National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Implementation National Tribal Forum June 2011

What are NAAQS? Title I of CAA directs EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for commonly occurring air pollutants posing public health threats NAAQS set national levels for acceptable concentrations of specific pollutants in outdoor air known as “criteria pollutants” NAAQS consist of pollutant concentrations in air that may not be exceeded NAAQS are federal standards that apply coast-to-coast, regardless of jurisdiction 2

National Ambient Air Quality Standards Two types of standards are developed: “Primary” standards to protect public health with an adequate margin of safety “Secondary” standards to protect public welfare and the environment The CAA requires EPA to review the standard set for each criteria pollutant every 5 years with advice from the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) 3

National Ambient Air Quality Standards PollutantPrimary StandardsAveraging TimeSecondary Standards Carbon9 ppm8-hourNone Monoxide(10 mg/m 3 ) 35 ppm 1-hour (40 mg/m 3 ) Lead 0.15 µg/m 3 Rolling 3-Month AverageSame as Primary Nitrogen 53 ppb Annual Same as Primary Dioxide(Arithmetic Average) 100 ppb 1-hourNone Particulate 150 µg/m 3 24-hourSame as Primary Matter (PM 10 ) Particulate 15.0 µg/m 3 Annual Same as Primary Matter (PM 2.5 )(Arithmetic Average) 35 µg/m 3 24-hourSame as Primary Ozone0.075 ppm8-hourSame as Primary (2008 std) 0.08 ppm 8-hourSame as Primary (1997 std) Sulfur0.03 ppmAnnual0.5 ppm3-hour Dioxide(Arithmetic Average) 0.14 ppm 24-hour 75 ppb 1-hourNone 4

Current Schedule for Ongoing NAAQS Reviews (March 2011) MILESTONE POLLUTANT NO 2 PrimarySO 2 Primary Ozone Reconsideration COPM NO 2 /SO 2 Secondary Lead NPRJun 26, 2009Nov 16, 2009Jan 6, 2010Jan 28, 2011 Late 2011 July 12, 2011Nov 2013 NFRJan 22, 2010Jun 2, 2010July 29, 2011Aug 12, 2011TBDMar 20, 2012Sept 2014 NOTE: Underlined dates indicate court-ordered or settlement agreement deadlines Next Ozone Review: Proposal in Jun 2013 and Final in Mar

PM NAAQS Review

PM NAAQS Review Process to Date Current review initiated in 2007; includes review of primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) standards for fine and coarse particles Review is thorough and extensive, with many opportunities for CASAC and public comment; final documents take into consideration CASAC and public comments on multiple draft documents Integrated Science Assessment: final document issued December 2009 Synthesis and assessment of most policy-relevant science Risk/Exposure Assessments: final documents issued June/July 2010 Quantitative Health Risk Assessment; Urban-Focused Visibility Assessment Focus on fine particles and did not assess risks associated with coarse particles Policy Assessment: final document issued April 2011 Staff conclusions address adequacy of current standards and potential alternative standards appropriate to consider Discusses broadest range of policy options supported by the available scientific evidence, quantitative assessments, and air quality analyses All documents available at: 7

8 Final Policy Assessment Conclusions and CASAC Advice Primary (health-based) PM 2.5 Standards Staff and CASAC conclude it is appropriate to consider revising the standards to provide increased public health protection Consider revising annual standard level within a range of µg/m 3 (current standard is 15 µg/m 3 ) Staff concludes that evidence most strongly supports range of µg/m 3 Consider retaining or revising 24-hour standard level within a range of µg/m 3 ( current standard is 35 µg/m 3 ) Primary (health-based) PM 10 standards Staff concludes scientific evidence and associated uncertainties could provide support for either retaining or revising the current primary 24-hour PM 10 standard To the extent consideration is given to revising the standard, staff concludes it would be appropriate to consider a 98 th percentile form in conjunction with a level within a range of 85 to 65 µg/m 3 CASAC does not support retaining the current PM 10 standard; recommends revising form and level in order to increase public health protection CASAC recommends a 98 th percentile form in conjunction with a level within a range of 75 to 65 µg/m 3 Secondary (welfare-based) PM standards Staff and CASAC agree that it is appropriate to consider setting a distinct secondary PM 2.5 standard to address visibility impairment primarily in urban areas; considering options for structuring such a secondary standard distinct from the primary PM 2.5 standards, in terms of: Alternative indicators, averaging times, and forms Selecting alternative standard levels that reflect appropriate degree of public welfare protection No decisions have been made at this time EPA anticipates issuing a proposal for public review and comment later this yea r

Review of the Secondary NAAQS for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur

