Smog Workshop Federal

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Smog Workshop Federal Provincial Smog
Policy Update

• John Wellner
• Director, Health Policy, OMA

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Recent Smog News

• green-speaking provincial government
• More smog than ever
• New chronic health effects information
• Quantification of cross-border effects
• Climate change focus

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Ontario Nitrogen Oxides Emissions by Sector
(Emissions from Human Activity, 2001 Estimates)
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Ontario VOC Emissions by Sector (Emissions from
Human Activity, 2001 Estimates)
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SO2 Emissions (2001)
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Provincial Smog Policies/Initiatives1) Coal
Phase-Out2) Industry Emissions IERP3) Drive
Clean
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Coal-Plant Phase-Out

• Coal-fired power plants the largest industrial
  source of NOx , CO2 , significant Hg SO2
• Election promise for phase-out by 2007
• Plan announced (summer 05) for 2007 2009
• Significant pressure to scrap this promise (from
  media commentators, opposition parties, large
  industry, even some quasi-environmentalists)
• Big debates Clean coal and nuclear energy

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Coal Phase-Out Plan

• Lakeview GS in Mississauga (2005)
• Lambton, Thunder Bay, Atikokan (2007)
• Nanticoke GS (2009)

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Industry Emissions Reduction Plan

• Long history Ontario Smog Plan, ASAP, CAPI,
  IERP many Ministers, 3 premiers
• IERP NOx SO2 from key industries
• But in 10 years, IERP only asks for 1 NOx 8
  SO2 reductions
• Emissions trading loopholes may mean even less
  improvement
• improved health overall, net emissions
  reductions

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Drive Clean other Provincial Vehicle Emissions
Initiatives

• After considerable criticism, Drive Clean program
  was recently re-jigged
• Newer cars exempt, stricter on old ones
• Target emission reductions 22
• Modal shift, carpool lanes, transit, gas tax,
  anti-idling, etc.

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Federal Programs

• Low-Sulphur Gasoline
• (30 ppm in 2005, a 90 reduction)
• Low-Sulphur Diesel
• (15 ppm in June 2006, previously 500 ppm
  higher)
• Canada-wide Smog Standards
• Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement
• Kyoto
• CEPA

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Wheres that leave us?

• (Hows the air out there?)

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One-Hour Ozone Exceedances across Ontario(2003)
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Trend of Ozone One-Hour Maximum Concentrations in
Ontario(1980 - 2003)
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Trend of Ozone Annual Means for Urban and Rural
Ontario(1990 - 2003)
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Number of Ozone "Episode Days" in Ontario(1980 -
2003)
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What to Expect in 2006

• New Air Quality Health Index pilot projects
• More debate on coal plants
• Low-sulphur on-road diesel
• Ontario initiatives on cross-border smog
• A Federal Clean Air Act?
• CEPA review

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For further questions -

• My Contact Information
• john_wellner_at_oma.org
• 416-340-2953 or
• 800-268-7215 ext. 2953