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WHEREAS, From 1993 to 2003, Orange County government, residents, and <br />businesses have received nearly $16.4 million in federal disaster <br />assistance funding; and <br />WHEREAS, The need for residents to learn more about the various disasters and haw <br />to protect themselves should be emphasized; <br />NOW THEREFORE, The Board of County Commissioners hereby proclaims the month <br />of September 2004 as National Preparedness Month in Orange County, <br />and encourages all residents to learn more about emergencies and <br />disasters and engage in sound preparedness practices. <br />Adopted this 9th day of September, 2004. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />7. Special Presentations <br />a. Report on Air Quality Conformity and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro <br />Metropolitan Planning Organization 2030 Lonq-Range Transportation Plan <br />The Board received an update on the air quality conformity process and Draft 2030 <br />Lang-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan <br />Planning Organization (DCHC). <br />Planner Karen Lincoln summarized the information in the agenda. She said that in April <br />of this year, Orange County was designated as part of a larger ozone non-attainment area that <br />also contains all of Person, Granville, Franklin, Durham, Wake, and Johnston Counties, and <br />four townships in Chatham County. The non-attainment areas must have transportation plans <br />approved by the Federal Highway Administration and the U. S. Environmental Protection <br />Agency by June 15, 2005. The plans have to show attainment of the ozone eight-hour standard <br />far the year 2009. If any of the areas of the transportation plan fails to meet conformity, then the <br />whole region fails. The consequences are no new federal authorization for federal-aid projects <br />until the entire area comes into conformity. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that all of these areas have politically different ideas. He <br />spoke with one elected official from one of these areas that spoke about needing mare growth <br />and residential development. He is worried about what happens in 2008 if the goals are not <br />achieved. Karen Lincoln said the area is now considered anon-attainment area and if you miss <br />the date, you are moved to a higher non-attainment area. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that the County can do a lot of things right, but that it would <br />get negated by the actions of others. This is discouraging. <br />Karen Lincoln said that as long as your plans are adopted and you are working on the <br />plans, you would not lose money. The funding is lost if there are no planning documents. <br />Chair Jacobs asked who oversees this process on the federal level. Karen Lincoln said <br />that the plans have to be approved by the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit <br />Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Chair Jacobs pointed out that the <br />standards may or may not be enforced, depending on the election. <br />Karen Lincoln pointed out some maps of the non-attainment area. There are three <br />Metropolitan Planning Organizations involved -Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC), Capital <br />Area (CAMPO), and the Burlington-Graham MPO for the portion of Mebane that is in Orange <br />County. There are also Rural Planning Organizations, which will assist in reviewing the <br />