U.S. Actions to Improve Air Quality

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U.S. Actions to Improve Air Quality
June 8, 2006 Toronto, Ontario Brian McLean, U.S.
EPA
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United States SO2 Emissions
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Progress Impacts of Emission Reductions on
Transboundary Deposition Levels
Acid Rain reduced in eastern U.S. and eastern
Canada by 30-50
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United States SO2 and NOx Power Sector Emissions
Source EPA
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Ozone and PM Attainment Forecast with CAIR and
with Other Clean Air Programs Eastern U.S. --
2015
Ozone and Fine Particle Nonattainment Areas
(April 2005)
Projected Nonattainment Areas in 2015 after
Reductions from CAIR and Existing Clean Air Act
Programs
6 ozone nonattainment areas 14 PM2.5
nonattainment areas
108 ozone nonattainment or early action areas 36
PM2.5 nonattainment areas
Although tallies include all nonattainment areas
in the eastern U.S., maps show only those areas
in States covered by CAIR. Four current O3
nonattainment areas in New England are not
pictured.
Projections concerning future levels of air
pollution in specific geographic locations were
estimated using the best scientific models
available. They are estimations, however, and
should be characterized as such in any
description. Actual results may vary
significantly if any of the factors that
influence air quality differ from the assumed
values used in the projections shown here.
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List of Joint Studies and Actions

• 1980 US and Canada sign a Memorandum of Intent
  (MOI) concerning transboundary air pollution
• Throughout the 1980s US and Canada conduct
  extensive research and assessment programs
• 1985 Canada establishes a SO2 control program in
  eastern Canada
• 1986 Special envoys publish report recognizing
  acid rain as a serious transboundary problem
• 1990 US Clean Air Act Amendments include acid
  rain control program
• 1991 President Bush and Primer Minister Mulroney
  sign Air Quality Agreement on March 13
• 1992 Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement
  Progress Report
• 1994 Established Regional Ozone Study Area
  (ROSA) initiative
• 1994 Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement
  Progress Report
• 1996 Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement
  Progress Report
• 1997 Program to Develop a Joint Plan of Action
  for Addressing Transboundary Air Pollution
  focusing on ground-level ozone and particulate
  matter (PM)
• 1997 Began implementing integrated, interagency
  airshed management plans to improve air quality
  within the Georgia Basin, encompassing parts of
  Washington State and British Columbia
• 1998 Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement
  Progress Report
• 1999 Ground-Level Ozone Occurrence and
  Transport in Eastern North America, a join report
  by the Air Quality Committee Subcommittee on
  Program Monitoring and Reporting
• 2000 Ozone Annex to the Air Quality Agreement
  signed, to reduce emissions of NOx and VOCs in
  the transboundary region covering more than 50
  of Canadas population and 40 of the US
  population.
• 2000 Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement
  Progress Report
• 2004 Transboundary PM Science Assessment, a
  joint report by the Air Quality Committee
  Subcommittee on Scientific Cooperation
• 2004 Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement
  Progress Report
• 2005 Three 2-year Border Air Quality Study
  (BAQS) pilot projects completed

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Border Air Quality Studies

• To build on transboundary air quality improvement
  efforts, Minister Anderson and Administrator
  Whitman announced three pilot projects focused at
  the regional and local levels in June of 2003
• Maintaining Air Quality in a Transboundary Air
  Basin Georgia Basin-Puget Sound
• Great Lakes Basin Airshed Management Framework
• US-Canada Emissions Cap and Trading Feasibility
  Study for SO2 and NOx
• These 2-year efforts focused on air quality
  management coordination across borders,
  states/provinces, local jurisdictions
• These efforts resulted in increased interaction
  in the public process, increased awareness and
  communication, and value in technical experts
  working together
• The Great Lakes Airshed Management project
  involved representatives from the federal
  governments with broad participation from Ontario
  and Michigan as well as local governments
  (Windsor, Sarnia, London, Municipality of
  Chatham-Kent, Southeast Michigan Council of
  Governments)

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Summary of Progress

• Over past 30 years, witnessed transition from
  identifying transboundary pollution issues to
  developing binational solutions to air quality
  problem
• For 15 years, Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement
  has become an example of success for
  international agreements providing tangible
  progress in improving the environment
• With recognition of different governmental
  authorities, but commitment to common goals,
  expect continued progress working collaboratively

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To Learn More..
Go To http//www.epa.gov/airmarkets/usca/
http//epa.gov/cair/