National Ambient Air National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Quality Standards and Current Status of Air Current Status of Air QualityQuality

Laura BootheNorth Carolina Division of Air QualityMCIC WorkshopsMarch 2012

Current Schedule for NAAQSCurrent Schedule for NAAQS2

Recent Changes

NO2 Primary

SO2 Primary

NOx/SOxSecondary

CO

Latest Standard

2010 2010 2012 2011

Next Revisions

Lead Ozone PM2.5

Latest Standard

2008 2008 2006

Next Review 2014 2014 2013

Lead StandardLead Standard

On November 12, 2008, EPA strengthened the NAAQS for lead to 0.15 μg/m3 ◦ This was a 90% reduction in the level

of the previous standard of 1.5 μg/m3

EPA has changed the lead monitoring network requirements to ensure monitors are assessing air quality in areas that might violate the new standard.

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Lead StandardLead Standard

Changes to the monitoring requirements◦Establish population based lead

monitoring in the large urban areas with NCORE monitoring sites (Raleigh & Charlotte) Monitoring started late December 2011

◦Change the 1.0 ton/year lead source based monitoring threshold to 0.5 ton/year NCDAQ received waivers for sources EPA has

identified as ≥ 0.5 ton/year based on modeling4

Lead StandardLead StandardEPA designated areas in

November 2011, with an effective date of Dec. 31, 2011◦ All of NC was designated

unclassifiable/attainment

Do not expect any impact on North Carolina’s current industry◦ Sources that emit ≥ 0.5 tons/year in

the future may have to monitor for lead.

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Nitrogen Dioxide (NONitrogen Dioxide (NO22) ) StandardsStandards

Primary Standard strengthened on January 22, 2010◦New 1-hour NO2 standard at 100 parts per billion (ppb); and

◦Retained the annual average NO2 standard of 53 ppb

Secondary Standard retained on March 21, 2012◦53 ppb annual average

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NONO22 Primary Standard Primary Standard

EPA designated areas in Feb. 2012, with effective date of Feb. 29, 2012◦All areas in NC designated unclassifiable/attainment at the township level

There may be another round of designations once there are 3 years of data from road-side monitors

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NONO22 Primary Standard Primary Standard

Current Impact on Industry◦NC has established a SIL by policy memo (10μg/m3) until EPA establishes a national SIL

◦Affects PSD applications If source can comply with NC’s SIL,

then can proceed with permitting If source cannot comply with SIL, then

full modeling required Most sources have problems

demonstrating compliance with NO2 standard with full modeling

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Sulfur Dioxide (SOSulfur Dioxide (SO22) ) StandardsStandards

Primary standard strengthened on June 2, 2010◦New 1-hour SO2 standard of 75 ppb

◦Revoked existing annual and 24-hour primary SO2 standards for areas currently attaining these standards

Secondary standard retained on March 21, 2012◦500 ppb averaged over 3 hours

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SOSO22 Primary Standard Primary StandardCurrent SO2 design values

CountyDesign Values

2008-2010 2009-2012

Beaufort 33 ppb 27 ppb

Forsyth 37 ppb 14 ppb

Mecklenburg 61 ppb 20 ppb

New Hanover 107 ppb 89 ppb

Wake 17 ppb 14 ppb

SOSO22 Primary Standard Primary Standard

NC recommendation submitted June 2011◦Requested a deferral until the end of 2012

◦If deferral not granted then recommended a small area in New Hanover County be designated nonattainment

SOSO22 Primary Standard Primary Standard

SOSO22 Primary Standard Primary Standard

Designations on existing monitors was expected to be in June 2012◦Have not heard from EPA yet on our recommendation

◦EPA needs to notify states 120 days prior to making designations if they disagree with states’ recommendation

SOSO22 Primary Standard Primary StandardCurrent Impacts on Industry

◦North Carolina has established a SIL (10μg/m3) by policy memo for SO2

◦Affects PSD applications◦EPA described an approach for implementing the new 1-hour standard using monitoring & refined dispersion modeling of SO2 sources to determine compliance Still waiting on the final modeling

guidance from EPA

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SOSO22 Primary Standard Primary Standard

Other Impacts For Areas Designated Nonattainment◦Nonattainment New Source Review

◦Potential requirements for reductions in SO2 based on modeling

◦General Conformity

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1997 Ozone Standard1997 Ozone StandardAll areas in North Carolina are attaining the 1997 standard◦NCDAQ submitted a redesignation request for the Charlotte/Gastonia region in November 2011

◦Redesignation being held up until Reasonable Available Control Technology (RACT) rule revised

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1997 Ozone Standard1997 Ozone StandardClean Air Act required RACT

determinations for all sources subject to control technique guidelines (CTGs)◦ NC rule only required determinations for

sources with potential emissions ≥ 100 tons/year

Rule being developed regarding VOC CTGs applicability◦ Will have requirement as a contingency

measure to be considered◦ Timing with redesignation request approval

critical

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2008 Ozone Standard2008 Ozone StandardPrimary and Secondary standards set at 75 ppb◦Was under reconsideration, so implementation was delayed

◦Sept. 2011 it was decided not to reconsider the standard

EPA gave states the opportunity to revise their boundary recommendations that were submitted in 2009

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2008 Ozone Standard2008 Ozone StandardOnly the Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury area violating the standard

Revised boundary recommendation submitted February 29, 2012

EPA under consent decree to designate areas no later than May 2012.

2008 Ozone Standard2008 Ozone Standard

2008 Ozone Standard2008 Ozone StandardImpacts to Industry For Areas Designated Nonattainment◦Nonattainment New Source Review

100 ton per year new sources 40 tons per year modifications Emissions offsets >1:1

◦Reasonably Available Control Measures

◦Potentially additional reductions in NOx emissions to demonstrate attainment

◦General Conformity

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CO StandardCO StandardAugust 2011 EPA retained the existing CO NAAQS◦1-hour standard of 35 ppm ◦8-hour standard of 9 ppm.

NC has been attaining both standards since 1991

No additional impacts to industry expected regarding this standard

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PMPM2.52.5 Standards StandardsExisting Standards

◦1997 Annual standard 15 μg/m3◦2006 24-hour standard 35 μg/m3

NC attaining both standards◦Both the Hickory & Triad areas were redesignated to attainment/ maintenance effective December 2011

No additional impacts to industry expected regarding these standards

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PMPM2.52.5 Standard StandardStandards being reviewed

◦ Mid-2013 - expect final standard

Final Risk Assessment released March 2010◦ Considers revising annual standard

between 10 – 13 μg/m3

◦ Considers revising daily standard between 25 – 35 μg/m3

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PMPM2.52.5 Standards Standards

Based on 2009-2011 data◦Daily standard design values

All below 25 μg/m3

◦Annual standard design values Highest value is 11.2 μg/m3

Designations would be based on 2012-2014 data

2009-2011 Annual PM2009-2011 Annual PM2.52.5 Design ValuesDesign Values

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Laura BootheAttainment Planning Branch SupervisorDepartment of Environment and Natural ResourcesDivision of Air Quality

Laura.Boothe@ncdenr.gov(919) 707-8721

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