1

Improving Air Quality in the Metro. Washington Region

Phil Mendelson, ChairMetropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee

October 19, 2006

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Overview

• Background: Clean Air Act, MWAQC

• Is the Air Getting Cleaner?

• New Challenges and New Plan

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Clean Air Act Amendments 1990

EPA set federal health standards for ambient pollutants

NOx

SO2

Lead

Ozone

CO

ParticulateMatter

4

MWAQC Created, 1992

The Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee conducts air quality planning for the Washington nonattainmentregion.

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Members of MWAQC

DC

Virginia Maryland

Local Governments

[Counties and Cities]

MWAQC

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Air Quality Planning

MWAQC approves air quality plan (SIP) for MD,

VA, DC

Jurisdictions submit

SIP to EPA

EPA approves

SIP

MWAQC revises SIP

as necessary

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Is the Air Getting Cleaner?

8

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

Lead SO2 NO2 CO PM10 1-HourOzone

8-HourOzone

PM2.5

1990 2005

Health Standard

Washington Region’s Progress on Meeting National Air Quality Criteria

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Exceedances of the 8-Hour Ozone StandardWashington Metropolitan Region

1997 - 2006

29

49

39

10

24

38

78

19 19

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Nu

mb

er o

f E

xcee

dan

ce D

ays

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Area of Monitors Exceeding StandardWashington, DC-MD-VA (1990 – 2005)

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Why is Air Getting Cleaner?

• Reduced pollution coming from midwest

• Stronger controls on power plants• Cleaner cars, trucks• Cleaner, low-sulfur fuel• Many other control measures in

region’s 2004 air quality plan

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New Challenges andNew Plan

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Progress Towards Meeting the Air Quality Goal

0.075

0.085

0.095

0.105

0.115

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2009

Year

8-Hour Ozone Standard

* 2006 data is preliminary and valid as of Sept 21, 2006. 2009 data based on current photochemical modeling.

Des

ign

Val

ue

(pp

m)

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Regional Growth, 2002-2009

• Household population growing 12%

• Vehicle Miles Traveled growing 9%• Ozone Values needs to drop 13%

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Air Quality Plan (“SIP”)

• A plan containing an emissions goal to improve air quality by a deadline (2009) established by the Clean Air Act

• The plan contains federal, state, and local measures to reduce air pollution

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4 Sources of Air Pollution

+ +

Point Source

Mobile Source

Area Source

Non-road source

+

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Regional + Local = Strategy

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Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) Measures

MOU signed at June 2006 OTC Meeting– Consumer

Products Phase II– Portable Fuel

Containers Phase II

– Adhesives and Sealants

– Diesel Chip Reflash

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Local Controls (voluntary)

• Wind power purchase• Diesel Retrofits (buses, trucks,

equipment)• LED Traffic Signal Retrofits• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Purchases• Low VOC Paint

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Opportunities for Public Comment

July 26: MWAQC Meeting MWAQC adopted regional measures and proposes local voluntary measures

(“bundle”) as AQ plan’s “CONTROL STRATEGY”

October 19: Air Quality Town Meeting Early public input to air quality plan/ process

January 2007: MWAQC Meeting MWAQC adopts DRAFT SIP for PUBLIC HEARING

February – March: States hold Public Hearings on Plan

March, 28, 2007 MWAQC approves SIP

April/May 2007: States send SIP to EPA