epa air quality update - tn.gov · 5/15/2019 · epa is actively working with areas to get second...
TRANSCRIPT
EPA Air Quality Update
Environmental Show of the South Chattanooga, TN
May 15, 2019
Lynorae Benjamin, Acting Chief
Air Planning and Implementation Branch
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4
Atlanta, GA
Today’s Topics
Air Quality Improvements
Progress on NAAQS Implementation
• Ozone • Sulfur Dioxide
Regional Haze
Questions
Plans for FY18 and Beyond
The new 2018-2022 Strategic Plan charts the course for advancing
EPA's priorities and mission to protect human health and the
environment
https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget
Comparison of Growth vs Emissions
www.epa.gov/airtrends
Progress on NAAQS Implementation
• Establishing and Updating the NAAQS
• Current Region 4 Nonattainment Areas (all NAAQS Pollutants)
The Clean Air Act Framework
• EPA sets NAAQS for pollutants harmful to public health & environment
• Ozone • Particulate matter • Lead • Carbon monoxide • Nitrogen Dioxide • Sulfur Dioxide
• EPA must review NAAQS every 5 years after advice from Clean Air Science Advisory Committee
Air Program Update
NAAQS Review Process
• May 9, 2018: EPA Administrator outlined five principles for EPA to follow in future NAAQS reviews
• Meet statutory deadlines
• Address all CAA provisions for NAAQS reviews
• Streamline and standardize the process for development and review of key policy-relevant information
• Differentiate science and policy judgments in the NAAQS review process
• Issue timely implementation regulations and guidance
www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/back-basics-process-reviewing-national-ambient-air-quality-standards
NAAQS Reviews
1 Combined secondary (ecological effects only) review of NO2, SO2, and PM 2 Combined primary and secondary (non-ecological effects) review of PM 3 IRP – Integrated Review Plan; ISA – Integrated Science Assessment; REA – Risk and Exposure Assessment; PA – Policy Assessment 4 TBD = To be determined
Additional information regarding current and previous NAAQS reviews is available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/
(As of March 2019)
Ozone Lead Primary
NO2
Primary
SO2
Secondary
(Ecological)
NO2, SO2, PM1
PM2 CO
Last Review
Completed
(final rule
signed)
Oct. 2015 Sept 2016 April 2018 Feb 2019 Mar 2012 Dec 2012 Aug 2011
Recent or
Upcoming
Major
Milestone(s)
Summer 2019
Draft ISA3
Early 2020
Proposal
Late 2020
Final
TBD4 TBD4 TBD4
Timing depends on
PM/O3 schedules
Final ISA; draft
REA/PA3
March 28, 2019
CASAC
teleconference
on draft ISA3
Early 2020
Proposal
Late 2020
Final
TBD4
Ozone
How We Compare for Ozone – R4 vs. Nationally
Nonattainment Areas:
• 1997 Ozone NAAQS – 35 areas nationally; 0 in Region 4
• 2008 Ozone NAAQS – 37 areas nationally; 0 in Region 4
• 2015 Ozone NAAQS – 52 areas nationally; 3 in Region 4
Progress on Ozone NAAQS (as of May 2019)
OZONE 1997 NAAQS (2004 Designations)
2008 NAAQS (2012 Designations)
2015 NAAQS (2018 Designations)
Initial Nonattainment Areas 14 5 3
Areas Redesignated to Attainment 14 5 0
Current Nonattainment Areas 0 0 3
https://www.epa.gov/green-book
Implications for Region 4 from South Coast II Decision
1997 Ozone NAAQS
South Coast II Decision
On February 16, 2018, the D.C. Circuit issued a
decision in South Coast Air Quality Management
District v. EPA (South Coast II), in which parties challenged different aspects of EPA’s SIP
Requirements Rule for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS,
including the revocation of the 1997 ozone NAAQS and
its associated anti-backsliding requirements.
EPA/DOJ filed a rehearing petition on April 23, 2018 seeking:
•Substantive rehearing on the Court’s (1) application of anti-backsliding requirements following revocation of the 1997 ozone NAAQS and (2) interpretation of CAA section 176(c) as requiring transportation conformity in areas designated maintenance for the 1997 NAAQS and attainment for the 2008 NAAQS (“orphan maintenance areas”).
•Remand without vacatur of the Rule’s provisions related to the 2 elements described above.
The Court requested a response from the
environmental petitioners on August 1, 2018 to EPA’s
request for a remand without vacatur as well as a
potential stay of the vacatur. Per the Court’s
request, EPA filed a reply on August 15, 2018
South Coast II Decision - Continued
On September 14, 2018, the Circuit Court denied
EPA’s petition for a rehearing but granted a stay on the aspects of its ruling until February 16,
2019.
