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Ozone Early Action Compacts Clearing the Air in Tennessee

Ozone Early Action Compacts Clearing the Air in Tennessee. Prepared by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Roundtable June 2003. Tennessee Pollution Prevention (TP2) Roundtable.

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Ozone Early Action Compacts Clearing the Air in Tennessee

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  1. Ozone Early Action CompactsClearing the Air in Tennessee Prepared by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Roundtable June 2003

  2. Tennessee Pollution Prevention (TP2) Roundtable • Government, industry, universities, and environmental groups dedicated to preventing pollution • In 1998, met year 2000 goal of reducing emissions of toxic chemicals by 50% from 1989levels • Now focusing on reducing ozone levels through Early Action Compacts

  3. What are Early Action Compacts? • Broad partnerships with government, business and citizens • Provide cleaner air for Tennesseans • Voluntarily improve air quality ahead of federal requirements • Implement local strategies for meeting the federal 8-hour ozone standard

  4. Early Action Compact Areas Nashville Region Tri-Cities Region Putnam Co. Haywood Co. Knoxville Region Memphis Region Chattanooga Region

  5. Southeastern areas exceeding the 8-hour ozone standard Source: www.epa.gov

  6. Ozone (O3) is a colorless gas thatis “good up high, bad nearby” Source: www.epa.gov

  7. Ozone harms our lungs… • Aggravates asthma • Reduces lung capacity • Increases vulnerability toillnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis • Can cause permanent lung damage after long-term exposure • Affects especially children, elderly, those with respiratory problems, and those who spend much time outdoors

  8. Ozone harms our economy… • Affects tourism • Reduces crop and forest yields • Restricts economic development • Threatens federal highway funds Ozone in the Smokies damages 30 species of plants, causing visible leaf injury and growth reductions. Source: National Park Service Ozone-Injured Black Cherry

  9. What causes nearby ozone? Nitrogen oxides (NOx) + volatile organiccompounds (VOCs) + certain weather = Ozone • Sources of NOx • Motor vehicles • Electric utilities • Industrial, commercial and residential sources that burn fuel • Sources of VOCs • Motor vehicles • Stationary sources • Solvents, lawn and garden equipment • Trees Source: www.epa.gov

  10. How is ozone regulated? • EPA sets federal air quality standards • Old 1-hour standard .12 ppm • New 8-hour standard .08 ppm • State monitors ozone levels • EPA designates nonattainment areas

  11. What does “nonattainment” mean? • Measured ozone levels can exceed the health-based standard • The air is not always healthy to breathe

  12. How would nonattainment affect my county? • Public stigma of nonattainment • Impacts on economic development • Tougher permitting for industry • Industrial recruitment difficult • Highway funds can be held back

  13. What are the sources of NOxin Tennessee? Source: University of Tennessee, 2003

  14. Which vehicles emit the most NOx? 2007 Emissions Contribution by Vehicle Type Tennessee Data 60% 50% 40% Percent of Total Emissions 30% 20% 10% 0% HDGV LDDV LDDT HDDV LDGV LDGT12 LDGT34 MC Vehicle Category Source: University of Tennessee, 2003 CO VOC NOx

  15. What are sources of NOx inthe Chattanooga region? Source: University of Tennessee, 2003

  16. What are sources of NOx inthe Kingsport region? Source: University of Tennessee, 2003

  17. What are sources of NOx inthe Knoxville region? Source: University of Tennessee, 2003

  18. What are sources of NOx inthe Memphis region? Source: University of Tennessee, 2003

  19. What are sources of NOx inthe Nashville region? Source: University of Tennessee, 2003

  20. What are sources of NOx in Haywood County? Source: University of Tennessee, 2003

  21. How will the new 8-hour ozone standard affect Tennessee? • New standard much more demanding • Many Tennessee counties will NOT meet new standard without additional controls • Industrial controls alone not sufficient— must also reduce vehicle emissions • Local support and participation needed to attain new standard

  22. What has EPA done to reduce ozone? • NOx reductions from TVA and large industrial boilers • Low-sulfur gasoline (phased in 2004 -2007) • New emission standards for passenger cars (phased in 2004 - 2007) • New on-road diesel engine and fuel standards (phased in 2006 - 2010)

  23. What can Tennesseans do to reduce ozone? • State air pollution regulations to reduce emissions from factories and power plants • Reducing emissions from low-level sources will have greatest local impact • Local requirements to reduce vehicle emissions • Voluntary actions by government, business and citizens • State writes control measures into a State Implementation Plan (SIP)

  24. What have Tennessee’s EAC partners committed to do? • Take early action to reduce ozone levels • Actively participate in selecting and implementing local control measures • State leads on technical work and regulates stationary sources outside of local programs • Implement voluntary and regulatory strategies that address all sources

  25. Deadlines for Tennessee • June 16, 2003: State sends EPA likely control measures for each compact • March 2004: Local areas submit air quality improvement plan to state • April 2004: EPA designates nonattainment areas, but defers effective date for compact areas

  26. Deadlines for Tennessee • December 2004: State Air Pollution Control Board adopts control measures into SIP • Dec. 31, 2004: State submits SIP to EPA • March 2005: Implement emission reduction measures • 2005 - 2007: Measure ozone levels • October 2007: Attainment achieved

  27. What are the benefits of early action? • Cleaner air sooner • Local planning and decisions • Broad public input • More economic opportunity • Avoid burdensome regulations • 8-hour transportation conformity • Offsets

  28. What can we do? • Reduce vehicle use • Trip reduction programs • Enhance transit and other transportation alternatives • Commuter Choice incentives • Employee education programs • Use cleaner fuels—natural gas, propane, biodiesel, ethanol • Implement Air Quality Action Days

  29. What can we do? • Reduce off-road mobileemissions • Lawn equipment • Construction equipment • Enhance energy efficiency • Limit long duration idling • Support national clean air legislation www.tdec.net/apc/eac

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