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15 Orange County State of the Environment Report —2000 Executive Summary February Z 2000 The 1 st annual State of the Environment report was developed by the Orange County Commission for the Environment, which advises the Orange County Commissioners on matters related to the County ' s natural environment . The Commission is comprised of 14 members and operates both as a committee - of the -whole and in three committees that examine key components of the County ' s environment . The report is based on the work of these three committees sin ➢ 0 Air Quality ➢ Biological Resources ➢ Environmental Indicators and Education - and is organized in this fashion, as three separate reports from the committees . The Commission adopted the three reports as its first State of the Environment report on December 6 , 1999 . In developing the reports , each committee spent time in Commission meetings and in special sessions exploring existing data and trends , evaluating and discussing ideas and issues , and developing goals and recommendations for the Board ' s consideration . As a result of a growing population, Orange County faces significant challenges to maintain its environmental quality . The Commission for the Environment is attempting to identify the status and trends of environmental quality in the County and to develop goals and recommendations to address environmental quality issues . The following sections briefly highlight issues , goals and recommendations from each report . Note : this document is not intended to summarize all of the substantial findings and trend analysis contained in the reports . Part I : Air Quality 7777777 StatusAssues • Mobile sources (motor vehicles) are the dominant source of air pollutants in the County • Orange County may not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone ( i . e . , be designated non- attainment) in the future if trends continue • Quantitative measurements of air quality are lacking in the County Goals • Greater awareness of transportation and air pollution issues in the County • Need for a regional view of air quality issues • Reduction in of County fleet on air quality RecommendataQns.: • Attempt to increase amount of information available about County air quality (need for ozone monitoring in Orange County) • County should assume a stronger role and be more proactive in addressing air pollution (such as recent actions taken to purchase low- emission vehicles for County vehicle fleet and institute ozone action plan) • Greater support for alternative modes of transportation • County should pursue Mobile Source Emission Reduction Grant in December 2000 for alternative - fueled vehicle pilot project