Why Are We Pushing for More Federal Rules to Reduce Regional NOx and SO2?
NACAA Meeting
May 17, 2010
2
How Does Transport Really Work?
• Every bad ozone day, in the morning hours, a large reservoir of ozone sits above Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic area waiting to mix down.
– Ozone levels in the reservoir can routinely reach 60 to 100 ppb.
– In the morning, ozone levels at the surface are very low.
• Around 10:00 or 11:00, the ozone in the reservoir mixes down to the surface and degrades air quality.
• Every bad ozone day, in the morning hours, a large reservoir of ozone sits above Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic area waiting to mix down.
– Ozone levels in the reservoir can routinely reach 60 to 100 ppb.
– In the morning, ozone levels at the surface are very low.
• Around 10:00 or 11:00, the ozone in the reservoir mixes down to the surface and degrades air quality.
0
3000
6000
9000
12000
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105
Ozone (ppb)
He
igh
t (f
t)
Incoming OzoneAugust 2, 2005 (7:00 AM EDT)
Beltsville, MDGood Moderate Unhealthy for
Sensitive GroupsUnhealthy
Residual Layerfrom 1500 – 6000 ft
of 110 ppb110 ppb
Ozone-reduced surface layer
<< 40 ppb40 ppb
Source: Maryland Department of the Environment & Howard University
0
3000
6000
9000
12000
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105
Ozone (ppb)
He
igh
t (f
t)
Incoming OzoneAugust 2, 2005 (7:00 AM EDT)
Beltsville, MDGood Moderate Unhealthy for
Sensitive GroupsUnhealthyGood Moderate Unhealthy for
Sensitive GroupsUnhealthy
Residual Layerfrom 1500 – 6000 ft
of 110 ppb110 ppb
Ozone-reduced surface layer
<< 40 ppb40 ppb
Source: Maryland Department of the Environment & Howard University
Residual Layerfrom 1500 – 6000 ft
of 110 ppb110 ppb
Ozone-reduced surface layer
<< 40 ppb40 ppb
Source: Maryland Department of the Environment & Howard University
The Transport Cloud ... or the Elevated Ozone Reservoir
3
Transport Cloud – Crashing Down to Earth
4
How Do We Reduce the Transport Cloud?
• The NOx SIP Call as an example– OTAG collaboration in late 90’s
– EPA finalizes SIP Call in 1998
– Very significant regional NOx reductions across the East in the 2003/2004 timeframe
– Lead to dramatic drops in ozone levels
• Similar story for SO2 controls and PM
• The NOx SIP Call as an example– OTAG collaboration in late 90’s
– EPA finalizes SIP Call in 1998
– Very significant regional NOx reductions across the East in the 2003/2004 timeframe
– Lead to dramatic drops in ozone levels
• Similar story for SO2 controls and PM
5
55.5%of Units
22.3%of Units
2 1 25
18
23
77
50
13
8
30
15
62 2
2 3 5 10
28
51
128
178191
199
229
244250 252 254
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1995 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
0
50
100
150
200
250Number of Units
Cumulative Total Units
Controls From the NOx SIP Call
Phase I
Minimal SCR UnitsExpect Minimal NOx
Reductions
Phase II
Large Number of SCR Units InstalledExpect SIGNIFIANT NOx Reductions
Especially after 2003-2004Air Quality
should decrease dramaticallyData courtesy of The Institute of Clean Air Companies (ICAC).
77.8% of Units Installedbetween 2003-2007 Scheduled Startup Units
6
Regional NOx Emission Reductions
1.92
1.22
0.59 0.520.38
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
1990 2000 2005 2008 2009
Year
Ozo
ne
Sea
son
NO
X (
mil
lio
n t
on
s) .
• Dramatic regional NOx emission reductions in the 2003/2004 time frame
• NOx reductions from Tier II/LEV II standards also – very gradually - occurring in this same period
• Dramatic regional NOx emission reductions in the 2003/2004 time frame
• NOx reductions from Tier II/LEV II standards also – very gradually - occurring in this same period
NOx Reductions at NOx Budget Program Sources
Source: EPA Clean Air Markets
7
Reducing O3 in the Transport Cloud
8
Progress in Cleaning Maryland’s Air
181
135 137
151 152147 143
137126
121
80
120
160
200
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008*
1-H
our
Ozo
ne (
ppb)
1-Hour Ozone
17.1
15.8 15.9
14.5
15.616.215.9
10
14
18
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008*
Ann
ual P
M2.
5 (u
g/m
3 )
Annual Fine Particulate
41 4139
35
4241
37
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008*
Dai
ly P
M2.
5 (
ug/m
3 )
30
34
38
42
46Daily Fine Particulate
8-Hour Ozone
110 110106 103
91 94
107 107 104
95 93 91
1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
8-H
our
Ozo
ne (
ppb)
60
100
140
*2008 data are preliminary.
9
Other Benefits
• EPA has estimated the improvements in public health resulting from the 2004 NOx SIP Call controls– Up to 1800 lives saved
through 2008– Significant health benefits
to asthmatics and other individuals with lung disease
• Multiple other benefits– Haze, Chesapeake Bay, O3,
PM, NO2, toxics, etc.
10
So …
• Let’s work together to do whatever we can to further reduce regional NOx and SO2 emissions
• Our Priorities– EGUs
– Tougher On-Road Tailpipe Standards (NOx and VOC)
– ICI Boilers
– Cement Kilns
– Marine Engines
– Locomotives
• Our larger list
• Good national controls could save thousands of lives
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