News

Understanding the EPA’s Air Quality Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule lowering the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone contaminants from 75 to 70 parts per billion (ppb). Developed to protect public health and the environment from the effects of harmful emissions, the rule presents a complex set of implementation and attainment challenges. With an effective date of December 28, 2015, and its full impact still unclear, Terracon’s Environmental practitioners continue to monitor its development and is helping clients respond to the new regulations.

Public Health and the Costs of Ozone Monitoring

Health organizations, environmental groups, and industry stakeholders have mixed responses to the lowered standard. The American Lung Association has stated that the application of a stricter standard is a step in the right direction, though it also maintains that any standard set above 60 ppb does not do enough to adequately protect public health. A formal response from multiple national organizations representing medical societies agrees by saying more should be done to protect public health with an even lower standard (Wimmer, 2015, Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-069).

The EPA reports the new updated standards will save $2.9 to $5.9 billion annually in public health benefits by 2025, numbers that outweigh the $1.4 billion estimated cost (Environmental Protection Agency, 2015). While opposing industry groups are calling implementation of the rule too costly, the opposition also argues that the stricter standard is burdensome, unattainable, and lacks the evidence to support that it goes further to protect the public health. To date, as many of five states have joined efforts to fight its adoption.

As part of the rule implementation, U.S. states are required to recommend nonattainment designations for geographic areas unable to meet the new standards. These self-reported designations are due to the EPA by October of 2016 based on monitoring data for the previous three-year period. The EPA expects states to officially designate areas that reach attainment or nonattainment a year later in October of 2017. States out of compliance will be required to develop state implementation plans to demonstrate the regulatory steps they will execute in order to achieve compliance.

To put the regulation into perspective, the EPA has identified 241 counties across the country that are currently monitoring ozone and are not expected to be in compliance with the new, stricter standard. It’s likely that many more counties, not currently monitoring concentrations, will also exceed the permissible limits. See the EPA map here.

Identifying Opportunities for Compliance

In order to reduce emissions of pollutants that contribute to ground level ozone, states are expected to organize stakeholder meetings and introduce state-specific regulations. These reduction efforts may extend from regulations on motor fuel composition and vehicle emissions testing, to emission limits and control equipment requirements. Enforcement will likely include adoption of an application for preconstruction permits for new and modified emission sources, and require limits or controls for emission sources not previously required under the 75 ppb standard.

Terracon is prepared to help. We have extensive experience assisting clients with preparing preconstruction permits, evaluating to determine if processes can be technically and economically controlled, and identifying when emission limits can be taken to avoid purchase of new control equipment. When emission controls are warranted, Terracon has the experience to assist with the analysis and design of emission capture systems along with the identification, selection, and installation of the proper equipment for the situation.

Sources:

Wimmer, Harold P., (2015). American Lung Association Responds to EPA Ozone Standard Update, Impact on Public Health [Press release]. Retrieved from this link.

Comments to Docket ID NO. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-069, http://www.aafa.org/media/Health-Organizations-Comment-National-Ambient-Air-Quality-Standards-March-17-2015.pdf

Environmental Protection Agency. (2015). The National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Overview of EPA’s Updates to the Air Quality Standards for Ground-Level Ozone. Retrieved from: http://www3.epa.gov/ozonepollution/pdfs/20151001overviewfs.pdf