Joshua Behr, Old Dominion University's associate vice president for strategic initiatives and a research associate professor at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC), was recently appointed to the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board by Gov. Ralph Northam.
The board primarily considers the adoption, amendment or repeal of regulations and may consider the issuance or amendment of certain permits. The regulations concern the control and reduction of air pollution throughout the commonwealth or in affected areas. The Department of Environmental Quality administers the day-to-day operation of Virginia's air pollution programs and issues and enforces permits and regulations.
Activities include:
- Monitoring Virginia's air quality.
- Issuing permits for the construction or modification and operation of polluting facilities.
- Approving local air pollution control ordinances.
- Granting local variances and orders for the control and reduction of air pollution.
- Enforcement of law and regulations.
- Collecting fees for the administrative and enforcement costs of permits.
- Upholding regulations that provide for emissions trading programs to achieve and maintain air quality.
- Adopting emissions standards for motor vehicles in certain localities.
- Making regulations that set standards and procedures for the inspection of motor vehicles.
- Approving training programs for motor vehicle inspectors.
- Licensing stations qualified to do safety inspections and fleet owners or lessees to conduct emissions inspections and granting licenses to emissions mechanics or inspectors.
Behr holds a Ph.D. in urban and minority politics from the University of New Orleans and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from California State University.
