In this issue:
Electronic
reporting – save time and money!
Electronic
reporting will be the preferred method for Air Compliance Reporting with the
introduction of a new data system here at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the forthcoming Air
Omnibus Rule. This preference includes routine reports such as semiannual
deviation reports (DRFs) and annual compliance certifications (CR-04s), as well
as performance test reports.
If you do not already do so, please consider taking
advantage of this option to save yourself time and money! Additional details
can be found on the MPCA’s performance testing webpage.
Instructions:
Routine Reports (examples: DRFs, CR-04s,
NESHAP, and NSPS reporting):
- Email your reports to: AQRoutineReport.PCA@state.mn.us
- Include submittal date and a brief description
in document title
- Example: 1-28-16,
DRF-1, DRF-2, CR-04
- Example: 1-28-16,
Pt 60 MM Compliance Report
Performance Test Reports (examples:
stack tests, CEMS certifications, RATAs, etc.):
ALSO REMEMBER:
you only need to submit your annual compliance
certifications (CR-04s) to the MPCA. Copies to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are no longer
necessary! For more information on
performance testing, visit the MPCA’s
website.
Updated MPCA air quality dispersion modeling practices
and procedures: ADJ_U*
While the MPCA and the rest of the regulatory community
await EPA’s decision on considering low-wind-speed changes as a default
modeling approach, the MPCA’s Risk Evaluation and Air Modeling Unit has
developed preferred practices and procedures for evaluating the use of the
non-default BETA Adjusted U-Star (ADJ_U*) option in regulatory modeling. The recommendations can be found on the MPCA’s
website.
In order to
accommodate requests to use the ADJ_U* approach, the MPCA is following the
existing EPA Appendix W guidance to provide for consistent and timely review
and approval. If you anticipate using the ADJ_U* approach, please
contact MPCA Risk Evaluation and Air Modeling Unit Supervisor Ruth Roberson, at
(651) 757-2672 or ruth.roberson@state.mn.us, to discuss your proposal further. Be aware that
requesting the use of ADJ_U* will require additional MPCA review time.
New Air Emissions General Permit being developed
The MPCA is working on a new Part
70 Multi-Site Mineral Processing General Permit. This permit will be similar in
nature to the existing state Non-Metallic Mineral Processing General Permit,
with the exception that permit holders of the Part 70 Multi-Site Mineral Processing
General Permit will be authorized to operate at Part 70 sources, specifically
taconite processing plants. If you are interested in participating in the
development of this new general permit before it is placed on public notice or
have questions about the process, please contact Sarah Seelen at sarah.seelen@state.mn.us or 651-757-2677 prior to June 5, 2016.
Preliminary data is now available from a two-year air
pollution monitoring effort conducted in the Phillips community of South
Minneapolis and on the Mille Lacs Reservation.
The MPCA, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Department of Natural Resources and
Environment, and the Minnesota Department of Health received funding from the
EPA to measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the air using two air
sampling methodologies. The project was
intended to improve our understanding of how PAH concentrations vary over time
and in different locations and to inform future work by the MPCA and our
partners. To learn more about the
project, visit the MPCA’s website
and check out the project video.
PAHs are emitted from sources such as vehicles, wood and
tobacco smoke, asphalt roads, and prescribed burning. At elevated levels, they can contribute to a
range of respiratory impacts, including lung irritation and cancer.
The preliminary study results are available on the MPCA’s website. The MPCA
is continuing to analyze the data in a variety of ways. To date, the measured levels are not above
inhalation health benchmarks for individual pollutants or for the cumulative
impact of these pollutants in the area.
MPCA staff are available talk to any group interested in
learning more about this project and findings. Please contact Kristie Ellickson if you are interested.
|
On April 25, MPCA posted a new “What
we’ve heard” page on its Clean Power Plan website. The page summarizes key
input from the Clean Power Plan listening sessions conducted around the state
in February and March of 2016 and provides some insight into the interests and
concerns most important to Minnesotans as the MPCA continues to engage the
public on the Clean Power Plan. We heard a lot of really fantastic ideas,
ranging from ways to maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to
suggestions for minimizing electric rate increases for households and
businesses. We are grateful to all who
participated and shared their concerns. The MPCA will continue updating this
page as we receive additional feedback and we encourage people to continue to
give us their input via our Clean Power Plan email address: CleanPowerPlan.PCA@state.mn.us.
The MPCA has also launched a survey to seek input on the
Clean Power Plan listening sessions. Were our presentations and other materials
helpful or too confusing? Did you have adequate opportunity to share your
thoughts? Were the meeting times and locations convenient for you? We need YOUR
feedback to help us improve future listening sessions! The brief survey
will close on Monday, May 9, 2016.
|
Winter has come and gone, and with the warm season come
wildfires and prescribed fires. Along with those comes the potential for air
quality advisories caused by smoke. The
state’s first air pollution health advisory due to smoke this year was issued
for parts of western, southern, and central Minnesota on April 14, when prescribed
fires in Kansas and Nebraska combined with the right weather conditions to transport
particles northward to Minnesota. The event lasted between 12 and 36 hours in some areas of
the state. For more
information about smoke season, see “More than just spring in the air” at BeAirAwareMN.org.
