COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT - - - Room 696, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, May 1, 2003 9:57 a.m. - - - RESOLUTION 030082 - Resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Law and Government to hold hearings to investigate the state of the air quality in Philadelphia and to recommend ways and means to improve its air quality, and therefore, the health of all Philadelphians. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN, Chair COUNCILMAN ANGEL ORTIZ COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO - - - V A R A L L O, INCORPORATED LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2 05/01/03 - LAW & GOVERNMENT - RES. 030082
The Committee on Law and Government is now in Session. A quorum being present, the Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz for a motion with respect to the clean air resolution that is on the docket before City Council. You will all remember Council passed a resolution to investigate and issue a report prior to the May 2nd deadline set by the EPA for fair comment on proposed changes to the clean air regulation in Washington. Therefore, the Committee has dutifully prepared a report. It was circulated two days ago to all Members of the Committee, and yesterday to all Councilmembers. It's a very fine report. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Ortiz for the purpose of the motion.
Mr. Chairman, I move that the report on Resolution 030082 be reported out of the committee with favorable recommendation.
That report generally is in opposition to the proposed changes by the current Administration in Washington with respect to current requirements that are required. It 3 05/01/03 - LAW & GOVENMENT - RES. 030082 substitutes a whole series of voluntary proposals. The problems the report notes is that Philadelphia suffers from a severe ozone nonattainment rating and has one of the worst records in the nation. It used to be the leader in the country. It's now far behind because of the heavy level of ozone and particulate matter, as a result of which, many thousands of Philadelphians suffer from asthma. And that represents a No. 1 medical problem in Philadelphia. The proposed regulations would further remove restrictions and substitute voluntary compliance. And as a previous changes to voluntary compliance, the air has gotten much worse in Philadelphia and throughout the nation. There were many witnesses that appeared before the Committee, including the director of the environment, Morris Fine on behalf of the Administration. All were in agreement, including the American Lung Association, that if health matters and other matters were to be dealt with appropriately, the clean air regulations had to be strengthened and not weakened. And that's the recommendation of the report. 4 05/01/03 - LAW & GOVENMENT - RES. 030082 We have to act on it today because tomorrow is the deadline for the receipt of fair comment by EPA. Is there any other discussion on this motion? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and report will be submitted to the meeting at City Council for final approval this morning. Thank you very much. (Council adjourned at 10:00 a.m.) - - - 5 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of May 1, 2003, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: COMMITTEE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT ___________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public