Lawrence Odle spent his last day on the job as director of the
Maricopa County Air Quality Department in a place where he has
weathered a barrage of questions and criticism — the West Valley. Last
week, he announced he would leave his office for personal reasons, as a
family situation has necessitated a move out of state.
And while Odle had no specific answers Tuesday to concerns residents
have about pollution from area mining operations, he continued to offer
hope that a new program will help solve the problem even after he is
gone.
The county air quality department has been under task force scrutiny
since before Odle took over in 2008. With 28 sand-and-gravel operations
in the Agua Fria riverbed and permit applications for more on the way,
the task force has said the department has not done enough to protect
the public health.
Most recently, West Valley residents voiced their concerns about
plans by Lafarge North America to construct a hot-mix asphalt plant
near Coyote Lakes in Surprise and Ventana Lakes in Peoria.
Nearly 200 people urged MCAQD officials at a February meeting to
deny the permit on the grounds that an asphalt plant will make already
dirty air even worse. One of the biggest complaints of the people on
hand was about cumulative modeling. If the county would consider the
cumulative emissions of all sources in any given area, they said, the
air quality surely would be deemed unsafe.
On Tuesday, Odle said the cumulative model he has developed is moving forward and could be the answer that residents seek.
"We have been working on this for quite some time and at no point
have we been given any indication that this policy will not be put into
action," he said. "If I’ve done my homework correctly, then the policy,
at least in concept, would be supported by those above my office. As
far as I can tell, this policy will move forward.
"This policy will require a screening model take place for all new
operations," he said. "So that new operation will be screened with
others in the area, and if that model shows a violation, it sets the
stage for the permit to be denied."
The department deals with non-discretionary permits, he said,
meaning officials cannot deny a permit if emission standards are met.
With cumulative modeling, those emission standards will be more
stringent, which Odle views as at least a step in the right direction.
"Ultimately, the answer to this problem is going to have to be
legislation," he said. "With this policy, we are moving as far down
this path as we legally can. It is probably the most important revision
to our policies in 10 years. But at some point, a legislator is going
to have to introduce a bill that changes the zoning policy."
Mining operations are exempt from zoning restrictions, meaning a
mine could set up shop next to a neighborhood. Odle said without a
legislative change, the air quality department can do little to block
mining operations. He did add, however, that the department understands
the problem.
"You should realize you have the support of this staff," he said.
"But the focus needs to be on the Legislature. My advice would be to
use the system. I think it is a common misnomer to say elected
officials don’t listen. They do listen. And they will listen to you.
Take advantage of the system."
Odle said he believes the task force can and will force the law to change.
"I think you have a strong issue," he said. "At some point, there becomes too many operations in one place."