In addition to having nuisance and health effects, wildfire
smoke is a potential ozone precursor. The national standard for ground-level
ozone was lowered from 75 parts per billion to 70 ppb in 2015. Fortunately,
Minnesota currently is able to meet the standard. However, some locations are
close to the standard already and if levels rise higher, there could be a
violation. Lowering emissions will be a
continued effort statewide. For more information on the federal ozone standard
and efforts to reduce emissions of ozone precursors, visit the MPCA’s new
interactive ozone webpage.
Summer 2016 air quality outlook
Ozone formation can be highly weather dependent: warmer
weather means more ozone. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s
long-range weather outlook for the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes is for
above-average temperatures this summer. MPCA also anticipates a busy Canadian
wildfire season due to a warm and dry winter across the Prairie Provinces.
Canadian wildfires caused some smoke-filled skies over Minnesota last summer.
With higher temperatures and more smoke, the potential for ground-level ozone
production will be increased as will the potential for poor air quality days
and health impacts.
MPCA air quality meteorologists will be closely watching
weather and air quality data and, in the event of potentially unhealthy days
due to higher ozone levels, will issue air-pollution health advisories and
alerts as needed. The MPCA plans to enhance the agency’s advisory and alert
system this ozone season. Stay tuned for the introduction of air
pollution advisory/alert area maps and definitive start/end times to advisories
and alerts. The MPCA hopes these new tools will help Minnesotans better
understand what they’re breathing and take action to protect themselves and
reduce emissions on bad air days. These improvements will be due in part to a
partnership with the National Weather Service and other entities.
For more information on the April air pollution advisory,
potential health impacts from elevated levels of fine particles, and
pollution-reduction tips, visit the MPCA website. And to receive daily air quality
forecasts and air-quality alert notifications by email or text message, sign up
on the Enviroflash webpage.
|
|
|
Statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data are now
available on our website in an interactive format. You can use dynamic
filters to focus on the information that is most important to you. For example, you can:
- Compare the statewide GHG emission trend to the state’s Next
Generation Energy Act goals
- Explore GHG emission trends in economic sectors, activities, and
source types
- Identify significant GHG emission sources
- Investigate reductions in GHG emissions
- Download summarized data and create custom figures
|
The MPCA recently launched a new website
that allows users to explore the annual number of good, moderate, and unhealthy
air quality days across Minnesota. The website summarizes Air Quality Index
results for fine particles (PM2.5) and ozone. Using interactive
maps, charts, and tables users can explore how air quality varies over time and
location. Did you know that in 2015,
across Minnesota, air quality was considered unhealthy for sensitive groups or
unhealthy for everyone for at least one location on 11 days?
|
This year, six new clean diesel projects have received a
total of $270,000 in incentive funding from the MPCA’s Clean Diesel Grants
Program to help replace eight old, dirty diesel vehicles. Compared with older diesels, new clean diesel
engines emit at least 90 percent less of both fine particles (PM2.5)
and nitrogen oxides (NOx) – two pollutants identified by the EPA as contributing
to respiratory symptoms and heart attacks.
This year’s grants provide funds for up to 25 percent of
the cost of a new vehicle. Other projects eligible for funding include those
that replace old engines with new ones on off-road construction equipment.
These “repower” grants are usually awarded up to 40 percent of the cost of the
engine and installation. Projects funded
in the 2015/2016 grant round are:
-
Alex Rubbish, Alexandria, garbage truck – $61,455 grant
-
City of Buffalo, dump truck – $39,237 grant
-
Coolidge Trucking Systems, St. Paul, roll-off truck – $21,797 grant
-
Misgen Auto Parts, Ellendale, roll-off truck – $37,500 grant
-
St. Louis County School District, 2 propane school buses – $52,630
grant
- Viking Coca-Cola, St. Cloud, 2 beverage delivery trucks –$56,949
grant.
Next fall, the MPCA expects to have about $400,000 to fund
the MPCA’s Clean Diesel Grant Program. Please spread the word and encourage
businesses with heavy-duty off-road diesels (e. g. construction equipment) and
class 6 or larger on-road trucks to visit the MPCA's clean diesel website
and sign up for updates on grant opportunities in the upper right side of the
page. Contact Mark Sulzbach with questions at
651-757-2770 or mark.sulzbach@state.mn.us.
|
The Metropolitan Council provides funding for new and
innovative transportation projects that both reduce congestion and improve air
quality in the Twin Cities. These
projects, called Transportation Demand Management (TDM) projects, are funded
biennially through the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality
program. These funds take congestion and
emissions reductions beyond just further development of standard public transit
offerings.