On October 1, 2018 US DOT updated the April 23, 2018 Interim Guidance for Conformity Requirements for the 1997 8-hour ozone
areas.
In November 2018, EPA issued Transportation
Conformity Guidance for the South Coast II Court
Decision – one of the main takeaways is that a regional
emissions analysis is not required to demonstrate conformity in the 1997 8-
hour “orphan maintenance areas” because the
standard was revoked (CFR 93.109(c))
Transportation Conformity
The SIP
(State AirQualityPlan)
TransportationPlan, TransportationImprovementProgram (TIP),and Projects.
Status of Transportation Conformity Determinations
Area Action in Response to South Coast Decision
Birmingham, AL Completed – February 14, 2019
Atlanta, GA Completed – June 26, 2018
Macon, GA No project changes needed until Spring 2019
Murray County (Chattahoochee National Forest), GA Isolated rural area - conformity applies only when needed so no February 16, 2019
trigger to meet.
Cincinnati, KY Completed – September 6, 2018
Huntington-Ashland, KY Completed – February 1, 2019
Louisville, KY Completed – December 3, 2018
Charlotte, NC Completed – December 3, 2018
Raleigh-Durham, NC Completed – February 12, 2019
Rocky Mount, NC Completed – October 22, 2018
Great Smoky Mountain National Park, NC Isolated rural area - conformity applies only when needed so no February 16, 2019
trigger to meet.
Charlotte (York County), SC Completed – February 15, 2019
Clarksville-Hopkinsville, KY-TN Completed – February 15, 2019
Knoxville, TN Completed – November19, 2018;
2nd Maintenance Plan for the 1997 NAAQS
Area Deadline for Second Maintenance Plan#
Birmingham, AL 6/12/2014
Atlanta, GA 1/2/2022
Macon, GA 10/19/2015
Murray County (Chattahoochee National Forest), GA 11/15/2015
Cincinnati, KY 8/5/2018
Huntington-Ashland, KY 9/4/2015
Louisville, KY 8/6/2015
Charlotte, NC 1/2/2022
Raleigh-Durham, NC 12/26/2015
Rocky Mount, NC 1/5/2015
Great Smoky Mountain National Park, NC 1/6/2018
Charlotte (York County), SC 12/26/2020
Clarksville-Hopkinsville, KY-TN 2/24/2014
Knoxville, TN 3/8/2019
# Originally these areas were not required to submit the second maintenance plan per EPA’s ozone implementation rule. The South Coast II Court decision
changed this on February 16, 2018. EPA is actively working with areas to get second maintenance plan updates as soon as possible.
Sulfur Dioxide
2010 SO2 NAAQS Review
In February 2019, EPA retained the existing primary NAAQS for SO2 based on the agency’s judgment that the current NAAQS protects the public health, with an adequate margin of safety, including the health of at-risk populations with asthma.
www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/applying-or-implementing-sulfur-dioxide-standards
2010 Primary SO2 NAAQS
Standard 75 parts per billion
Averaging Time 99th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum
concentrations, averaged over 3 years
At Risk Population
Children, Elderly, Asthmatics
Current Nonattainment
Areas
40 Areas in 16 States
2010 SO2 Designations Process
Round 1: Completed August 2013 – EPA Region 4 designated 5 areas nonattainment based on existing monitors violating the standard*
Round 2: Completed June 30 and November 29, 2016 – EPA designated 65 areas in 24 states based on air dispersion modeling and 2013-2015 violating monitors (6 areas designated in Region 4)
Round 3: Completed December 21, 2017 and March 28, 2018 – EPA completed an additional round of designations for all remaining undesignated areas except where states have deployed new monitoring networks by January 1, 2017 if executed under the SO2 Data Requirements Rule (DRR); one new area was designated nonattainment
Round 4: By December 31, 2020 – EPA must complete designations for all remaining areas (based on 2017-2019 monitoring data)
www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/applying-or-implementing-sulfur-dioxide-standards
Rounds 1-3
EPA currently has four
areas designated
as nonattainment
in three States
in Region 4
How We Compare for SO2 – R4 vs. Nationally
Nonattainment Areas:
• 2010 SO2 NAAQS – 40 areas nationally; 5 in Region 4
• Round 1 – following 5 areas: • Clermont-Campbell – OH, KY;
• Jefferson County, KY;
• Hillsborough County, FL
• Nassau County, FL
• Sullivan County, TN.
