U.S. EPA Region 4Air Quality Update

GA AWMA Regulatory Update Conference

March 25, 2015

Beverly Banister, Director

Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division

U.S. EPA, Atlanta, GA

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Presentation Overview

• EPA Region 4: APTMD Reorganization

• EPA: The Year Ahead

• Regulatory Updates

NAAQS Reviews

Interstate Transport “Good Neighbor” Provision

Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction SIP Call

Mercury and Air Toxics Reconsideration

Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards Program

EPA Actions to Reduce Carbon Pollution

• Making a Visible Difference in the Communities

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Communities Support Section

Air Data and Analysis Section

Todd Rinck

Air Regulatory Management

SectionLynorae Benjamin

Air Permitting Section

Heather Ceron

North Air Enforcement and

Toxics SectionRichard Dubose

South Air Enforcement and

Toxics SectionTodd Russo

Chemical Management and

Emergency Planning Section

Pesticides SectionKimberly Bingham

Lead & Asbestos Section

Steve Scofield

Air Analysis and Support BranchGregg Worley

Air Planning & Implementation

BranchScott Davis

Air Enforcement & Toxics BranchBeverly Spagg

Chemical Safety & Enforcement Branch

Anthony Toney

Air, Pesticides & Toxics Management DivisionBeverly H. Banister, Director

Carol L. Kemker, Deputy DirectorJeaneanne M. Gettle, Deputy Director

Immediate Office StaffGrants and Strategic Planning Office

Region 4 Air, Pesticides, and Toxics Management Division Reorganization

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Administrator Gina McCarthy

EPA: The Year Ahead

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Comparative National Trends since 1980

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NAAQS Reviews: Status Update(as of January 2015)

Ozone LeadPrimary

NO2

Primary

SO2

Secondary

NO2 and

SO2

PM CO

Last Review

Completed

(final rule

signed)

Mar 2008 Oct 2008 Jan 2010 Jun 2010 Mar 2012 Dec 2012 Aug 2011

Recent or

Upcoming

Major

Milestone(s)1

August 2014

Final REAs

Final PA

Dec 1, 2014 2

Proposed rule

Oct 1, 2015 2

Final rule

May 2014

Final PA

2014

Proposed

rule

June 2014

Final IRP

Fall 2014

2nd Draft ISA

REA

Planning

Document

Summer

2014

Final IRP

Fall 2014

Draft IRP

Feb 9-11,

2015

Kickoff

workshop(see 79 FR

71764)

TBD3

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1 IRP – Integrated Review Plan; ISA – Integrated Science Assessment; REA – Risk and Exposure Assessment; PA – Policy Assessment2 Bold and underlined dates indicate court-ordered or settlement agreement deadlines3 TBD = to be determined

Additional information regarding current and previous NAAQS reviews is available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs

2015 Ozone NAAQS Review

• November 25, 2014 - EPA proposed to strengthen the NAAQS for ozone: 65 to 70 ppb (current level is 75 ppb)– taking comment on lower levels including 60 ppb and on retaining the

current standard

– Proposed to retain the current indicator, averaging time, and form

• Public comment period ended March 17, 2015

• Held 3 Public hearings

• Final Rule signed by October 1, 2015

7http://www.epa.gov/airquality/ozonepollution/actions.html 7

• CSAPR upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court– More issues related to CSAPR litigation being addressed by U.S. District Court

• January 22, 2015 – EPA released memorandum entitled “Information on the Interstate Transport ‘Good Neighbor’ Provision for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards under Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)”– Includes discussion of elements that have been used previously to address

interstate transport

– Provides EPA’s preliminary air quality modeling data for ozone for the year 2018

• Continuing dialogue with the States on how to address these requirements

Interstate Pollution Transport Update

www.epa.gov/airtransport

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Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction (SSM) SIP Call

• 6/30/11: Sierra Club petitioned EPA for rulemaking regarding SSM provisions in State Implementation Plans (SIPs)– Nationally: 39 states & 7 locals noted in the petition, including all 8 SE States and 4 locals

• 2/12/13 Proposed rule: – 36 states submit their revised state plans to the Agency

– EPA ‘s proposed rule would ensure states have plans in place that require industrial facilities across the country to follow air pollution rules during times when the facility is starting up or shutting down, or when a malfunction occurs

