1. Maryland's Air Quality: Nitrogen Reductions and the Healthy Air Act
Brian Hug, MDE
November 20, 2006

2. Maryland’s Air Quality
We have problems with long term ozone exposure
Fine particulate levels are generally very close to the federal standard
Regional Haze issues
Air pollution contributes significantly to Bay pollution

3. 8-hour Ozone Nonattainment Areas

4. Fine Particle Nonattainment Areas

5. PM2.5 and 8Hr Ozone Nonattainment Areas
Source: EPA

6. Nitrogen Deposition to the Chesapeake Bay

7. Good News – Ozone Levels
Ground Level Ozone
Monitored levels are lower than they have ever been
We came very very close to meeting the old ozone standard
Some regions of Maryland actually have achieved both the old and the new ozone standard
Maryland areas designated “Moderate” under new standard
Not “Severe” as they were under 1-hour standard

8. More Good News on Ozone Levels
Maryland areas designated as “Moderate” under new standard
Not “Severe” as they were through 2005
Many counties already monitor levels below the new standard
Exceedance days under the new standard have also dropped dramatically
2003 to 2006
70 Days above the standard
1999 to 2002
135 Days above the standard
Bad air days are generally cleaner (lower monitored levels) and occur in smaller areas
May-Sep,
8-hr Ozone by Color Code
May-Sep,
*2006 is data is preliminary

9. Good News – Local Reductions
Maryland has implemented one of the country’s most aggressive set of air pollution control regulations
Power plants to hair spray and perfume
Over 100 different regulations since 1990
Emissions in Maryland have been cut by about 40% since 1990
National average is about 20%

10. Good News – Mobile Source Reductions
Maryland programs like the our vehicle inspection program combined with federal motor vehicle emission requirements have reduced mobile source emissions in Maryland by about 50% since 1990.
Significant additional reductions are phased in in 2004 and 2007
By 2030 mobile source emissions are projected to be 11% of what they were in 1990.
These reductions include significant projected growth in Vehicle Miles Traveled (about 40%)

11. History of Power Plant Controls
Three Phases
NOx RACT
1995
About a 20 to 30 percent reduction in MD
Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) MOU
1999/2000
About a 65% reduction
The “SIP Call”
2003/2004
About a 85% reduction

12. Good News – Power Plant Reductions
Significant reductions from regional power plants between and 2005
Billions of dollars being invested in “Selective Catalytic Reduction” (SCR) technology to reduce power plant NOx emissions
SCR By State
Over 50 % of the coal-fired capacity in key upwind states will be controlled with SCR by 2005
SCR Units installed bar graph updated by M. Woodman on December 13, 2004
1 to 25 %
26 to 49%
50 % or greater

13. Where Are the SCR Being Installed?
Counts of Major NOx Point Source >= 25 tons/year
Number of SCR Installations as of 2006
Majority of SCR installation in states “upwind” of Maryland

14. CAIR Basics
Through the use a cap and trade approach, CAIR requires reductions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by EGU’s.
SO2 and NOx contribute to the formation of fine particles and NOx contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone.
CAIR covers 28 eastern states and the District of Columbia.

15. CAIR CAPS Emission Caps (million tons) Annual SO2: 2010 = 3.6
2015 = 2.5
Annual NOx 2009 = 1.5
2015 = 1.3
Seasonal NOx: 2009 = = 0.48
Source: EPA

16. CAIR in 2010
Source: EPA

17. CAIR in 2015
Source: EPA

18. Maryland NOx Benefits
CAIR Reduces Maryland’s SO2 Emissions
According to EPA, By 2015 CAIR will help Maryland sources reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 56,000 tons or 82%* from 2003 levels.
NOx Emissions (thousand tons)
2003
2009
2015
Maryland NOx emissions without CAIR 68 57
Maryland NOx emissions with CAIR
N/A 16 12
* These assumptions do not include “cap and trade” via IPM Modeling
Source: EPA

19. CAIR in the MD Region
Source: EPA

20. The Maryland Healthy Air Act
Imposes upon Maryland’s largest coal-fired electric generating units emission emission caps on pollutants that contribute to ozone, particles, regional haze, acid rain, and bay pollution
Reduces mercury emissions from all MD coal-fired electric generating units
Prohibits Maryland power plants from acquiring out- of-state emissions allowances (trading) to meet emission caps

21. History of the HAA
For the past several years there has been a growing consensus in the MD general assembly that a power plant pollution law was needed
Several MD legislators continued to push the need for a law
This past year the Healthy Air Act was developed in conjunction with the developing Maryland Clean Power Regulations as a means of controlling power plant emissions
This much debated law was signed by the Governor on April 7th, 2006

22. Coal Fired Power Plants Covered
by the Healthy Air Act
R Paul Smith

23. Healthy Air Act Benefits Larger, Earlier Emission Reductions
Pollution
Reduction
EPA
Clean Air Interstate Rule / Clean Air Mercury Rule
Maryland
Healthy Air Act
Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)
 42%
 27,000 tons per year
 70% in 2009
 ~45,000 tons per year
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
 50%
 120,000 tons per year
 80% in 2010
 ~200,000 tons per year
Mercury (Hg)
 46% Reduction
Timing
Full Implementation = 2015
(2018 for Mercury)
Full Implementation = 2009/2012/1013
Regulatory Approach
Continued Trading
In-State Reductions

24. Maryland Healthy Air Act Largest Maryland Emission Reductions Ever
2006
2003
2004
1997
1993
2004
Regulations
* Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

25. Meeting the New Standards
Preliminary photochemical modeling analysis indicates that Maryland will attain the fine particulate standard and come very close* to the new ozone standard with stringent power plant rules like the HAA
Reductions from upwind power plants are also critical
Without the reductions from the Healthy Air Act …
Maryland will not be able to comply
Public health will remain at risk

26. What is CAIR Plus?
CAIR Plus is an initiative being worked on by the OTC states to strengthen the air quality benefits of the CAIR program.
The EPA’s CAIR modeling does not show attainment for all of the states in the OTC (at least for ozone)
In order to attain both the 8- hour ozone standard and the PM2.5 standard in the timeframe allotted by the CAA, the OTC agreed to pursue a “tougher than CAIR” option

27. What does CAIR Plus do?
Basically, the proposed CAIR Plus program will reduce the total number of CAIR allowances being issued to sources by a percentage to further reduce emissions
The OTC is working on a model rule for this initiative
Stakeholders have been very active in the process

28. Thanks….. Brian Hug Acting Deputy Program Manager Air Quality Planning Program