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Air QualityEAC Updates & Submissions to EPA EAC Update, first half of 2007 - (.pdf
format 188K) NEW,
July 2007 The Air Quality division of the PTCOG is now working on regional solutions to two different air quality issues in the Piedmont Triad. Ozone Pollution and OzoneBackground The PTCOG, along with the Northwest Piedmont COG, has worked extensively with local governments in the Piedmont Triad in the creation of an Early Action Compact (EAC). The EAC is an option offered by the EPA that will defer a region's designation as nonattainment from December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2007 The process will allow cities and counties in air quality non-attainment areas to achieve clean air earlier and with more local control than the schedule imposed by the Federal Clean Air Act. EAC resolutions were adopted by county boards of commissioners in Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin Counties. Participants also include Duke Power, RJ Reynolds, Cone Mills, the Piedmont Triad International Airport, the American Lung Association, and the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League. Ozone Reduction Strategies
In December of 2005, the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments submitted an annual progress report on the Triad Early Action Compact outlining each of these strategies and the resulting impacts. To view the December 30, 2005 EAC Progress Report, click here (.pdf format - 106K). To view the strategies and progress report in table form, click here. Evidence of the Triad's success in implementing the strategies and reducing ozone comes in two recent announcements from EPA: August 17, 2005 - EPA announced that the Triad is one of 14 communities nationwide that are ahead of schedule in the effort to reduce ground-level ozone, or smog. As part of EPA's voluntary Early Action Compacts program, these communities committed to meeting EPA's more stringent 8-hour ozone standard by December 31, 2007, one to two years earlier than required by the Clean Air Act. Because of the progress these areas have made, the agency took final action August 17th 2005 to defer the effective date for nonattainment designations for the Triad, two other NC EAC's, and 10 other communities nationwide until December 31, 2006. This is the second deferral for these areas. If they meet the 8-hour standard by December 31, 2007, they will be designated as in attainment. Modeling by the North Carolina Division of Air Quality projects that the Triad will attain the standard by the December deadline. August 22, 2005 - EPA announced final action to approve revisions to North Carolina's State Implementation Plan (SIP) which contains the Triad Early Action Compact ozone reduction strategies. This means that EPA has approved the Triad ozone reduction strategies. The SIP was submitted in December 2004 and includes strategies from the Triad and three other North Carolina EACs. EPA found that the state and local strategies demonstrate attainment of the 8-hour ozone standard with the EAC areas by 2007 and that they maintain the ozone standard for five or more years beyond 2007. The Triad must submit evidence or progress to the state and EPA twice a year. In its August 22 publication in the Federal Register, EPA cited examples of three effective local ozone reduction strategies -- all from the Triad EAC. Particulate Matter - PM2.5 or fine particle pollutionOn December 17, 2004, EPA found Guilford and Davidson counties in violation of air pollution standards for fine particles. This means higher standards called "new source review" for location or expansion of industries will be put in place. In years to come, major road projects could also have to meet stricter federal standards. The state's air monitors show Davidson County's soot concentrations slightly above the allowable limit. Guilford's concentrations are under the allowable limit, but EPA opted to cite Guilford because its traffic volume and sheer population numbers contribute significantly to Davidson's air pollution. EPA had the authority to cite the entire Triad or any portion of the region because of Davidson's violation. The two Triad counties join Catawba County on a list of 225 counties nationwide with unacceptable particle pollution levels. Davidson County's fine particle pollution numbers have been going down, but not quickly enough to meet federal standards set in 1999. However, statewide provisions such as the Clean Smokestacks Act and heightened vehicle inspection standards will hopefully allow the region to meet the requirements well under the deadline of 2010. If you have any questions on any of these programs or other environmental issues in the region, please contact: Ginger Booker, PTCOG Assistant Director |
Updated July 7, 2006