• 9/5/14 Supplemental Proposal on Affirmative Defense Provisions: – Proposes to revise the 2/12/13 proposal to reflect a recent court opinion regarding

affirmative defense provisions

– Public hearing held October 7, 2014; comment period closed November 6, 2014

– Re-negotiated signature deadline for the final notice is May 22, 2015

– States will have 18 months to submit SIPs following effective date of the final rule

www.epa.gov/airquality/urbanair/sipstatus9

• December 21, 2011: EPA final standards to limit mercury, acid gases and other toxicpollution from new and existing electric generating units (EGUs)

• Court Challenges:• December 2013: DC Circuit Court of

Appeals hears challenges to MATS

• April 15, 2014: The DC Circuit issued its ruling upholding MATS

• November 25, 2014: SCOTUS announced it will review whether the EPA “unreasonably refused to consider costs” when it determined that it was appropriate to regulate hazardous air pollution from power plants

• November 7, 2014: EPA completed its reconsideration of the startup and shutdown provisions applicable to coal- and oil-fired electric utilities under MATS• Final rule includes updated definitions and work practice standards

• Adjusts certain monitoring and testing requirements related to periods of startup and shutdown

• December 19, 2014: EPA Proposed technical corrections to MATS

Mercury Air Toxics Standard (MATS)

www.epa.gov/mats10

The Mercury and Air ToxicsStandards Will Prevent:

Once Implemented(cases each year)

Premature Death Up to 11,000

Chronic Bronchitis 2,800

Heart Attacks 4,700

Asthma Attacks 130,000

Hospital and Emergency Room Visits 5,700

Restricted Activity Days 3,200,000

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Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards Program

March 3, 2014: EPA Finalizes Tighter Vehicle and Fuel Standards to Reduce Emissions

o Starting in 2017, Tier 3 sets new vehicle emissions standards and lowers the sulfur content of gasoline, considering the vehicle and its fuel as an integrated system

o Emission reductions from the Tier 3 program will lead to immediate air quality improvements that are critically important for States to attain and maintain the existing health-based NAAQS

February 2, 2015: EPA Issues Amendments to Light-duty Tier 3 Vehicle and Fuel Standards and Other Nonroad and Fuel Provisions

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/tier3.htm

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EPA Actions to Reduce GHG Pollution

• Building a 21st century transportation sector

• Cutting energy waste in homes, businesses, and factories

• Reducing methane and HFCs

• Preparing the U.S. for the impacts of climate change

• Helping lead international efforts to address global climate change

• Reducing carbon pollution from power plants (e.g., EPA’s “Clean Power Plan”)

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EPA is working to develop carbon pollution standards, regulations or guidelines, as appropriate, for:

1. New power plants• Proposed January 8, 2014• Final Summer 2015

2. Modified and reconstructed

power plants

• Proposed June 2014• Final Summer 2015

3. Existing power plants

• Proposed Guidelines June 2014• Final Guidelines Summer 2015• State Plans due Summer 2016• Proposed Federal Plan summer

2015 (final ready summer 2016)

CO2 Requirements for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants

http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan

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• EPA is committed to working with our states as co-regulators in development of their plans – We will identify assistance needs and resources to meet those needs

– We have dedicated specific staff to work with states on their plans

– Regional staff will also work closely with HQ to provide consistency across the process

EPA Assistance to the States

http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan 14

• Resources available now in the Clean Power Plan Toolbox include: – Clean Power Plan Documents and

Resources

– Technical Resources for Reducing CO2 from Power Plants

– Policies and programs for reducing CO2 from the power sector

– Tools for assessing energy efficiency and renewable energy policies and programs

• You can register to receive alerts when EPA adds new implementation resources to the CPP toolbox

Clean Power Plan Toolbox

http://www2.epa.gov/cleanpowerplantoolbox

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Addressing Methane

• January 14, 2015: EPA outlined a series of steps it plans to take to address methane and smog-forming VOC emissions from the oil and gas industry

• The agency’s strategy will:

o Reduce methane pollution from new sources in this rapidly growing industry

o Reduce ozone-forming pollutants from existing sources in areas that do not meet federal ozone health standards

o Build on work that states and industry are doing to address emissions from existing sources elsewhere

http://www.epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas/

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Making a Visible Difference in Communities

• EPA and its partners must work every day to improve the health of American families and protect the environment one community at a time, all across the country

– Enhance the livability and economic vitality of neighborhoods

– Strengthen relationship with America's agricultural community

– Support green infrastructure to manage urban waters

– Reduce air pollution along roadways, railways and at ports

– Consider the impacts of our decisions on environmental justice communities

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Thank you!

Questions?

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