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Buncombe County to assume air‑quality program; board adopts updates to air rules
Summary
The Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency board on June 24 adopted updates to air-quality rules (Chs. 4 and 17) and advanced the transfer of the air program to Buncombe County, with the county targeting July 24 as the effective date pending North Carolina EMC certification on July 9.
The Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency board voted June 24 to adopt updates to air‑quality rules and move forward with transferring the local air program into Buncombe County administration, officials said.
Ashley, the agency director, told the board the agency submitted materials to North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC) staff and that the EMC will consider certification at its July 9 meeting. Buncombe County followed a June 16 action to create a county air‑quality program, extend an interlocal agreement and avoid a lapse in coverage; staff said July 24 is the planned effective date for the county to assume duties while the EMC completes its review.
The board also approved updates to rules in chapters 4 and 17 that staff said are intended to bring local regulations in line with current North Carolina requirements. Ashley said the rules underwent the required EPA pre‑draft and public‑notice processes (public notice May 22–June 21) and that staff received no public comments or requests for a hearing during the notice period. A motion to adopt the rule updates was made and approved by the board (motion by Gary, second by Ned), recorded in the meeting as a voice vote.
Why this matters: The administrative changes include a draft Chapter 1 that removes the prior interlocal arrangement with the city, places the program under Buncombe County governance, and adds a new section establishing an Air Quality Advisory Council (AQC) responsible for hearing appeals and advising the board and director on technical and certification matters. Staff emphasized that while governance will change, the program will retain separate accounting and a distinct cost structure and that existing positions and monitoring assets will continue to operate under the county.
Board next steps and appointments: Staff said materials will go to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on July 21, where commissioners are expected to be asked to adopt the air‑quality code. The new Air Quality Advisory Council will take organizational steps at the board’s August 6 meeting; Jim Neely, a retired air‑quality professional who served on the outgoing advisory committee, was announced as an incoming advisory council member effective August 6 to fill Carl’s vacated seat. Legal counsel Suzanne said draft bylaws for the new advisory council will be circulated for review before the August meeting.
Votes at a glance: The meeting transcript records voice votes approving (1) the meeting agenda, (2) May 14 minutes, (3) the rule updates to bring chapters 4 and 17 up to date, and (4) a permit for a portable crushing operation. Specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the transcript; the motions and makers are recorded as noted in meeting minutes.
The board adjourned after noting there were no public commenters signed up. The program transition timeline remains: EMC consideration July 9, commission adoption anticipated July 21, and a target county‑assumption date of July 24.
