State and Federal Issues Update

1. State and Federal Issues Update CAC Ozone Kickoff Event March 30, 2012 Paul Muller NC Division of Air Quality

2. Ozone Forecasts • Ozone Forecasts: April 1 – Sept. 30; first forecast issued on March 31 • Issued daily at 3:00 pm • Forecast indicates tomorrow’s color code • Issued for both ridgetops and valleys • Forecasts generated for several areas in NC by DAQ meteorologists in Raleigh

3. Daily Forecast Includes PM-2.5 • Forecasting is done for both ozone and PM-2.5 (fine particles) for valley sites • The pollutant with the higher expected AQI determines the daily forecast • The forecast designates which pollutant determined the forecast • Forecast gives the AQI, the color code, the pollutant of concern • PM-2.5 forecasting occurs year-round for Asheville valleys

4. The AQI Color CodeAQIDescriptor Green 0-50 Good Yellow 51-100 Moderate Orange 101-150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Red 151-200 Unhealthy Purple 201-300 Very Unhealthy Air Quality Index of 100 = Pollutant Standard

5. The AQI for Ozone Color CodeAQIOzone conc. Green 0-50 < 60 ppb Yellow 51-100 60 – 75 ppb Orange 101-150 76 – 95 ppb Red 151-200 96 – 115 ppb Purple 201-300 > 116 ppb Air Quality Index of 100 = Pollutant Standard

6. NC AQI for PM-2.5 Color CodeAQIPM-2.5 conc. Green 0-50 < 15.4 ug/m3 Yellow 51-100 15.5–35.4 ug/m3 Orange 101-150 35.5-65.4 ug/m3 Red 151-200 65.5–150.4 ug/m3 Purple 201-300 > 150.5 ug/m3 Air Quality Index of 100 = Pollutant Standard

10. Forecast Dissemination • Forecast Center web site: http://www.ncair.org(click on Air Quality Forecasts button) • 1-888-RU4NCAIR (784-6224) • E-mail to subscribers • EPA’s website: http://airnow.gov • Appears on WLOS weather programs, in local newspapers, and on the Weather Channel

11. “Real-time” Air Quality Data • Ozone and continuous PM-2.5 monitoring data is available on the DAQ website for sites across NC • Provides most recent hour of available data at a given site by clicking on map • Go to DAQ website: http://www.ncair.org

17. Ridge Top Sites: Purchase Knob 67 ppb Frying Pan 70 ppb Mt. Mitchell 70 ppb Barnet Knob XX ppb Joanna Bald 71 ppb (76 ppb or above fails to attain the current ozone standard) Valley Sites: • Bryson City 62 ppb • Waynesville 65 ppb • Linville Falls 64 ppb • Bent Creek 67 ppb 2009-2011 Ozone Data

19. Fine Particles (PM-2.5) • Fine particles are 2.5 microns or less in diameter and can be trapped in our lungs, causing health problems • Health studies show a correlation between fine particle concentration and mortality. Death rates go up when the fine particle concentration increases.

20. Annual average PM-2.5 concentrations 2009-11 • Bryson City 9.7 • Waynesville 10.0 • Asheville 9.3 • Spruce Pine 9.3 • Marion 9.8 All units are micrograms per cubic meter. The NAAQS is 15.0.

22. “New” Federal Rules • Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) requires reductions in utility SO2 and NOx emissions in 27 states and DC • Utility Boiler MACT: will reduce emissions of HAPs (such as Hg) from power generating boilers such as Duke and Progress Energy • Utility GHG emissions limit of 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt of power produced; NSPS rule affects coal but not natural gas

23. Industrial Boiler MACT Impact in North Carolina • Affects 98 facilities and ~1,000 boilers • All but one facility has 112(j) permit, shielding MACT compliance up to 8 yrs (2018/2019) • NC has 2nd highest projected cost impact from Boiler MACT -- > $1 billion

24. What is a Case-by-Case Boiler MACT? • A facility-specific… • Maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standard… • For hazardous air pollutants (HAP)… • Established by the state permitting authority… • Through a permitting action… • If the US EPA fails to promulgate a MACT standard in a timely manner.

25. The “Switch Over” Date • Language currently being included in affected Title V permit renewals… • The Permittee shall comply with this CAA §112(j) standard until May 22, 2019.  After May 22, 2019 the Permittee shall  comply with the applicable CAA § 112(d) standard for ‘‘National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters.”

26. (Re)Proposed Boiler GACT • GACT procedure uses generally available (not maximum achievable) control technologies or management practices • Re-proposal eases burden without changing emissions, costs, benefits • Affects 300 permitted facilities and 600 boilers in NC • > 90% burn gas, oil, or biomass will conduct only periodic tune-ups and some perform one-time energy assessment • Remaining that burn coal mustmeet mercury and CO limits. • Delay March 2012 tune-up deadline 1-year until March 2013. - EPA no-action-assurance memo delays tune-up deadline til Oct 2012

27. For more details see http://www.epa.gov/airquality/combustion/docs/20111202asboilersfs.pdf Boiler GACT Emission and Work Practice Standards

28. EPA GHG Reporting Program • Developed in response to FY08 congressional mandate. • 40 CFR Part 98 (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/CBI.html ) • Requires reporting of GHG emissions from • 29 source categories • 5 types of suppliers of fuel and industrial GHGs • Motor vehicle and engine suppliers (except light duty sector) • Generally affects facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more per year of GHGs.

29. EPA Releases 2010 GHG Data • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • Methane (CH4) • Nitrous Oxide (N2O) • Fluorinated GHGs: • Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) • Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3) • HFCs – Hydrofluorocarbons • PFCs – Perfluorocarbons • HFEs - Hydrofluorinated ethers http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgdata/index.html

30. New GHG Power Plant Rules On March 27, 2012 EPA proposedthe first limits on GHG emissions from power plants Limit is 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt of energy generated Coal plants emit an average of 1,768 pounds of CO2 per megawatt; natural gas emits an average of 800-850 pounds per mw Will make any new coal power plant very expensive

31. For More Information: • Visit our website: • Division of Air Quality – www.ncair.org • e-mail; phone: • Paul.Muller@ncdenr.gov • (828) 296-4500