Overview Existing secondary NAAQS (for environmental effects): For NO 2 : ppm (parts per million) averaged over a year; and For SO 2 : 0.5 ppm averaged over three hours, not to be exceeded more than once per year In this review, for the first time, EPA is reviewing the environmental impacts of pollutants separately from the health-based impacts, and considering the effects of multiple pollutants simultaneously. Specifically, EPA’s Integrated Science Assessment covers: Oxides of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) -- the “criteria pollutants” : SO 2 and NO 2 – indicators for current secondary standard Particulate sulfate, SO 4, combined with SO 2 is defined as SOx NOy – includes the transformation products from emissions of oxides of nitrogen (e.g., nitric acid and particulate nitrate) Forms of N which are not criteria pollutants, but that contribute to N deposition, include: Ammonia gas, NH 3 Ammonium ion, NH 4 EPA is under a court-ordered schedule to sign a proposed rule by July 12, 2011 Together referred to as reduced nitrogen, NHx 10

Key Issues Existing secondary standards protect against direct effects of gaseous NO 2 and SO 2 on vegetation In addition to affecting plants, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are associated with an array of deposition-related effects, including nutrient enrichment and aquatic acidification When deposited on land and in lakes and streams, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur affect soils, water quality, and fish and wildlife In this review, the EPA has been exploring the possibility of developing a multi-pollutant standard to address deposition-related effects, particularly aquatic acidification Because different ecosystems vary in the amount of acid deposition they can tolerate, the EPA staff has been working to develop a formula called the “Aquatic Acidification Index” (AAI) that could be used to relate ambient levels of oxides of nitrogen and sulfur to water quality The terms of the equation need to be quantified on an area-specific basis, because ecosystem sensitivity varies across the nation due to variable geologic, hydrologic, and environmental factors The significant challenge is to translate spatially variable effects into a national standard, including limitations on available monitoring data 11

Conceptual Model of an Aquatic Acidification Standard Aquatic effects are not directly related to concentrations of oxides of N and S in the ambient air– major difference from other NAAQS standards Linkage between ecological effects and deposition of oxides of N and S is characterized by critical load modeling Linkage between deposition and air concentrations of oxides of N and S is characterized by atmospheric modeling that translates emissions of N and S into estimates of both ambient concentrations and related deposition Model also takes into account deposition of N from reduced forms of nitrogen (e.g., ammonia) that contribute to the aquatic effects but are not part of the “criteria” pollutants addressed by this standard Ecological effects and ecological indicator (Acid Neutralizing Capacity, ANC) Linking atmospheric deposition to ecological indicator Linking deposition to “allowable” concentrations of oxides of N and S in ambient air 12

Omernik Ecoregion III classification scheme (developed in the 1980s by EPA) divides the continental U.S. into 84 ecologically relevant regions, based on common vegetation, geology, soils, and hydrological characteristics A multi-pollutant standard for oxides of nitrogen and sulfur must account for these differences to provide appropriate degree of protection against aquatic acidification in different regions Remaining complexities and uncertainties will be challenging to address Illustrating the Complexity: Significant Variation Among Ecoregions 13

Acid Sensitive and Non-Sensitive Ecoregions 14 Categorization based on water quality data and land use categories (naturally acidic and managed areas categorized as relatively non-sensitive) Ecosystem sensitivity varies across the nation, predominantly due to variability of geologic material (bedrock and soils) which buffers acidifying deposition

NAAQS Implementation

16 Pollutant NAAQS Promulgation Date Designations Effective 110(a) SIPs due (3 yrs after NAAQS promulgation) Attainment Demonstration Due Attainment Date PM2.5 (2006) Sept 2006Dec 2009Sept 2009Dec 2012 Dec 2014/2019 PbOct 2008 Dec 2010/2011 (extra time for new monitors) Oct 2011 June 2012/2013 Dec 2015/2016 NO2 (primary) Jan 2010Feb 2012Jan 2013Aug 2013Feb 2017 SO2 (primary) June 2010July 2012June 2013Jan 2014July 2017 OzoneJuly 2011 No later than Summer 2013 July 2014 No later than Summer 2016 No later than 2019 (moderate) COAug 2011Sept 2013Aug 2014Sept 2015Sept 2018 PM2.5 (2012) TBD NO2/SO2 Secondary Mar 2012April 2014Mar 2015Oct 2015NA Anticipated NAAQS 110 SIP Implementation Milestones Updated April 2011

Ozone Implementation Rules Revisions to implementation rule for hr ozone NAAQS Draft 2011 ozone NAAQS implementation rule will address: Proposed approaches to classifying ozone nonattainment areas Air quality thresholds for Marginal, Moderate, Serious, Severe, and Extreme Impact of options will be illustrated using air quality data Attainment deadlines for each classification State Implementation Plan (SIP) schedule and requirements for primary standard nonattainment areas Planning and control requirements currently required for the 1997 NAAQS that must continue to be implemented (i.e., “anti-backsliding” requirements) Implementation approach for first-ever separate secondary standard, including classifications and SIP requirements 17

