Anchorage CO Maintenance Plan Revision Remove Commitment to I/M and Make it a “Local Option” AMATS Technical Advisory Committee May 13, 2010

A little history… In July 2008 the Anchorage Assembly overturned a decision by a previous Assembly and reinstated the I/M Program with some changes. They also directed DHHS to work with ADEC to remove I/M as a commitment in the State Implementation Plan and make it a “local option.”

The first phase of CO Maintenance Plan revisions were approved by AMATS and the Assembly in May 2009. These revisions: Extended new car I/M testing exemption four to six years. Added transit marketing as a primary CO control measure along with I/M, air quality public awareness, and the carpool / vanpool program. Clarified timelines for implementing contingency measures in the event of a future violation of the CO standard.

Now we’ve moved on to Phase 2 of the revisions

Phase 2 revisions are limited in scope Delete I/M as primary measure and make it a local option. Include new air quality / CO emission projections that assume that I/M program will be terminated in 2011. Add I/M to menu of contingency measures to be considered for implementation if Anchorage violates CO standard in the future.

As a local option, decisions regarding I/M become a local Assembly decision not subject to the lengthy approval process of EPA.

How does the assumed termination of I/M in 2011 affect prospects for continued compliance with CO standard?

Terminating I/M slightly increases the probability of an air quality violation in the next ten years The estimated cumulative probability of violating the standard between 2011 and 2020 increases from about 1.4% with I/M to about 5% without. The probability of violating gets progressively smaller over time because CO emissions are projected to decline.

Clean Air Act requires I/M to be included in the menu of contingency measures if it is deleted as a primary measure.

Menu of Anchorage Contingency Measures Table III.B.7-1 Menu of Anchorage Contingency Measures Contingency Measure Projected Time Necessary for Implementation Increase public awareness and education, transit, carpool and vanpool promotion efforts 6 to 12 months Curtail or limit use of fireplaces, wood stoves and other wood burning appliances when high CO is predicted Promote increase in transit ridership among commuters by offering reduced fares, or free transit fares for employees of companies that contribute to subsidy. 12 to 24 months Reinstate block heater installation subsidy Reinstate ethanol-blended gasoline Reinstate I/M Added as new contingency measure