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Air Quality Committee May 7, 2014 Sushma Masemore, P.E. Planning Section Chief

The Clean Air Act, National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and the Air Planning Process North Carolina Division of Air Quality. Air Quality Committee May 7, 2014 Sushma Masemore, P.E. Planning Section Chief. Topics to be Covered. Federal Clean Air Act National Ambient Air Quality Standards

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Air Quality Committee May 7, 2014 Sushma Masemore, P.E. Planning Section Chief

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  1. The Clean Air Act, National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and the Air Planning ProcessNorth Carolina Division of Air Quality Air Quality Committee May 7, 2014 Sushma Masemore, P.E. Planning Section Chief

  2. Topics to be Covered • Federal Clean Air Act • National Ambient Air Quality Standards • Designation Process • State Implementation Plans • Emerging Areas

  3. The Clean Air Act (CAA) • 1970 CAA and 1977 CAA Amendments • 1990 CAA Amendments

  4. Title I • Part A – Air Quality and Emission Limitations • Section 110 – State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for Criteria Air Pollutants • Section 111- New Source Performance Standards • Section 112 – Hazardous Air Pollutants • Part C – Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) • Subpart 1 – Clean Air • Subpart 2 – Visibility Protection • Part D - Nonattainment Area Plan Requirements

  5. NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality Standards • Clean Air Act gives EPA authority to set NAAQS • 6 “criteria pollutants” • Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10) • Ozone (O3) • Carbon Monoxide (CO) • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) • Lead • Primary and Secondary Standards • States are required to adopt enforceable plans to achieve and maintain air quality standards. State plans must also address emissions that drift across state lines and may impact air quality in downwind states.

  6. NAAQS Reviews • CAA requires EPA to review every 5 yrs • Current schedule for ongoing NAAQS reviews

  7. Designations • After standards are finalized…EPA must designate areas as meeting (attainment) or not meeting (nonattainment) the standard, or undetermined (unclassifiable). • Monitoring data are used to determine an area’s design value • Design values are concentration measurements averaged over a specific time interval • Process • 1 yr after NAAQS: states recommend boundaries and designations • 2 yr after NAAQS: EPA makes final designations

  8. North Carolina’s Current Attainment Status • Ozone: Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury is the only area designated nonattainment of the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. • SO2: EPA deferred designations until monitoring data are collected and/or modeling demonstrations are submitted

  9. What is a State Implementation Plan (SIP)? • An overall air quality plan for attaining or maintaining the NAAQS. • Codified in 40 CFR Part 52, each state has its own subpart • Public given opportunity to review and comment • Infrastructure SIPs (due 3 years after NAAQS revision) • Shows that the state has the basic air quality management program to implement the NAAQS • Attainment/Maintenance SIPs (usually 3 years after nonattainment designation) • Identifies emissions control requirements and associated rules necessary for attainment or maintenance

  10. Redesignations • State submits a request satisfying specific elements in CAA Section 107, including • Area has attained the NAAQS • Improvement is due to permanent and enforceable emission reductions • Maintenance plan is approved • All other SIP requirements are met • Requires EPA rulemaking (codified in Part 52 and Part 81) • EPA’s final approval redesignates an area from nonattainment to attainment/maintenance

  11. Summary of Air Quality Planning Process DAQ DAQ DAQ Courtesy; James, 2012

  12. Planning Section Program Areas • Rules Development • Develop, amend, maintain air quality rules • Coordination with Stakeholders • Adhere to Administrative Procedures Act (APA) • EPA SIP approval • Review rules for local air agencies • Other • Air Awareness Program • Air Quality Forecasting • Emissions Inventory • Federal grant development • Implementation of Federal air toxics standards Attainment Planning • Emissions inventories to identify & quantify air pollution sources. • Non-attainment boundary recommendations • Prepares SIPs for attaining and maintaining standards • Meteorological Modeling • Emissions Modeling • Air Quality Modeling • Transportation conformity analyses • Regional/National collaborations • Legislative studies

  13. Emerging Issues for the Planning Section • Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) • EPA review of recent infrastructure SIP submittals • EPA review of the ozone NAAQS • Implementation of the 2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS • Carbon pollution standards for new and existing power plants • Upcoming air quality rules to be presented to the AQC and EMC

  14. Thank you. Questions? Contacts: Sushma Masemore 919-707-8700 sushma.masemore@ncdenr.gov • Education/Outreach • Robin Barrows • 919-707-8445 • robin.barrows@ncdenr.gov • Attainment Planning • Randy Strait • 919-707-8721 • randy.strait@ncdenr.gov • Rules • Joelle Burleson • 919-707-8720 • joelle.burleson@ncdenr.gov

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