CFE 061499 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resolution on a Recommendation that Orange County Establish a Plan for Reducing the County ' s Vehicle Fleet Emissions by the Use of Alternative Fueled Vehicles, Improved Fleet Maintenance, and / or Reduction of Vehicle Miles Traveled BACKGROUND - The Triangle region , in which Orange County is located , has elevated levels of ground - level ozone during the summer and may not be able to meet a new national ambient air quality standard ( NAAQS ) for ozone established by the U . S . Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) . The EPA has also established a new NAAQS for fine particulate matter ( PM2 . 5 ) . A NAAQS also exists for carbon monoxide , a gas emitted by motor vehicles . Gas - fueled and diesel -fueled vehicles emit air contaminants that contribute to the degradation of air quality . Volatile organic compounds emitted from vehicles result in ozone formation . Diesel vehicles emit particles . Orange County maintains a fleet of vehicles in support of County services . The fleet includes administrative vehicles , service vehicles , maintenance vehicles , trucks , and construction equipment . The County' s fleet of vehicles emit air contaminants during routine use . There are a number of technical approaches available to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds , hazardous air pollutants , and criteria pollutants from fleets of vehicles . Source emissions may be reduced by reducing the number of vehicle miles traveled . Improved vehicle maintenance may also reduce emissions . Air quality may be improved by using vehicles that have lower emissions due to either higher mileage efficiency or improved pollution controls . Another approach is to use alternative fuel vehicles . Alternative fuel vehicles currently available include those powered by natural gas or by electricity . In selecting a technical approach for reducing emissions from a fleet of vehicles , the advantages , limitations , costs , and benefits must be evaluated based on the type and age of vehicles in the fleet, the vehicle miles traveled , distances traveled , the usage pattern , and a variety of other factors . The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources awards Mobile Source Emissions Reductions Grants each year to achieve reductions from on - and off- road mobile source related emissions . The County of Orange is eligible to apply for these grants . Applicants for the grants are expected to share the cost for implementation , which can be substantial for efforts such as purchasing alternative fuel vehicles .