• Round 3 – following area: • Hillsborough-Polk, FL
Progress on SO2 NAAQS (as of May 2019)
https://www.epa.gov/green-book
SO2
2010 SO2 NAAQS (2013 Designations –
Round 1)
2010 SO2 NAAQS (2016 Designations –
Round 2)
2010 SO2 NAAQS (2017 Designations – Round 3)
Initial Nonattainment Areas 5 0 1
Areas Redesignated to Attainment 2 NA 0
Current Nonattainment Areas 3 0 1
DRR Ongoing Data Requirements
• 40 CFR 51.1205 (b) requires SO2 areas designated attainment based on modeling of actual SO2 emissions to submit an annual SO2 emissions report, for each applicable source in each such area, provide an assessment of the cause of any emissions increase from the previous year and make a determination if additional modeling analysis is needed.
• The annual report shall be submitted to the Regional Administrator by July 1 of each year as a stand-alone document made available for public inspection, or as an appendix to its Annual Monitoring Network Plan (also due on July 1 each year under 40 CFR 58.10)
• Round 2 Designations – Due July, 2018
• The first report for each such area is due by July 1 of the calendar year after the effective date of the designations.
• Round 3 Designations – Due July 1, 2019
• § 51.1205 also allows states to terminate the ongoing data requirement if an air agency provides modeling that shows air quality values at all receptors in the analysis are no greater than 50 percent of the SO2 standard.
• For additional information please refer to the preamble of the DRR or Region 4 SO2 contact.
DRR Reporting - Round 2 Areas
• Initial reports were due by July 2018 (& due annual thereafter)
State Source (Area)
Georgia* Georgia Power Robert W. Scherer Power plant (in Monroe) - Butts, Crawford, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, and Upson.
Mississippi R.D. Morrow (Lamar)
* On September 21, 2018, EPA approved Georgia’s request to terminate DRR requirements for ongoing verification for the area
surrounding Plant Scherer.
DRR Reporting - Round 3 Areas – Continued (1)
State Source (County)
Alabama International Paper Prattville Mill (Autauga) Alabama Power Plan Gorgas (Walker)
Florida Crystal River Power Plant (Citrus) Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) Northside Generating Station (NGS)(Duval) Crist Electric Generating Station(Escambia) PCS White Springs (Hamilton) WestRock CP, LLC (Nassau)
Georgia International Paper – Savannah (Chatham) Georgia Power Plant Bowen (Bartow) Georgia-Pacific’s Savannah River Mill and Georgia Power Plant McIntosh (Effingham) Georgia Power Plant Wansley (modeled below 50% of the SO2 NAAQS) (Heard)
Kentucky East Bend (Boone) Ghent (Carroll) Elmer Smith (Davies) Century Aluminum Hawesville (Hancock) Spurlock (Mason) Shawnee Fossil Plant (McCracken) Kentucky Utilities Trimble County Generating Station (Trimble)
* On March 28, 2019, EPA approved Georgia’s request to terminate DRR requirements for ongoing verification for the area surrounding
Plant Wansley.
DRR Reporting - Round 3 Areas – Continued (2)
State Source (County)
Mississippi Red Hills (Choctaw) Plant Daniels (Jackson)
North Carolina Belews (Stokes) Duke Marshall (Catawba) Duke Mayo (Person) Duke Allen (Gaston)
South Carolina IP Eastover & SCG&E Wateree (Richland) Resolute Catawba (York)
Tennessee TVA-Johnsonville (Humphreys) TVA-Allen (Shelby) TVA-Cumberland (Stewart)
Round 4: Region 4 Areas for Designations
• By December 31, 2020 – EPA must complete designations for all remaining areas (based on 2017-2019 monitoring data)
State Facility Name County
Alabama Lhoist North America of Alabama - Montevallo Plant Shelby
Georgia International Paper - Rome Floyd
Kentucky
Robert A. Reid Station/Henderson Municipal Power and Light (HMP&L) Station 2/ Green Station Landfill - Big Rivers Electric Corporation
Webster
Century Aluminum Sebree LLC Henderson
North Carolina
Asheville Steam Electric Plant - Duke Energy Progress, Inc. Buncombe
Canton Mill - Blue Ridge Paper Products Haywood
Roxboro Plant - Duke Energy Progress, LLC Person
Regional Haze
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• 9/11/18: EPA Releases Regional Haze Reform Roadmap to Continue Improving Visibility and Reduce Regulatory Burdens
• Enables efficient, timely, and effective implementation of the Regional Haze program today and in the future oOver the next year, EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation will release a series of
implementation tools and guidance documents that will help focus states’ efforts and reduce and streamline the time and resources needed to meet the statutory and regulatory requirements for reducing regional haze in National Parks, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas.
o To date, one of the guidance documents, the Regional Haze Technical Guidance, was issued on December 20, 2018. The Agency is assessing the impacts of the government shutdown on the timeframes for the remaining items in the Roadmap.
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Regional Haze Updates
https://www.epa.gov/visibility