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CAAAC Air Quality Management Workgroup Update

This update provides an overview of the Air Quality Management (AQM) Workgroup's efforts in response to the recommendations outlined in the NAS report. Key challenges, NAS recommendations, and the scope of the AQM work are discussed, along with critical opportunities and concerns for the OTC. Next steps and considerations for expressing the OTC's position on the issues are also addressed.

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CAAAC Air Quality Management Workgroup Update

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  1. CAAAC Air Quality Management WorkgroupUpdate Anna Garcia OTC

  2. NAS Report as Foundation • NAS report catalyst for AQM Workgroup -- response to their recommendations • Key challenges identified by NAS: • Meeting NAAQS for O3 and PM 2.5 and reducing regional haze • Designing and implementing HAPs controls • Protecting public health and welfare in the absence of a threshold exposure • Assessing and protecting ecosystem health • Mitigating intercontinental and cross-border transport • Maintaining AQM efficiency in the face of changing climate

  3. Key NAS Recommendations • Five main areas of NAS recommendations • Strengthen scientific and technical capacity • Expand national and multi-state control strategies • Transform the SIP process • Develop integrated program for criteria and hazardous air pollutants • Enhance protection of ecosystems and public welfare

  4. AQM Work Group Effort • Two subgroups with a total of 7 work teams formed to turn report recommendations into actions • Policy and Planning Subgroup • Short term SIP Process Team • Regional/National Strategies Team • Innovative & Multi-pollutant Approaches Team • Long-Term AQM Framework • Science and Technology Subgroup • Emissions, Monitoring & Modeling Team • Ecosystems Team • Health and Exposure Team

  5. Scope of AQM Work • Approximately 50+ recommendations have been identified by the AQM Work Group • 17 from SIP process team • 18 from national/regional strategies team • 6 from multi-pollutant and innovative strategies team • 3 proposals for long-term AQM framework team • 1 from ecosystems team • 8 from science and technology subgroup

  6. What’s Most Critical to OTC? • Transport is mentioned as challenge in NAS report, but not addressed directly in the subgroups’ recommendations • At least 9 recommendations have some critical significance to the OTC • 4 present opportunities • 4 are of concern • 1 could be either, depending on how done

  7. Some Opportunities • SIP-4: Coordinate air planning for areas whose SIPs share a common airshed • RN-4: Evaluate ICI boiler category for possible regional/national control strategies • RN-5: Evaluate architectural surface coating category for possible regional/national control strategies • RN-10: Evaluate EGU category for possible regional/national control strategies

  8. Some Concerns • SIP-3: Align O3, PM and regional haze elements, submittal and designation dates • SIP-8A: Where EPA’s national modeling for O3 and PM 2.5 predict attainment, states should be able to use EPA modeling in lieu of state specific modeling • SIP-8B: Where EPA’s national modeling for O3 and PM 2.5 predicts minimal nonattainment, EPA should project tons required for attainment • INV-3: EPA and states should work to reduce emphasis on SIP credit and focus on co-benefits of innovative measures

  9. Both: Concern and/or Opportunity • SIP-14: EPA in consultation with States and Tribes should expand ROP to permit use of emissions reductions from outside the NAA to meet offset requirements • If takes relative amount of reduction from outside NAA into account – opportunity • If overcredits the amount of reduction - concern

  10. AQM Next Steps • Nov 15 – submit draft recommendations to CAAAC members • Nov 22 – Convene conference call of interested CAAAC members • Nov 29 – comments due from CAAC • Nov 30 – AQM meeting in RTP • Dec 6 – Submit report to CAAAC • Dec 15-16 – CAAAC meeting • Jan 7 – Remainder of comments from CAAAC • Jan 25 – Deliver report of recommendations to EPA/OAR

  11. OTC Response • How do we best express our position on the issues that represent concerns and those that are opportunities for OTC? • Long-term vision of what changes are needed will affect what types of short-term fixes are appropriate – how to ensure this process is not too myopic?

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