The Southwestern Pennsylvania Ozone Stakeholder Working Group’s Final Recommendations
GASP has been a stakeholder in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Ozone Stakeholder’s Working Group. The group consists of 27 representative members from industry, regulatory, citizen and environmental groups and has been meeting several days each month in Pi ttsburgh since March 1996 to devise an agreed upon strategy to reduce ozone levels in Western PA.
The Western Pa. Seven County area, (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland) is currently in moderate non-attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone. An exceedence of the standard would be any mo nitor reading averaged over a one hour period that exceeds 124 ppb. The SW PA area had 17 exceedences in 1995. Technical modeling analysis was provided by Alpine Geophysics using approved Environmental Protection Agency models and methods. The modeling helped predict what levels of ozone precursor reductions (nitrogen oxides, NOx, and volatile organic compounds, VOCs) would be needed to reach attainment levels. As well, the model indicated how various strategies would effect ozone reductions in the ar ea. Our deliberations were concluded in December 1996.
The idea of a stakeholders group is to find consensus among the most affected and interested parties. Consensus does not necessarily mean unanimity. Some parties may strongly endorse a particular solution while others may accept it as a workable agreemen t. Group members can participate in the consensus without embracing each element of the agreement with the same fervor as other members, or necessarily having each of his or her interests satisfied to the fullest extent. In a consensus agreement, the pa rties recognize that, given the combination of gains and trade-offs in the decision package and given the current circumstances and alternative options, the resulting agreement is the best one the involved parties can make at this time.
The stakeholder recommendations are directed to the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the PA Department of Transportation. The meetings have been open to the public and you may have read news articles or attended one of the group’s outr each public meetings.
The recommendations are divided into four sub-categories: immediate, near term, episodic, and additional recommendations. (It should be understood that there are also a number of federal measures that will be implemented by 1999 as called for in the Clea n Air Act). The following are the basic stakeholder recommended strategies:
Immediate Control Options (should be implemented within the next year)
- 1. 55% reductions in NOx from Utility, Independent Power Producers and other Large Industrial Boilers in the 7 county nonattainment area.
2. Decentralized Enhanced Inspection and Maintenance Program - This program to be operated in the four county area (Allegheny, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland counties). Basically this is an emission inspection conducted at your local service station with additional checks on proper gas caps, an emission control anti tampering inspection and a technician training program.
3. Stage II Vapor Recovery Systems for Gasoline Stations in the 7 county area - This is a gasoline vapor recovery program implemented at the pumps while fueling the vehicle. While refueling, the fumes are sucked back through the nozzle area into the pump’ s storage tank thus reducing airborne emissions of VOCs. The larger stations (throughput of fuel over 120,000 gallons/month average will implement the strategy by the end of 1998 and smaller stations (throughput of at least 90,000 gallons/month average) by the year 2000. New stations or reopening of stations where the renovations of tanks and piping have occurred will be required to have Stage II after April 1, 1997.
4. Cleaner Gasolines - All gasoline sold for dispensing in the seven-county nonattainment area during the ozone season will be either reformulated (RFG) or 7.8 Reid vapor pressure (RVP) gasoline with individual refiners or distributors selecting which fue l they wish to market.
On this issue there were minority reports. One member did not endorse the two options but felt RFG should be the selection. Several others had comments on the fallback option (contingency fuel) should the area continue to have ozone exceedences. GASP, the Sierra Club and Arco Chemical were signers to a minority report that stated RFG was selected at the time of the original debate as the contingency fuel and should be the contingency fuel. Others disagreed as to whether this was the groups agreement.
Near Term Recommendations (require more regulatory ground work which will extend the time for implementation):
The Working Group recommended that the following precursor emission reduction measures be implemented to provide a margin for emissions growth and to provide increased assurance the standard will be attained and maintained.
- 1. Degreasing Controls-encourage the use of citric based and water based solvents for commercial and industrial sources using VOC-containing solvents during the production, repair, maintenance or servicing of parts, products, tools, machinery, equipm ent, or general work areas.
2. Open Burning Ban in the seven county area for commercial and industrial facilities.
3. Point of Sale Proposal for Automobile Refinishing-limit on a state-wide basis sale of paint containing VOCs to auto and truck body repair shops having specialized equipment to control VOC emissions. Small volume users and hobbyists may be exempted.
4. Smoking Vehicle Program - the state should pilot a smoking vehicle (a vehicle with visible emissions) program wherein people can report the location and license number of such a vehicle through an automated phone line, fax line or Internet address. T he owner would receive a letter encouraging repairs on the vehicle and the program will coordinate with the Inspection and Maintenance program.
5. Public Transit Alternative Fuel Program-encourage the Port Authority to work with DEP and Penn DOT and Southwestern Pa Regional Planning Commission to achieve 9.5% reductions in total diesel sourced highway NOx emissions by replacing diesel powered t ransit vehicles with natural gas powered vehicles in the non attainment area.
6. PA Alternative Fuel Program, Private Fleets-encourage DEP and PennDOT to promote existing incentives to convert fleets to alternative fuels.
7. Transportation Control Measures:
Regional Traffic Signal Improvement Program — Coordinate traffic signals throughout the 7 county area, Transit Shuttle Service and Coordinated Transit Service, Promote transit shuttle services in low density areas as well as coordinated fare policies, tr ansit schedules and service to common points among the regions transit operators.
Ride Sharing Incentives, such as priority parking for carpools and vanpools etc.
Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities — Expand facilities and incentives for walking and biking especially for short trips.
Intermodal Goods/Commodity movement — encourage transport of freight to, through and within the region in a more fuel efficient manor such as rail or river barges.
Incident Management — explore methods to reduce congestion due to “incident” (highway breakdowns, accidents) through Intelligent Transportation System strategies.
Episodic Measures — (measures targeting high ozone days and not eligible for State Implementation Plan credit):
- 1. Support the work of the Ozone Action Partnerships efforts.
Additional Recommendations
- 1. Plan For Continuing Ozone Reduction Education and Research: Expand research and education on the causes of ozone and new solutions for reductions. Coordinate efforts with existing organizations in the region to promote education, research and solicitat ion of new ozone reduction strategies.
2. Emission Reduction Credits for Small Point Sources: Include all plant emission reduction credits in the 1996 emission inventory currently approved or pending before the Allegheny County Health Dept or DEP.
Develop Analyses to Determine if Reductions may be Needed from Upwind Sources to Achieve Attainment in the Seven-County Nonattainment Area:
The Stakeholders encourage the Ozone Transport Assessment Group (OTAG) process and anticipate regional control strategies. If these do not occur in a reasonable period of time, the Stakeholders encourage the Commonwealth to explore its other options to e ffectively address the transport problem. (the Commonwealth has the ability to sue upwind states over transport issues).
Develop Supplemental Technical Analyses as Provided for in the Modeling Guidance which Demonstrate that within the Uncertainties and Limitations of the Model, the Working Group’s Recommendations Reduce the Magnitude, Frequency, and Geographic Extent of the Ozone Problem Sufficiently to Enable the DEP to Prepare an Attainment Demonstration for Submission to the Environmental Protection Agency.
by Suzanne Seppi, (Ozone Stakeholder, representing GASP)