendations for land conservation priorities through the Lands Legacy Action Plan 2013-15 (BOCC Priorities #1 and #24) • Co-sponsor the inaugural DEAPR photography contest: The Nature of Orange • Review/comment on proposed stewardship/master plans for future parks/preserves • Assist County staff with implementing the County's Environmental Responsibility Goal What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the upcoming year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' attention? • The. ongoing need to fully implement the Water Resources Initiative to ensure planning for an adequate water supply for current and anticipated future needs • The use of herbicides to control growth of vegetation along roadsides is destroying significant habitat for native plants. The CFE will ask the Commissioners to consider imposing a short-term moratorium so that volunteers may identify priority sites and work with NCDOT and other utilities to protect those roadside habitats. • .The US EPA has revised a number of Federal Air Quality standards that apply statewide. However, two air quality standards (ozone and particulate matter) that may affect Orange County will not be revised until 2013. In 2012, there may be advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) from EPA for these standards. In addition, there are other source/facility specific standards that are moving forward (e.g., mercury) through EPA. Both the ambient air quality standards and source specific regulations could require additional controls on emissions from private and public sectors. • Reducing Orange County's "carbon footprint" as follow-up to the 2011 update to the County's Greenhouse Gas Inventory (2005) with a renewed focus on the sustainable use and conservation of energy resources (e.g., the forthcoming natural gas pipeline from the Orange County Landfill to Carolina North is a good example of converting waste to energy) • Orange County's consideration of local funding for Triangle Region public transportation (transit), including aproposed'/ cent sales tax referendum • Interest in collaborating with the Planning Board and others on developing new requirements or incentives for developers of residential and commercial properties to reserve areas for solar energy generation [See attached memo to the BOCC] s