MISSION STATEMENT

"Coordinate and conduct air quality planning and education activities in Central Texas focused on motivating the citizens of this region to take actions to reduce air pollution and maintain healthy air; and to advise responsible government entities on air quality issues.”

The CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas is a 501(c)(3) corporation representing government, business, environmental, and community interests throughout Bastrop , Caldwell , Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. The focus of the organization's efforts is promoting programs and actions to reduce emissions that produce ground-level ozone, a major component of smog and regulated air pollutant under the federal Clean Air Act. The organization was founded in 1993 and incorporated in 1996. Activities focus on three air quality areas: (1) review and oversight of technical studies; (2) direction of information and outreach projects; and (3) coordination with other Texas near-nonattainment areas to secure state funding for monitoring and modeling work. In addition to programs (e.g., Clean Air Partners, Ozone Action Day, public awareness campaigns, etc.), CLEAN AIR Force meetings, open to the public, provide a forum for exchange of information and ideas. Operations funding is provided by annual contributions, grants, donations, and in-kind services from the membership.

Clean AIR Force By Laws Updated 3/15/2007
HISTORY

By the mid-eighties, several entities in the Austin area were initiating programs to improve air quality and to prevent the area’s being designated as non-attainment of federal air quality standards for ground-level ozone. Focus on the ozone issue was also prompted by the area’s exceedance, in the summer of 1985, of the then-applicable ozone standard, 120 parts of ozone per billion parts of air (parts per billion, or ppb). Although that standard has not been exceeded since 1985, it was reached in four of the following nine years, most recently in 1994.

Recognizing the detrimental health, economic, and quality of life impacts of deteriorating air quality, groups such as the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (formerly Austin Transportation Study), the City of Austin, TxDOT Austin District, the American Lung Association, and other area business and community leaders saw the need to coordinate amongst themselves to (1) provide a more effective air quality improvement message; and (2) to launch and finance much-needed technical studies.

In 1993, representatives from these organizations joined to form “Clean Air Metro Austin,” the core of what is currently the Clean AIR Force Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Since 1993, membership in the TAC has expanded to include additional representatives from businesses, local government, environmental groups, neighborhood associations, and public interest groups, as well as private citizens concerned about air quality. TAC members are volunteers, providing valuable technical expertise and insight to the program planning and policy process. Monthly meetings of the TAC, in turn, provide members with opportunities to stay abreast of technical and policy developments, to share ideas and information with colleagues, and to advise their respective organizations on air quality issues.

In 1995, Clean Air Metro Austin became the Austin AIR Force and applied for incorporation as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. A part-time executive director was recruited and a Board of Directors was assembled. The organization was again re-named, CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas in early 1996 to reflect the regional nature of air quality issues.

FUNDING

Beginning in 1997, local governments in Hays, Travis and Williamson counties, recognizing the need for a strong, cohesive regional effort, provided funding for office operations and a full-time executive director. Presently the CLEAN AIR Force consists of an Executive Director and Program Assistant and is funded by both public and private funds, including local government entities and the Central Austin business community. Additional program funding has and continues to be provided by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). CLEAN AIR Force member organizations from both the public and private sector have contributed to special-project funding, in-kind services, donations of equipment, and their contributions of staff time and expertise over the past ten years. Since October 1, 1999, the CLEAN AIR Force has contracted with the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) to provide financial services to the organization.

Financial reports are available on request (512-225-7780) and a copy of the organization’s most recent annual report can be found at www.cleanairforce.org

MEMBERSHIP

Board of Directors

There are 37 members of the CLEAN AIR Force board of directors, representing a broad spectrum of community, business, and government organizations. The board reviews and makes recommendations on air quality policy, public outreach, and technical issues. Its quarterly meetings, open to the public, provide an important forum for the exchange of information, ideas, and perspectives. The Board's decisionmaking authority is limited to internal policies. Its external role is providing an opportunity for varied interests to work together on a common goal and to stay abreast of policy and technical developments in the air quality arena. Board members are not compensated for their time. Scheduled meetings are the first Wednesday in March, June, September, and December, 11:30 to 1:00, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce offices, 210 Barton Springs Road. Meeting dates and times may change to accommodate schedules—check www.cleanairforce.org for updated information.

Executive Committee

A 14 member executive committee oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization. The members include the CLEAN AIR Force officers—chair, vice-chair, and secretary-treasurer. Current officers are Jim Marston (Environmental Defense), Glenn West (Guaranty Bank), Sandy Hentges (Austin Chamber of Commerce). The other members are board representatives from CAMPO, CTRMA, Sage Environmental, Rogers & Whitley, L.L.P., City of Austin, Travis County, Hays County, Bastrop County, Caldwell County, Williamson County and Freescale Semiconductor.

Technical Advisory Committee

The Technical Advisory Committee reviews and evaluates air quality issues, work programs projects by the CLEAN AIR Force, and, as appropriate, provides recommendations to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. The regular membership is generally reflective of the make-up of the Board of Directors—a mixture of government, business, environmental, and community representatives; however participation is open to all interested parties. The Technical Advisory Committee meets at Austin Chamber of Commerce, 9:30 a.m., fourth Thursday of the month (except in November and December when one meeting is held in early December).

