Ozone Redesignation Substitutes for the HGB and DFW Areas Walker Williamson Air Quality Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Advanced Air Permitting Seminar 2016 HGB = Houston/Galveston/Brazoria DFW = Dallas/Fort Worth
Overview Classifications What is a redesignation substitute? Texas Redesignation Substitutes Effects of Final EPA Approval EPA = Environmental Protection Agency
Classifications Classifications are important because they drive the SIP requirements for a nonattainment area, including nonattainment new source review tons per year (tpy) major source emissions thresholds and offset ratios. Marginal: 100 tpy 1.1:1 Moderate: 1.15:1 Serious: 50 tpy 1.2:1 Severe: 25 tpy 1.3:1 Classifications also determine how much time a nonattainment area has to attain the standard. Ozone classifications set nonattainment new source review tons per year (tpy) major source emissions thresholds and offset ratios. Marginal •100 tpy •1.1:1 Moderate •1.15:1 Serious •50 tpy •1.2:1 Severe •25 tpy •1.3:1 tpy = tons per year To understand why redesignation substitutes are important to the HGB and DFW areas, it is important to understand the Federal Clean Air Act’s (FCAA) classification scheme for ozone. Classifications are important because they drive the State Implementation Plan (SIP) requirements for a nonattainment area, including nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) thresholds and offset ratios. Classifications also determine how much time a nonattainment area has to attain the standard. Note: I’m not including the extreme classification because it only applies to areas in California.
HGB Ozone NAAQS Classifications One-Hour 1997 2008 HGB Ozone NAAQS Classifications Severe One-Hour: Severe 1997: 2008: Marginal* * The HGB area’s marginal classification for the 2008 ozone NAAQS is expected to be bumped up to a moderate classification by the end of 2016. Severe NAAQS = National Ambient Air Quality Standards Currently, New Source Review (NSR) offsets and thresholds are based on the area’s severe classification for the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard. Note the asterisk: we anticipate the EPA will reclassify the HGB area to moderate by the end of 2016. Marginal*
DFW Ozone NAAQS Classifications One-Hour 1997 2008 DFW Ozone NAAQS Classifications Serious One-Hour: Serious 1997: 2008: Moderate Serious For DFW, the serious nonattainment area requirements apply. Moderate
What is a redesignation substitute? The redesignation substitute is the EPA’s latest and most substantial attempt to address Federal Clean Air Act (FCAA) requirements in place for a revoked ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The redesignation substitute was established in the EPA’s Implementation of the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: State Implementation Plan Requirements; Final Rule Redesignation substitutes are required to meet the substance of the FCAA Section 107, which describes the requirements for a nonattainment area to be redesignated to attainment. The EPA does not redesignate areas for a revoked NAAQS, so redesignation substitutes are important because they are currently the only way for states to remove nonattainment area requirements for those standards. Redesignation substitutes are also important because they are a formal recognition of the progress that has been made in air quality improvement. What is a redesignation substitute? Implementation of the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: State Implementation Plan Requirements; Final Rule
Section 107 Redesignation Versus Redesignation Substitute Attainment of NAAQS Permanent & Enforceable Emissions Reductions Maintain NAAQS for 10 Years Maintain NAAQS for 20 Years & Contingency Plan SIP Revision Section 107 Redesignation Versus Redesignation Substitute §107 Redesignation Required Elements: Attainment of NAAQS Permanent & Enforceable Emissions Reductions Maintain NAAQS for 20 Years & Contingency Plan SIP Revision Redesignation Substitute Required Elements: Maintain NAAQS for 10 Years A redesignation substitute is very similar to a true redesignation request and includes most of the same elements: Attainment of the applicable NAAQS A showing that attainment was due to permanent and enforceable emissions reductions A demonstration that the area will continue to attain the NAAQS for 10 years after EPA approval The redesignation substitute differs from a true redesignation in two important ways: It is not a SIP revision, but what EPA terms a “showing” Does not require a second 10-year demonstration of maintenance or contingency measures
Texas Redesignation Substitutes Attained Standard: 2013 Submitted to EPA: July 22, 2014 Approval: October 20, 2015 HGB One-Hour Ozone No §185 fee program SIP submittal required Allows removal of nonattainment NSR permitting requirements for one-hour NAAQS Effect HGB One-Hour Ozone: The area attained the standard in 2013. The redesignation substitute was submitted to the EPA on July 22, 2014. The EPA published final approval of the redesignation substitute on October 20, 2015. Effect: No §185 fee program SIP submittal is required for the one-hour standard. Allows removal of nonattainment NSR permitting requirement for one-hour standard.
Texas Redesignation Substitutes Attained Standard: 2014 Submitted to EPA: August 18, 2015 Proposed Approval: May 25, 2016 HGB 1997 Eight-Hour Ozone HGB 1997 Eight-Hour Ozone: The area attained the standard in 2014. The redesignation substitute was submitted to the EPA on August 18, 2015. The EPA published proposed approval of the redesignation substitute on May 25, 2016. Effect: No §185 fee program SIP submittal is required for the 1997 standard. Approval would allow removal of nonattainment NSR permitting requirement for 1997 eight-hour standard. No §185 fee program SIP submittal required Would allow removal of nonattainment NSR permitting requirement for 1997 eight-hour NAAQS Effect
Texas Redesignation Substitutes Attained Standards: 2006 & 2013 Submitted to EPA: August 18, 2015 Proposed Approval: May 25, 2016 DFW One-Hour & 1997 Eight-Hour Ozone DFW One-Hour & 1997 Eight-Hour Ozone: The area attained the one-hour standard in 2006 and the 1997 eight-hour standard in 2013. The redesignation substitute was submitted to the EPA on August 18, 2015. The EPA published proposed approval of the redesignation substitute on May 25, 2016. Effect: Approval would allow removal of nonattainment NSR permitting requirements for both the one-hour and 1997 eight-hour standards. Would allow removal of nonattainment NSR permitting requirements for one-hour and 1997 eight-hour NAAQS Effect
Effects of Final EPA Approval Final EPA approval would not relieve sources from obligations under previously established permit conditions. Current SIP control measures would remain in effect. HGB – 100 tpy and 1.15:1 After HGB reclassification is finalized, the major source thresholds and offset ratios would be: DFW – 100 tpy and 1.15:1 HGB – 100 tpy and 1.1:1 If the redesignation substitutes were approved today, the major source thresholds and offset ratios would be: Nonattainment NSR thresholds and offsets would be based on classification for 2008 ozone NAAQS. Effects of Final EPA Approval Nonattainment NSR thresholds and offsets based on classification for 2008 ozone NAAQS Current SIP control measures remain in effect Because the redesignation substitutes are not SIP revisions, the EPA is not held to a schedule to complete review. If the redesignation substitutes were approved today, the major source thresholds and offset ratios would be: HGB – 100 tpy and 1.1:1 DFW – 100 tpy and 1.15:1 After HGB reclassification is finalized, the major source thresholds and offset ratios would be: HGB – 100 tpy and 1.15:1 Does not relieve sources from obligations under previously established permit conditions
Contact Information Walker Williamson SIP Team Leader 512-239-3181 walker.williamson@tceq.texas.gov Want Updates? Walker Williamson: SIP Team Leader 512-239-3181 walker.williamson@tceq.texas.gov Want updates? Join the SIP/Air Quality update e-mail list at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/sip/sipcontact.html The SIP/Air Quality update e-mail list can be found at https://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/sip/sipcontact.html. Join the SIP/Air Quality update e-mail list