1 Improving Air Quality in the Metro. Washington Region Phil Mendelson, Chair Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee October 19, 2006

2 Overview Background: Clean Air Act, MWAQC Is the Air Getting Cleaner? New Challenges and New Plan

3 Clean Air Act Amendments 1990 EPA set federal health standards for ambient pollutants NOx SO 2 Lead Ozone CO Particulate Matter

4 MWAQC Created, 1992 The Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee conducts air quality planning for the Washington nonattainment region.

5 Members of MWAQC DC Virginia Maryland Local Governments [Counties and Cities] MWAQC

6 Air Quality Planning MWAQC approves air quality plan (SIP) for MD, VA, DC Jurisdictions submit SIP to EPA EPA approves SIP MWAQC revises SIP as necessary

7 Is the Air Getting Cleaner?

8 Washington Region’s Progress on Meeting National Air Quality Criteria

9

10 Area of Monitors Exceeding Standard Washington, DC-MD-VA (1990 – 2005)

11 Why is Air Getting Cleaner? Reduced pollution coming from midwest Stronger controls on power plants Cleaner cars, trucks Cleaner, low-sulfur fuel Many other control measures in region’s 2004 air quality plan

12 New Challenges and New Plan

13

14 Regional Growth, Household population growing 12% Vehicle Miles Traveled growing 9% Ozone Values needs to drop 13%

15 Air Quality Plan (“SIP”) A plan containing an emissions goal to improve air quality by a deadline (2009) established by the Clean Air Act The plan contains federal, state, and local measures to reduce air pollution

16 4 Sources of Air Pollution ++ Point Source Mobile Source Area Source Non-road source +

17 Regional + Local = Strategy

18 Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) Measures MOU signed at June 2006 OTC Meeting –Consumer Products Phase II –Portable Fuel Containers Phase II –Adhesives and Sealants –Diesel Chip Reflash

19 Local Controls (voluntary) Wind power purchase Diesel Retrofits (buses, trucks, equipment) LED Traffic Signal Retrofits Alternative Fuel Vehicle Purchases Low VOC Paint

20 Opportunities for Public Comment  July 26: MWAQC Meeting  MWAQC adopted regional measures and proposes local voluntary measures (“bundle”) as AQ plan’s “CONTROL STRATEGY”  October 19: Air Quality Town Meeting  Early public input to air quality plan/ process  January 2007: MWAQC Meeting  MWAQC adopts DRAFT SIP for PUBLIC HEARING  February – March: States hold Public Hearings on Plan  March, 28, 2007 MWAQC approves SIP  April/May 2007: States send SIP to EPA