Office of the Executive Director

In addition to general management and administrative responsibilities, the Executive Director prepares the annual budget for the corporation, develops and implements programs, and, in coordination with the Executive Committee, manages the financial and corporate affairs of the corporation. The Executive Director provides administrative support to the Board of Directors and Technical Advisory Committee and is responsible for maintaining corporate records. The Executive Director also serves as the primary spokesperson for the organization, interacting with media, elected officials, community groups and other organizations with an interest in air quality issues.

Activities and Projects – 1993-Present

Working with TCEQ (formerly TNRCC) and the University of Texas, oversee the collection and analysis of air quality data for the region. These analyses have been crucial to a solid understanding of the sources of pollution and to the design of effective strategies for improving air quality. Annual reports summarizing monitoring results identifying future data needs have been prepared.

Serving as the local spokesperson for the region’s Ozone Action Day Program (initiated in 1993), including e-mail notification to over 300 area employers the afternoon prior to an Ozone Action Day. Advance notification allows employees to plan alternate travel arrangements or to take other voluntary actions to reduce pollution on Ozone Action Days. CLEAN AIR Force staff and volunteers also interact extensively with area news media during the ozone season and particularly on Ozone Action Days, providing interviews and technical information.

Working with other Texas near-nonattainment areas (Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Victoria), successful in securing funding from the state legislature in 1995-2001 sessions for air quality monitoring and modeling programs. Funding in 1995 for the Austin area was $130,00; that biennial funding has increased to a little over $1,000,000 for the 2001 biennium.

Monthly meetings of the CLEAN AIR Force Technical Advisory Committee bring business, government, environmental groups, and interested individuals together to discuss air quality issues, programs, and outreach initiatives. The meetings provide an opportunity for coordinating and publicizing efforts by individual member organizations, for keeping members up-to-date on technical issues and findings, and for discussions of public policy issues as input to decision-making processes.

Participation in CAMPO’s “Commute Solutions” program, an employer-focused program to promote actions at the management level to facilitate or encourage alternatives to drive-alone commuting. Projects include facility surveys to help management identify appropriate commute/parking solutions, guidance for development of effective telecommuting programs, and conduct of on-site “transit fairs” for employees. The fairs give employees access to information and materials describing regional air quality issues, promote alternatives to the single-occupant commute, and increase general awareness of air quality and congestion management issues.

Conduct of news conferences, typically two per year, one in the spring to announce the beginning of the area’s ozone season, and a second in the fall at the season’s conclusion. Both news conferences seek to strengthen the public interest and concern about air quality issues, provide technical data, and reinforce the need for individual voluntary actions to reduce levels of ground-level ozone (smog).

Design, production, and distribution of public information materials--brochures, promotional items with tips for taking actions to reduce air pollution (magnets, mouse pads), billing inserts, yard signs, posters, and school book covers (distributed to elementary, middle, and high schools in the CAMPO metropolitan area). These outreach efforts are supplemented in the late summer (period of highest ozone levels) with radio and print ad campaigns.

Interaction with news media, area decisionmakers, and concerned citizens to assure that the most accurate, thorough, and consistent message is delivered. Staff and members make presentations to a wide array of audiences throughout the year.

Developing plans and policy recommendations associated with potential designation of the Austin metropolitan area as nonattainment for ozone under the Clean Air Act. The CLEAN AIR Force formed a Clean Air Action Team in 1998 to evaluate emissions reductions strategies and identify potential cost-effective measures that could be part of a State Implementation Plan for Central Texas.

Overseeing the development of an urban airshed model, to characterize the meteorology, pollution sources and air quality of the Central Texas region. With financial assistance from the State of Texas and CAMPO, the University of Texas has been conducting the air quality monitoring and modeling necessary to identify the consequences of particular emission reduction measures.

Designing and implementing a Clean Air Partners Program (CAPP). CAPP works with area employers to design facility-specific emission reduction strategies. The Program was launched in 2000 with six charter members—Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, Motorola, Samsung, Solectron, and Vignette. There are now (2008) over 100 Partners in the 5-county Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Area (Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties) implementing programs and reporting reductions.

Working with elected officials, government and agency staff in the 5-county region, assisted in the preparation and production of the region's O₃ Flex Agreement with EPA and TCEQ. The Agreement was signed by 12 local governments—the Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson County Commissioners Courts, as well the city councils in Austin, Bastrop, Elgin, Lockhart, Luling, Round Rock, and San Marcos. Local governments made commitments to a variety of emission reduction strategies and are reporting the results of those commitments to EPA and TCEQ.

Also in collaboration with elected officials and staff, managing the Public and Stakeholder Involvement program as part of the Early Action Compact (EAC) Agreement. Pursuant to the EAC Agreement, the region is preparing a Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP). Measures adopted in the CAAP will become part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) and, therefore, mandatory and enforceable. Choosing appropriate and effective measures should be based on extensive involvement of stakeholders and the general public in this decisionmaking process.