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Martin Mullan Environment Canada Georgia Basin / Puget Sound Research Conference

Georgia Basin/ Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy. Martin Mullan Environment Canada Georgia Basin / Puget Sound Research Conference Vancouver, 1 April 2003. Presentation outline. GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy. The Strategy: 1. “what” 2. “where” 3. ”who”

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Martin Mullan Environment Canada Georgia Basin / Puget Sound Research Conference

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  1. Georgia Basin/ Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy Martin Mullan Environment Canada Georgia Basin / Puget Sound Research Conference Vancouver, 1 April 2003

  2. Presentation outline GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy The Strategy: 1. “what” 2. “where” 3. ”who” 4. ”when” 5. ”why” (2 slides) 6. ”how” (3 slides)

  3. 1. What GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy GB/PS International Airshed Strategy - effort to address shared AQ management concerns - concerns: human & environmental health impacts - also aims to prevent future deterioration of AQ - a key priority is information sharing

  4. 2. Where GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy • includes Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound • principal urban areas include Lower Fraser Valley in BC and the I-5 corridor in WA

  5. 3. Who GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy Federal gov EC PYR EPA Region 10 Prov./ State gov BC WLAP WA DoE Regional agencies FVRD GVRD NWAPA PSCAA First Nations/ Tribal Sto:lo Tribal Council Coast Salish Sea Initiative Tsawwassen FN Swinomish Tribe NGO Fraser Basin Council

  6. 4. When GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy • 1941 Trail Smelter Arbitration (dispute: 1898 - 1941) • 1979 EC Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) • 1991 Canada-USA Air Quality Agreement • 1992 BC-WA Env. Co-operation Agreement • 1994 BC, WA, GVRD, NWAPA MoU • 2000 EC/EPA Joint Statement of Co-operation on the GB/PS ecosys. • 2000 Ozone Annex to Can/USA AQ Agreement • 2002 EC/EPA Statement of Intent on GB/PS IAS • 2004 Ozone Annex comes up for renewal/ revision

  7. 5(i/ii). Why GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy • air pollutants affect human health ... • e.g. no lower threshold for PM • e.g. concern re. toxics in diesel exhaust • ... and natural env’t & economic resources ... • e.g. tourism/ visibility • ... plus link to GHG emissions • growing concern about issues, esp. link betw’n air pollution & health • e.g. proposed 660 MW Sumas 2 power plant

  8. 5(ii/ii). Why GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy • better air quality in many areas over previous decades from gov’t initiatives & despite a nearly 50% growth in reg’l pop • incl. federal govt’s 10-year Agenda for Vehicles & Fuels • however, growth in population and economy continues 25 yr. Growth @ 29 % 25 yr. Growth @ 36 %

  9. 6(i/iii). How GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy • began Feb. 2001 • addresses transboundary nature of air & x-border responsibility • periodic meetings & progress on “early actions” • 17 early actions ranked & 5 chosen for work, plus Airshed Char.: • Issue Ranking and Identification system • Clean Vehicles and Fuels • Transboundary Data Exchange • Transboundary New Source Review • website (information clearinghouse)

  10. 6(ii/iii). How GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy Project initiation / Statement of Intent priority issues identified Management Airshed characterization 5 early actions - Issue Ranking & Identification System - Clean Vehicle and Fuels - TRAnsboundary Data Exchange - Transboundary New Source Review - webpage Assess Problems / Options GB/PS Int’l Airshed Strategy Range of outcomes - share information - work collaboratively - formal agreements

  11. KEY PROGRESS Feb. 2001 1st meeting May 2001 prioritize issues (17) & actions (6) Oct. 2001 dev’d Statement of Intent & path forward Mar. 2002 progress - early Airshed Characterization Oct. 2002 progress - Clean Vehicles & Fuels/ website FUTURE WORK May 2003 progress report June 2003 consultations - NW-CAPP (US EPA R10) Sept. 2003 review strategy options, complete A Char. Dec. 2003 future modeling & management options June 2004 strategy report June 2004+ implementation plan 6(iii/iii). How GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy

  12. Conclusion GB/ PS International Airshed Strategy • regional AQ usually conforms with standards, • but still impacts public health (e.g. no lower thresholds for PM) • emission reductions may be overwhelmed by rapid regional growth • new sources may emerge as important as others are controlled • planning at int’l level is required to maintain clean air in region • successful International Airshed Strategy must : • - rely on sound science • - focus on specific, measurable, and attainable goals, and • - involve all agencies that have an AQ management mandate

  13. 1939 Today False Creek, Vancouver

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