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