The Role of Ozone Transport in the Washington DC Area

1
The Role of Ozone Transport in the Washington DC
Area the 2004 NOx SIP CallSo Are There Any
Transport Controls Going In?

• Tad Aburn, MDE
• Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
• May 2004

2
Topics Covered

• Transport 101- Where does Marylands poor air
  quality come from
• Background on Marylands air quality
• The role of transported pollution
• The 2004 NOx SIP Call
• What is it
• Where and when will controls be going in?

3
Marylands Air Quality

• Ozone levels in Maryland are very high
• Fine particulate levels are high
• Air pollution contributes significantly to Bay
  pollution
• Regional haze and air toxics are also significant
  air pollution problems in Maryland

4
Ozone Days Above the 1-hour Standard
of Days
Source MARAMA 2002 Data
5
Fine ParticulatePercent of Monitors Above the
Annual Standard
Percent Monitors
Source MARAMA 2001 Data
6
Nitrogen Deposition to the Chesapeake Bay
7
A Quick Primer on How Ground Level Ozone is
Formed
8
Are Our Emissions Higher Than Other Areas?
Source U.S. EPA - 1999 figures
9
Are Our Emissions Higher Than Other States?
tons per year
Source U.S. EPA - 1999 data
10
So Where Does It Come From?

• Air pollution floating in from other states
  (called transport) is a significant contributor
  to our air pollution problems
• Maryland the meteorologically challenged state
• MDE/UMCP Aircraft that measure incoming
  pollution
• Models that predict state by state contributions

11
Classic Ozone Weather in the Mid-Atlantic
Maryland sees its worst air pollution during the
summer when a Bermuda High sets up over the
Carolinas
H
12
Power Plant Emissions

• Very large power plant emissions concentrated
  along the Ohio River valley
• Air aloft circulates clockwise around the high

H
13
How Much Comes From Out of State?

• MDE works in partnership with the University of
  Maryland College Park to measure and analyze
  pollution being transported into Maryland
• On our worst days we measure ozone at 110 parts
  per billion (ppb) floating into the state from
  the West
• The 1-hour standard is 125 ppb
• The 8-hour standard is 85 ppb

14
Who is Contributing to Marylands Ozone Problem?

• From EPAs modeling to support the 22 state
  regional NOx reduction program called the NOx
  SIP Call

15
Current Power Plant Controls in the East

• Three Phases
• NOx RACT
• 1995
• About a 20 to 30 percent reduction in MD
• Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) MOU
• 1999/2000
• 12 States
• About a 65 reduction
• The NOx SIP Call
• 2003/2004
• 22 States
• About a 85 reduction

16
So Who is ControllingBecause of the SIP Call?

• Much thanks to Dave Foerter and the Institute of
  Clean Air Companies and EPAs Clean Air Markets
  staff
• Data used in this presentation is still being
  revised and is therefore DRAFT

17
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)

• Huge pollution control equipment to reduce power
  plant NOx emissions
• Approximate 90 reduction
• Constellation Energys SCR project cost
  approximately 200 Million and reduced NOx
  emissions at three of Marylands largest sources
  by 80 to 90

18
When is the SCR Being Installed?
19
Percent MW with SCR by State
More than 50 of the coal-fired capacity in
Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee
West Virginia will be controlled with SCR by 2005
1-25 26-49 50 and greater
20
Percent MW with SCR by State
21
Total SCR Units by State
1-5 6-15 16-25
22
Total SCR Units by State
23
So Will This Help?Transport Patterns and SCR
Installation
H
Percent MW with SCR
1-25 26-49 50 and greater
24
Policy Implications

• Current suite of NOx controls is good but more
  will be needed
• 2003/2004 NOx SIP Call
• 2007 Tier 2 vehicle and heavy duty diesel
  standards
• Debate over EPA Interstate Air Quality Rule (now
  renamed the Clean Air Interstate Rule CAIR) and
  potential multi- pollutant power plant
  legislation (Clear Skies Act, etc.) will be
  critical
• Maryland supports the Multi-Pollutant Position
  adopted by the Ozone Transport Commission on
  1/27/04

25
Take Home Messages

• The Washington areas air quality is significantly
  affected by transport from upwind areas to the
  west and the south
• On the worst ozone days well over half of the
  measured ozone in Washington originates in upwind
  states
• Sources that transport pollution to Washington
  include power plants, cars and area sources.
• NOx emissions from Ohio River Valley power plants
  should be reduced significantly in the 2002 to
  2004 timeframe. This should lead to lower ozone
  levels in MD