National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Current Status of Air Quality

1. National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Current Status of Air Quality Laura Boothe North Carolina Division of Air Quality MCIC Workshops March 2012

2. Current Schedule for NAAQS 2

3. Lead Standard • On November 12, 2008, EPA strengthened the NAAQS for lead to 0.15 μg/m3 • This was a 90% reduction in the level of the previous standard of 1.5 μg/m3 • EPA has changed the lead monitoring network requirements to ensure monitors are assessing air quality in areas that might violate the new standard.

4. Lead Standard • Changes to the monitoring requirements • Establish population based lead monitoring in the large urban areas with NCORE monitoring sites (Raleigh & Charlotte) • Monitoring started late December 2011 • Change the 1.0 ton/year lead source based monitoring threshold to 0.5 ton/year • NCDAQ received waivers for sources EPA has identified as ≥ 0.5 ton/year based on modeling

5. Lead Standard • EPA designated areas in November 2011, with an effective date of Dec. 31, 2011 • All of NC was designated unclassifiable/attainment • Do not expect any impact on North Carolina’s current industry • Sources that emit ≥ 0.5 tons/year in the future may have to monitor for lead.

6. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Standards • Primary Standard strengthened on January 22, 2010 • New 1-hour NO2 standard at 100 parts per billion (ppb); and • Retained the annual average NO2 standard of 53 ppb • Secondary Standard retained on March 21, 2012 • 53 ppb annual average

7. NO2 Primary Standard • EPA designated areas in Feb. 2012, with effective date of Feb. 29, 2012 • All areas in NC designated unclassifiable/attainment at the township level • There may be another round of designations once there are 3 years of data from road-side monitors

8. NO2 Primary Standard • Current Impact on Industry • NC has established a SIL by policy memo (10μg/m3) until EPA establishes a national SIL • Affects PSD applications • If source can comply with NC’s SIL, then can proceed with permitting • If source cannot comply with SIL, then full modeling required • Most sources have problems demonstrating compliance with NO2 standard with full modeling

9. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Standards • Primary standard strengthened on June 2, 2010 • New 1-hour SO2 standard of 75 ppb • Revoked existing annual and 24-hour primary SO2 standards for areas currently attaining these standards • Secondary standard retained on March 21, 2012 • 500 ppb averaged over 3 hours

10. SO2 Primary Standard • Current SO2 design values

11. SO2 Primary Standard • NC recommendation submitted June 2011 • Requested a deferral until the end of 2012 • If deferral not granted then recommended a small area in New Hanover County be designated nonattainment

12. SO2 Primary Standard

13. SO2 Primary Standard • Designations on existing monitors was expected to be in June 2012 • Have not heard from EPA yet on our recommendation • EPA needs to notify states 120 days prior to making designations if they disagree with states’ recommendation

14. SO2 Primary Standard • Current Impacts on Industry • North Carolina has established a SIL (10μg/m3) by policy memo for SO2 • Affects PSD applications • EPA described an approach for implementing the new 1-hour standard using monitoring & refined dispersion modeling of SO2 sources to determine compliance • Still waiting on the final modeling guidance from EPA

15. SO2 Primary Standard • Other Impacts For Areas Designated Nonattainment • Nonattainment New Source Review • Potential requirements for reductions in SO2 based on modeling • General Conformity

16. 1997 Ozone Standard • All areas in North Carolina are attaining the 1997 standard • NCDAQ submitted a redesignation request for the Charlotte/Gastonia region in November 2011 • Redesignation being held up until Reasonable Available Control Technology (RACT) rule revised

17. 1997 Ozone Standard • Clean Air Act required RACT determinations for all sources subject to control technique guidelines (CTGs) • NC rule only required determinations for sources with potential emissions ≥ 100 tons/year • Rule being developed regarding VOC CTGs applicability • Will have requirement as a contingency measure to be considered • Timing with redesignation request approval critical

18. 2008 Ozone Standard • Primary and Secondary standards set at 75 ppb • Was under reconsideration, so implementation was delayed • Sept. 2011 it was decided not to reconsider the standard • EPA gave states the opportunity to revise their boundary recommendations that were submitted in 2009

19. 2008 Ozone Standard • Only the Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury area violating the standard • Revised boundary recommendation submitted February 29, 2012 • EPA under consent decree to designate areas no later than May 2012.

20. 2008 Ozone Standard

21. 2008 Ozone Standard • Impacts to Industry For Areas Designated Nonattainment • Nonattainment New Source Review • 100 ton per year new sources • 40 tons per year modifications • Emissions offsets >1:1 • Reasonably Available Control Measures • Potentially additional reductions in NOx emissions to demonstrate attainment • General Conformity

22. CO Standard • August 2011 EPA retained the existing CO NAAQS • 1-hour standard of 35 ppm • 8-hour standard of 9 ppm. • NC has been attaining both standards since 1991 • No additional impacts to industry expected regarding this standard

23. PM2.5 Standards • Existing Standards • 1997 Annual standard 15 μg/m3 • 2006 24-hour standard 35 μg/m3 • NC attaining both standards • Both the Hickory & Triad areas were redesignated to attainment/ maintenance effective December 2011 • No additional impacts to industry expected regarding these standards

24. PM2.5 Standard • Standards being reviewed • Mid-2013 - expect final standard • Final Risk Assessment released March 2010 • Considers revising annual standard between 10 – 13 μg/m3 • Considers revising daily standard between 25 – 35 μg/m3

25. PM2.5 Standards • Based on 2009-2011 data • Daily standard design values • All below 25 μg/m3 • Annual standard design values • Highest value is 11.2 μg/m3 • Designations would be based on 2012-2014 data

26. 2009-2011 Annual PM2.5Design Values

27. Laura Boothe Attainment Planning Branch Supervisor Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Air Quality Laura.Boothe@ncdenr.gov (919) 707-8721 Questions?