Document 5beO07L778XnNdXy2DwJaDQjz

4*- 1' } AMERICAN MINING CONGRESS 1WO* Street NW, SUM* 300 Wathfaeton. DC 20036-1662 m/m-toao fmtmmi-ysfy VJ ? /* 4 December 30j&"2M 2993 TO: Air Quality Committee Rfl-rVHVs*} ;?S ' ^f'sOffee FROM: Quinlan J. Shea, III, Counsel RE: Availability of Annual EPA National Trends Report losed for your information are copies of the _ 19th annual National flffll BalffglonAjgiidg 991 and staff fact sheet. The study addresses the six pollutants for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) 0 u under the nonattainment provisions of Title I of the Clean Air o25? Act. The report shows trends for nationwide emissions of NAAQS la, "K pollutants and lists the highest pollution readings for all six NAAQS in each of the 341 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States. According to EPA, the trends data suggest "significant progress" in reducing atmospheric levels of pollutants, with the air quality in an increased number of cities better than in past years. Nonetheless, according to the agency, overall national air quality remains "average," with the air quality in some cities better than the national average and worse in others. A snapshot of EPA's findings for the 10-year period 1982-1991: k -- ambient smog levels decreased 8 percent -- ambient lead levels decreased 89 percent -- ambient sulfur dioxide levels decreased 20 percent jF-a -- ambient carbon monoxide levels decreased 30 percent -- ambient particulate levels decreased 10 percent -- ambient nitrogen dioxide levels decreased 6 percent tb The report also suggests that emission levels for most pollutants decreased from 1990-1991, the most recent year that data were 3! * available. The trends analysis was based on data from seme 4,000 < <^S air pollution monitors nationwide. ?* 4> Additional copies of the air trends report are available from, and questions can directed to. Dr. Thomas Curran, Technical Support Division (MD-80), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; 919/541-5558. Enclosures cc w/fact sheet only: Air Quality Committee Consultants Confidential Pursuant to Protective Order DR230-009571 -1- Air Trends Pack Shit Following is a brief summary of|, EPA's National.Air Quality and Emissions Trends Report, I99ir findings on national progress in cleaning up the major air pollutant' s from 1982 to 1991. CARSON monoxide (CO): carbon nonoxide enters the bloodstream and reduces the delivery of oxygen to the body's organs and tissues. Ambient levels of C0f primarily an automotive pollutant, have decreased by 30 percent for the 10year period 1982-91. The estimated number of exceedances of the 8-hour standard decreased 90 percent emissions decreased 31 percent during the same period. These improvements occurred despite a 36 percent increase in vehicle miles travelled during this 10-year 1991, ambient CO levels improved with a decrease of 5 percent, while total CO emissions are estimated to have decreased by 8 percent. LEAD (Pb): Exposure to lead can occur through multiple pathways, including inhalation of air , diet and ingestion of lead in food, water, soil or dust. Lead Accumulates in the body in blood, bone and soft tissue. Excess ` ve exposure to lead may cause neurological impairments such As seizures, mental retardation and/or behavioral disorders. Fetuses, infants and children are especially susceptible to low doses of lead, often suffering central nervous system damage. Ambient lead levels. recorded at 209 urban sites, decreasAd 89 percent between 1982 and 1991. Lead emissions declined percent during the same period. Between 1990 and 1991, ambient Pb levels declined 18 percent, while Pb emissions are esti:Stated to have declined 3 percent. Ambient lead concentration^ in urban areas throughout the country have shown major improve^.ents because of both the increased usage of unleaded gasoline and the reduction of the lead content in leaded gasoline. Uni eaded gasoline sales accounted for 97 percent of the tota gasoline market in 1991. While lead emissions from industrial sources have dropped by more than one-half since the late 1970's, some serious point source lead problems remain. NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO,): Nitrogen dioxide can irritate the lungs and lower resistance to infect:.on( such as influenza). Ambient No, levels decreased 6 percert between 1982 and 1991. The trend pattern in the estimated nationwide emissions of nitrogen oxides is similar to the NO, 1982 and 1991, total emissions of nitrogen oxides decreased by 8 percent, while highway vehicle emissions decreased by 32 percent. Between 1990 and 1991, the N0a composite average was unchanged, while the estimated emissions of nitrogen oxides decreased by 3 percent. Los Angeles cfounty is the only county that violated the NO, National Ambient Air Quality Standard in the last decade. (more) i t t i Confidential Pursuant to Protective Order DR230-009572 -2- i ozone (o3): The reactivity of ozone causes health problems because it damages biological tissues and cells. Exposure to ozone for 6 to 7 hours at relatively low concentrations (i. e. 6.08 ppm), bas been found to significantly reduce lung function in normal, healthy people during periojds of moderate exercise. Ozone, which can seriously irritate[ eyes, mucous membranes, and the respiratory system, is not emitted directly into the atmosphere but is produced by a complex series of chemical reactions initiated when volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxide emissions from autos i and other sources are exposed to sunlight* Ambient ozone levels decreased 8 percent and the estimated number of exceedances of the ozone standard decreased 38 percent for the 10-year period 1982-91. voc emissions decreased :13 percent between 1982-91. Ambient ozone levels increased by l percent from 1990 toj 1991. voc emissions, which represent annual totals, decreased 4 percent between 1990-91. pxrticoiate MATTER (PM-io)i This year's report utilizes the increasingly prevalent PM-lo air monitoring data to characterize particulate matter- trends. On July;l, 1987, SPA promulgated new standards for particulate matter using a new indicator, PM-10, rather than Total Suspended Particulates (TSP), This focuses on smaller particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter which are likely to be responsible for most of the adverse effects health effects because of their ability to ; reach the thoracic or lower regions of the respiratory tract, ^he major effects of concern for human health include effects on {breathing and respiratory symptoms, aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, alterations in the body's defense systems against foreign materials, damage to lung tissue, carcinogenesis and premature mortality. Because the member of TSP monitoring sites has declined during the past decade from about 4000 to about 825 sites, interpretation of the more recent data is limited. During the same period, as expanding data base has become available to examine trends in Ptf-io air quality.! Longer term trends in particulates must necessarily be based on TSP; previous annual reports are a valuable source of TSP trend information. For 1991, annual means PM-10 levels experienced a 1 percent decrease from 1990 levels and a 10 percent dejcrease from 1989 concentrations. PM-10 emissions estimates for 1991 decreased by 3 percent when compared to either 19189 or 1985 emissions estimates and experienced a slight (less than 1 percent) increase over 1990 emissions estimates. Total Particulate (TP) emissions are estimated to have decreased by 3 percent for the 10-year period 1982-1991. SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO*): The major health effects associated with high exposures to sulfur dioxidjs include effects on breathing, respiratory illness and sVmptoms, alterations in the lung's defenses, aggravation of exisjting respiratory and cardiovascular disease and mortality Ambient levels of SO, have decreased 20 percent between 1982 and 1991. correspondingly, V t f i t (more) Confidential Pursuant to Protective Order DR230 VI t 1 VU -3there was a 2 percent drop in sulfur oxides emissions. The difference between emissions and air quality can be attributed to several factors. S0a monitors are mostly urban populationoriented, and as such do not monitor jmany of the major emitters which tend to be located in more rural areas. The residential and commercial areas, where most monitors are located, have shown sulfur oxides emission decreases comparable to SOa air quality improvement. Between 1990 and 1991 j nationwide average ambient S0a levels decreased 4 percent whilej sulfur oxi`des em" iss'ions decreased 2 percent. i i I (more)' I Confidential Pursuant to Protective Order DR230-009574 -4- OZONE FINDINGS (97 Nonattainment Areas) .i 12 of 33 Moderate Ozone Nonattainment Areas have ozone air quality data meeting the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard during the period 1989-91. Charleston, WV Dayton, OH . Greensboro, NC Kewaunee Co., W1 Lewiston, ME i Miami, FL j Monterey, CAi Parkersburg, VVV Raleigh, NC Reading, FA Richmond, YA Toledo, OH 29 of 42 Marginal Ozone Nonattaizunent . Ozone National Ambient Air have ozone air quality data meeting die ty Standard during the period 1989-91. Albany, NY Alkntowtv, PA Altoona, PA Buffalo, NY Canton, OH Cherokee Co., SC Columbus, OH Edmonson Co., KY Brie, PA Evansville, IN Greenbrier, WV Harrisburg, PA Indianapolis, If1 Jefferson Co., hY Jersey Co,, IL Johnstown, PA i Knoxville, IN | Lancaster, PA Lexington, KY j Manchester, NIj[ Memphis, IN Norfolk, VA Owensboro, KY Paducah, KY South Bend, IN Timsa. FL Walworth Co., WI York, PA Youngstown, OH t i t * CARBON MONOXIDE FINDINGS (42 N^ttaininent Areas) 13 of 42 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nonattainment Areas have GO air quality data meeting the CarbonMonoxide Najtional Ambient Air Quality Standard during the period 1990-91. j Baltimore, MD Chico, CA Colorado Springs, CO Duluth, MN Grants Pus, OR Klamath Falls, OR Longmont, CO Memphis, IN I Philadelphia, PA San Diego, CA Syracuse, NY j Washington, DC] Winston-Salem, NC Confidential Pursuant to Protective Order DR230-I vi' 1' 1 ''li -5-i * Own* and Crt>on Uoncxldt Air Quality Dan Update Fact Shoot I Following 1$ a briaf summary of EPA's 1991 air quality update for ozone and carbon monoxide nonattainment areas. ; Oaonett^h, As required by the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1990, EPA designated 98 areas in 1991 that did not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone as ozone nonattaijunent areas. Since that listing, Kansas City was the first ozone nonattainment area to be redesignated to attainment. The NAAQS tor ozone is 0.12 peilspermUlji<m(ppm)daUymaxiiniun 1-hour average concentration not to be exceeded more than once per year on average. Compliance with the ozone NAAQS is judged on the basis of the most recent three years with complete monitoring data. The ozone standard is met when the avenge estimated exceedances of the ozone NAAQS is less than or equal to 1.0. Today's list updates air quality monitoring data tor the three year period, 1989-91. During this current three year period, 41 of die remaining 97 nonattainment areas had average estimated exceedance rates less than or equal to 1.0. These 41 areas meeting the NAAQS include 29 of the 42 Marginal areas and 12 of the 33 Modemteams. An additional 12 areas were originally classified as ozone transitional areas, and all 12 of these areas met the ozone NAAQS during 1989-91 as required by Section 18SA of the CAAA of 1990. a * i ft 0 Carbon Monoxide (COh There are 42 areas that have been designated as nonattainment for carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide NAAQS is 9 parts per million (ppm) 8-hour nonoveriapping average concentration not to be exceeded more than once per year. The CO standard is met at a site when there are fewer than two exceedances for the two most recent calendar years with complete air quality monitoring data. Today's listing does not mean that those arises meeting the NAAQS during the last three years will automatically be redesignated to attornment. The Clean Air Aa Amendments of 1990 state that an area can be redesignated to attainment if the fbDowing conditions are met; i (1) the area has air quality data meeting the national air quality standards, I <2> toe area has an approved State Implementation Plan (SIP) meeting Gean Air Act requirements, and 0) toe area has an approved maintenance plan showing attainment tor 10 years. ii (sud) Confidential Pursuant to Protective Order DR230-009576