PM 2.5 Implementation SIP timeline For the 2006 standards Designations occurred in Dec. 2009, and SIPs are due Dec For the 2012 standards (assume promulgation in 2012) Designations would be in 2014, and SIPs would be due in

Implementation Guidance for 2006 PM2.5 Standards Framework of existing implementation rule is appropriate for attainment planning for 2006 PM2.5 standards. Guidance memo (not rule revision) on key issues under development. Interpretation of existing rule as applied to 2006 standards Attainment within 5 years based on air quality data RFP policy revision: no credit for reductions outside the NA RFP milestone years if attainment date beyond 5 years: 2014, 2017 Reminder that PM2.5 attainment planning and control strategies must account for condensable PM2.5 emissions. Significant local health benefits from direct PM2.5 reductions Issued “Strategies for Reducing Residential Wood Smoke” (Oct. 2009) 19

Redesignation Requests hr Ozone NAAQS Moderate area requests (June 2011 attainment deadline extensions) are pending for RACT updates of CTG revisions Baton Rouge Area, LA; Chicago-Gary-Lake County Area, IL; Milwaukee-Racine Area, WI; Sheboygan Area, WI; St. Louis Area, IL; Phoenix-Mesa Area, AZ (Former Subpart 1) 1997 PM 2.5 NAAQS Most are pending final Transport Rule Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IN; Cincinnati-Hamilton, KY; Evansville, IN; Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC; Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC; Birmingham, AL (also 2006 PM 2.5 NAAQS) 20

CO NAAQS Review Proposed to retain current standard on January 28, 2011 Public health and environmental organizations in NESCAUM support revision Industry and 4 state agencies support retention Proposed ambient air monitoring requirements to co-locate CO monitors with “near- road” NO 2 monitors in urban areas having populations of 1 million or more Approximately 77 CO monitors within 53 urban areas, as part of the overall CO monitoring network NACAA, NESCAUM, NYSDEC, and public health and environmental groups support new requirements, but states want population threshold raised to 2.5 million Many also concerned about losing Neighborhood monitors Industry and several state and local governments do not support near-road monitoring There are currently no CO nonattainment areas for existing standards (9 ppm 8-hr, 35 ppm 1-hr) Final rule due by August 12,

Exceptional Events Guidance Flagging Monitoring Data for exclusion for determining nonattainment Draft Guidance Products Available Now Overview of draft guidance and 2 attachments Frequently asked questions (~30 pages) High Winds Guidance Document (~60 pages) Deadline for comments is 6/30/11; will work with state/local/tribal stakeholders in developing solutions to identified issues Finalize guidance in November after broader outreach and comment (longer timeframe if rule revisions are pursued) Website with example demonstration submittals at Draft Guidance Products Under Development Guidance document on wildfire events and ozone – summer 2011 draft for review Replacement for EPA’s Interim Fire Policy Currently reconsidering the purpose and approach in light of interagency review comments. Anticipate components to clarify treatment of agricultural burning and better define “basic smoke management practices” Will then meet with states and federal agencies to discuss concepts before issuing new draft for public comment 22

Pb Designations The final Pb NAAQS was signed on October 15, Guidance was published in the Federal Register as part of the Pb NAAQS revision on November 12, 2008 Pb designations is occurring in two rounds: The first round of designations was signed on November 16, Designated 16 areas as nonattainment. Deferred designations for all other areas to the second round. Statutory deadline for the second round of designations is October 14, day letters are due June 15, Anticipating designating 5 areas as nonattainment. Remaining areas will be designated as unclassifiable/attainment. No tribal areas were designated nonattainment in the first round, and we don't expect any areas to be designated nonattainment in the second round. Under section 110 of the Clean Air Act, all states (including those without any nonattainment areas) are required to submit infrastructure SIPs by October 15, 2011 Among the requirements for an infrastructure SIP is a permit program implementing PSD and nonattainment NSR. Attainment Demonstrations SIPs, for round one, are due June 30, For the second round, attainment SIPS are expected to be due June 30, 2013 The attainment date for the first round is December 31, 2015, and the attainment date for the second round is expected to be December 31,

Ozone Designations EPA is reconsidering the 2008 ozone NAAQS. Proposed more protective standards in January 2010 Final decision expected by end of July 2011 New NAAQS established as a result of the reconsideration would replace the 2008 ozone NAAQS. EPA does not intend to implement the 2008 NAAQS Final NAAQS rule will provide schedule for designating areas for 2011 ozone NAAQS, including deadline for submitting area designation recommendations EPA will be providing guidance and training to help tribes participate in the designations process 24

PSD Revisions for Part 52.21(u) Working on a rule to remove the preclusion of tribes taking delegation of the PSD program Proposal in September 2011 Final in January

For More Information Contact Laura McKelvey Angel McCormack Visit the NAAQS website 26