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Air Quality Updates . Contractor-Engineer Conference January 21, 2009 Tom Walker Pat Trainer. Introduction. General Update on Air Quality Funding Opportunities and Regulations affecting the Transportation Sector Tom Walker, WTBA Pat Trainer, WisDOT. Topics of Discussion.
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Air Quality Updates Contractor-Engineer Conference January 21, 2009 Tom Walker Pat Trainer
Introduction • General Update on Air Quality Funding Opportunities and Regulations affecting the Transportation Sector • Tom Walker, WTBA • Pat Trainer, WisDOT
Topics of Discussion • Grants for Diesel Powered Equipment • NR 411 Status • Idling • PM2.5 and Ozone • Climate Change
Quick AQ 101 What and Why • Ambient air – what is in that air and what are the effects of those substances? • Federal Clean Air Act • Regulates pollutants and sets up a framework for monitoring, regulating sources and penalties
Transportation related pollutants • Ground level Ozone • NOx • VOCs • Particulate Matter 2.5 • Mobile Source Air Toxics • Green House Gases
Link to Transportation • Mobile Sources • On road • Off road • Project Development Process • National Environmental Policy Act Document requirements • Public, resource agencies, environmental and health groups • Transportation Conformity
Grant Opportunities for Diesel Powered Equipment • DERA – what it is and what is available? • Two DERA Programs in Wisconsin • Wisconsin DNR Grant Program • $280,000 Total Dollars available • On-road and Off-road 50/50 split • Owned or leased equipment • Intended to remain in the fleet for 3 years, or for 3000 hours (off-road Equipment)
DERA Continued • What is available for Off-Road • Up to $20,000 for funding • Repower 50% cost share • Idle Reduction 50% cost share • Retrofit 100% covered
Some of the specifics • Applications due February 6 • 30-45 review period • Sign a contract with DNR, THEN have the work done • Submit invoice for reimbursement • Random Selection Process ie: Lottery
For more information • Wisconsin DNR Website http://dnr.wi.gov/air/mobile/ CleanDieselGP.htm • Contacts • Jessica Lawent 414-263-8653Muhammed Islam 608-264-9219
WisDOT Grant Application • Another pot of DERA Money • Applied for $750,000 for Repowers only • Goal is to impact Tier 0 engines – 1996 and older • Legacy Fleet Diesel Engine Repowers is the title • Highway Construction Equipment is the focus
Some of the specifics • Funding available for up to $20,000 or 50% (which ever is less) • Engine being replaced must be destroyed
What to watch for • Final EPA decision/approval late January, February • Information will be on WisDOT’s website • Information in industry newsletter
For More Information • Contacts • Pat Trainer 608-264-7330 • John Glaze 608-264-9525
What does the future hold? • DNR’s grant is recurring • WisDOT’s, if awarded, is a one-time deal • Depending on the program’s success, expect additional money may be made available • Legislative activity is also a possibility
Bottom Line • Voluntary efforts can be successful with incentive funding • We do not need California-type regulations, with grants we can show progress in reducing emissions from older legacy equipment
NR 411 – Status • Original Rule • Address carbon monoxide emissions from indirect sources through construction and operation permits
Reasons for rule revisions • Carbon Monoxide no longer a pollutant of concern • Focus efforts on other pollutants – NOx, VOCs and PM • Need to permit Distribution Centers (respond to public concerns) • Address air pollution from off-road sector • Address air pollution from Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks
What DNR sees as benefits of the revisions • Permit streamlining • Reduces diesel emissions from locations with concentrated HDDT traffic • Reduce NOx, VOCs and PM from off-road construction activities • In exchange for diesel control mitigation, option for a General Construction Permit
Status of the revisions • DNR staff has indicated they are ready to ask for management approval to ask for authorization for public hearing • March DNR Board Agenda is targeted
Idling • One “control measure” to reduce diesel emissions • On road and Off Road applications • Some are voluntary, some mandatory • Benefits include • Reduced emissions • Reduced fuel consumption • Reduced noise • Improved safety and health for operators
On-Road Diesel Idling restrictions • Restrictions on idling time with exceptions allowed for • temperature extremes, • medical conditions • operating requirements • Emergency vehicles • Maintenance and service • Traffic conditions
EPA Model State Idling Law • Applies to vehicles designed to operate on highways • Reasons for developing model law: • Consistency • Increase compliance through common understanding of requirements • Include the trucking industry in the development of regulations that impact them • Raise awareness among industry, states and the environmental community about each other’s needs
Off Road Idling Restrictions • California requires fleets to have a written idling policy – 5 minutes max • Mega-transportation projects may limit idling • Dan Ryan 5 minutes • O’Hare Modernization 5 minutes • Big Dig (Massachusetts Turnpike Central Artery) 5 minutes
Wisconsin • Voluntary idling restrictions on the Marquette Interchange Project • 15 minutes • Staging area location • Wisconsin Clean Diesel Coalition discussions on state-wide on-road idling law • Local regulations (on-road primarily)
PM and Ozone update • Particulate Matter 2.5 • Extremely small particles and liquid droplets in the air • Sources include power plants, gasoline and diesel engines, some industrial processes • EPA issued more stringent standard in 2006
PM nonattainment areas • December 22, 2008 EPA finalized nonattainment areas for Wisconsin • Green Bay Area • Brown County • Madison-Baraboo Area • Dane County and a portion of Columbia County • Milwaukee-Racine Area • Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha Counties
Implications of Nonattainment designation • Transportation Conformity • Possible Control Measures as included in the State Implementation Plan • EPA has stated that with the control measures and technologies in place, Wisconsin models compliance before the 2013 deadline
Ozone • EPA is required to review standards every 5 years • Ozone review resulted in new, more stringent 8-hour standard • Wisconsin Counties exceeding standard Door, Kenosha and Sheboygan
Ozone con’t • Beginning process of designating nonattainment areas • DNR has announced public information meetings and public hearing on three nonattainment area options
Ozone con’t • Option 1: Brown, Door, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha Counties • Option 2: Door, Kenosha and Sheboygan Counties • Option 3: No nonattainment counties
Public Meetings January 30 Kenosha County Center February 3 Sheboygan Town hall February 4 Door County Library Public Hearing February 9 DNR SE Region Hdqrtrs Milwaukee
Climate Change • Green House Gases • Carbon Dioxide the major one • Transportation's contribution in Wisconsin is about 25% of total emissions • Electric utilities 35%
Wisconsin Efforts • Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming • Short Term goal – stabilize GHG emissions at 2005 levels by 2014 • Medium range goal – reduce GHG emissions 22% from 2005 levels by 2022 • Long range goal- reduce GHG emissions 75% below 2005 levels by 2050
Transportation Workgroup • Adopt California Greenhouse Gas vehicle emission standards • Low Carbon Fuel standard • Transit Enhancement • Energy Efficient Communities • Carbon audits for transportation projects • Off-road vehicle and freight idling restrictions
Regional Approach • Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (2007) • Targets for reduction (similar to Wisconsin’s) • Regional Cap and Trade Program • Focus on electrical generation, industry and manufacturing, transportation fuels
National Approach • Leibermann-Warner Cap and Trade legislation or some variation • Expected as major component in upcoming reauthorization of the surface transportation bill • Regulation of CO2 under the Clean Air Act
What All ofThis Means • Transportation and Air Quality are strongly linked • Voluntary measures can be successful in reducing emissions • National measures can be successful in reducing emissions • We will continue to have conversations with resource agencies and interest groups • I invite you to be part of the conversation
Questions? If you think of some later on, you can contact me at 608-264-7330 Or Patricia.trainer@dot.state.wi.us