1. Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee: Focus and Priorities
Phil Mendelson, MWAQC Chair
March 8, 2006

2. Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee
Refresher on Air Quality and MWAQC history
How MWAQC is doing under the new governance structure
What MWAQC is doing now and for the rest of the year
I’m going to cover three topics: 1) a refresher on air quality and history of MWAQC; 2) How MWAQC is doing under the new governance structure, and 3) What MWAQC is doing now and for the rest of the year.

3. Overview – linkage to Board’s 3-year Policy Focus
MWAQC is one of COG’s 3 independent policy committees along with the Board and TPB
MWAQC is part of team coordinating on the Board’s focus on growth and development
MWAQC’s interest is to help the region grow in a way that keeps our air clean
As you know, I chaired the Board in the first year of the 3 year effort.

4. MWAQC: Growth & Development
Clean Air plans for region designed to
Protect health of our constituents
Insure federal transportation dollars can continue to the region
Growth policies good for clean air:
Policies that reduce need for travel
Policies that support energy conservation
Technologies that control or eliminate air pollution

5. MWAQC Responsibilities
Develop clean air plans (State Implementation Plans or “SIPs”) containing measures to reduce emissions
Federal, state and local reductions measures
Conduct transportation conformity analysis whenever new Transportation plan is proposed
The transportation plans prepared by the TPB can only go forward if it is consistent with MWAQC’s air quality plan.

6. Transportation Conformity Rule
Transportation plans, programs must be consistent with air quality goals
Not worsen existing air quality
Not cause new air quality violations
Not delay attainment of the NAAQS
Links transportation planning and emission reductions
Federal penalties for failing to maintain air quality in the region may be loss of federal transportation funding for highways.

7. Clean Air Act Amendments 1990
EPA set federal health standards for ambient pollutants CO
SO2
NOx
There are six “criteria pollutants” for which EPA sets health standards. In 1990, the Washington region did not meet the health standards for carbon monoxide or ozone. The region met the carbon monoxide standard in 1997; now the region doesn’t meet the new health standards for ozone and fine particulate matter.
Ozone
Particulate Matter
Lead

8. MWAQC Created in 1992 Section 174 of CAA
Certified by Mayor of the District of Columbia and governors of MD and VA
Purpose: to prepare regional air quality plans to meet federal health standards for ozone and carbon monoxide
Revised Purpose: prepare regional air quality plans for new ozone and fine particle standards
Last year the states certified MWAQC to prepare regional air quality health plans to meet standards for ozone and fine particulate matter.

9. Air Quality Index AQI Range AQI Color 8-Hr O3 Range (ppb)
24-Hr PM2.5 Range (µg/m3)
Purple
Red
Orange
85-104
51-100
Yellow
65-84
0-50
Green
0-64
0-15.4
Code Red is when the old ozone standard was not being met. Code Orange (and Code Red) is a day when the new ozone health standard is not being met.

10. How is Ground-Level Ozone Formed?
Ozone is a gas that’s formed on hot sunny stagnant summer days as a result of a mixture of pollutants including “volatile organic compounds” or “VOC” and “nitrogen oxides” or “NOx”.
VOCs come from automobile exhaust, gasoline refueling, powerplants, lawnmowers and many solvents and paints.
NOx come from powerplants, automobile exhaust, construction equipment.

11. 4 Sources of Air Pollution+ + +
Point Source
Mobile Source
Area Source
Non-road source

12. Human Hair
PM2.5
(2.5 µm)
Particle Pollution
Mixture of microscopic solid and liquid particles suspended in air.
Particles vary in size.
The size of the particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems.
Particle pollution can occur year-round.
EPA is concerned about particulate matter. Recent research has led to a new standard for much smaller particles, 2.5 microns or less in size.

13. New MWAQC Governance Structure

14. Reorganization of MWAQC, 2004
Creation of cabinet level Interstate Air Quality Council (IAQC)
MWAQC authority and mission clarified
MWAQC TAC Chair is now state air official
New budget allocation: 1/3 air agencies, 1/3 DOTs, 1/3 local governments
Reorganization was negotiated between the state secretaries of transportation and environment and the MWAQC elected officials. The bylaws were revised to incorporate the changes.

15. New Governance - Status
IAQC met twice in 2005 to discuss transported pollution into region and equity in assigning responsibility for cleaning the air
IAQC sent a letter to MWAQC outlining SIP priorities and deliverables for the coming year.
Only one meeting between IAQC and elected MWAQC officials since change
A complete report on how the change affects MWAQC isn’t possible yet, because IAQC has not yet been involved in reviewing an air quality plan approved by MWAQC. That will happen later this year.

16. MWAQC Outlook & Priorities

17. Ozone and Fine Particles
Develop air quality plan (State Implementation Plan) containing measures to reduce emissions
Federal, state and local reductions measures
Conduct transportation conformity analysis whenever new TIP is proposed
MWAQC is planning to approve a new air quality plan for the region to address the new ozone standard by Later this year the states will hold public hearings to take comment on the plan before it is approved by MWAQC and submitted to the states and to EPA.

18. New Air Quality Plans (“SIP”) for Ozone and Fine Particles
Both plans will contain an emissions goal to improve air quality by 2010
The plans contain federal, state, and local measures to reduce air pollution
The region is facing two SIP deadlines.

19. Washington Region SIP Deadlines
Jan 04
Apr 05
June 07
Apr 08
2010
Attainment Date
After the ozone SIP is completed by June 2007, the fine particle SIP will be developed by April The Washington region is supposed to meet both standards, ozone and PM fine, by June 2010.
PM2.5 NAA Designation
Ozone SIP DUE
8-Hr Ozone NAA Designation
PM 2.5 SIP DUE

20. Challenges Ahead: Ozone, Soot
New Measures Needed:
Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR)
Diesel Retrofits (buses, trucks)
Innovative Measures (energy conservation, use of renewable energy)
EPA’s Clean Air Interstate Rule is requiring 28 states to clean up power plants. This should help the Washington region to meet the standard for fine particles. Other local programs will be needed to meet the new ozone standard, such as diesel retrofits and use of renewable energy.

22. For more information: mwcog.org/environment mwcog.org/transportation
Air-Watch.net
EPA.gov
Airnow.gov