Seven TDM projects were funded in
2014, including a collaboration between Metro Transit and HOURCAR, a local
car-sharing service. The TDM grant paid for a technology upgrade so that Metro
Transit Go-To Cards can also be used to unlock and access HOURCAR vehicles.
According to a recent HOURCAR study,
approximately 90 percent of HOURCAR members use transit. Around a third of HOURCAR members also
said they began using transit more after joining the car-sharing
service.
Eight additional projects funded through the 2016
solicitation will be under development later this year. One of these exciting projects includes bus
shuttle service from the Fridley Northstar station to three area employment
centers. In addition to providing a
transit option for employees near these facilities, the project will also
reduce congestion on Highway 10.
The regional
solicitation for 2016 TDM projects will open May 18, 2016. Interested
applicants for funding should apply to the Met Council. Eligible metro-area applicants include the seven
counties, cities and townships, state agencies, colleges and universities,
school districts, American Indian tribal governments, transit providers,
private non-profit organizations, and park districts. More information can be found on
the Met Council’s website.
|
The MPCA is offering grants up to $50,000 to small
businesses to reduce their volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. The deadline is May 11 and the application is
only two pages—easy! Anything your
business can do to reduce VOC emissions is eligible: from switching to powder
coating to going to water-based paint, changing to a water-based parts washer,
or anything else you can think of that would reduce VOCs. Your business can save money, help your
employees, and do something good for the community. You can find more information on the MPCA VOC
webpage or by contacting Eric David at eric.david@state.mn.us or
651-757-2218.
|
Air monitors the MPCA has operated in an
industrial area of North Minneapolis since 2014 have tracked repeated
exceedances of the state standard for total suspended particulates. Recently, the agency analyzed a year of data
from the two air monitors and found that lead is at intervention levels and
cobalt, chromium, and nickel exceed health guidelines. The MPCA announced this finding in a March news release.
The MPCA has been concerned about the levels
of particles and metals, but until recently didn’t have enough data to compare
them against health benchmarks for air quality.
The agency has been trying to find out exactly where the pollution is
coming from. Northern Metals, a metal recycler, is between the two air
monitors, but there are other potential sources in the area as well. The
agency has worked over the last year with a handful of the likeliest sources in
the area to reduce emissions, but Northern Metals has been adversarial, suing
in District Court to stop the MPCA’s air monitoring.
MPCA Assistant Commissioner David Thornton
said in the news release that the MPCA also recently learned that Northern
Metals may not have submitted accurate information for its permit reissuance in
2012, and may have changed operations or added new emission sources, or both,
without informing the MPCA. Either would be a serious permit violation,
he said, and the agency is looking at all its options including permit
revocation.
For more information on the monitoring check the MPCA’s
website.
|
In making energy planning decisions, the Minnesota Public
Utilities Commission (MPUC) has been
required since the 1990s to establish and consider the
environmental costs of certain pollutants, including carbon dioxide, fine
particles, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. MPUC is required to consider these costs
associated with electricity generation
when making energy planning decisions for the state.
Two years ago, a coalition of clean energy organizations
petitioned the MPUC to update the values it uses to estimate the costs of
emissions of carbon dioxide, PM2.5, SO2, and NOx.
The methodology for establishing the values,
commonly referred to as “damage costs” or “external costs,” was last updated in the
mid-1990s.
On April 15, Administrative Law Judge LauraSue Schlatter
issued her recommendation to the MPUC on the range of values it should use to
account for environmental costs of
carbon dioxide emissions from Minnesota power plants. The judge
recommended that the MPUC adopt, as the
method for establishing the values, the federal government’s social cost
of carbon (SCC), with a few modifications. The SCC attempts to capture
all the climate change damages (in dollars) caused by a ton of carbon dioxide
emitted today over the hundreds of years that it will persist in the
atmosphere. This is a considerable milestone for groups concerned about
climate change.
Judge Schlatter considered
hundreds of pages of written expert
witness’ testimony from many interested parties, including state
agencies, environmental groups, Minnesota utilities, and industrial groups in connection with a week-long hearing
last September.
The judge determined that the SCC values produced by the
federal government’s interagency working group, consisting of 11 different
federal agencies, are the best available values for Minnesota to
use. The decision allows Minnesota
to consider the full cost of
carbon when taking action to
reduce its emissions. It’s an
important step to help the state lead the way in taking meaningful actions
to address its contribution to climate change and to be an example for other states and nations to follow.
The judge’s recommendation
on appropriate values for PM2.5, SO2, and NOx
is expected in June. The MPUC is expected to make a decision on
the recommendations this fall. For
more information, check out the stories on MPR
and Bloomberg
News.
|
The
Minnesota Department of Transportation is currently updating two plans that
will set the direction for transportation investment in Minnesota: the Statewide
Multimodal Transportation Plan and Minnesota State
Highway Investment Plan. Transportation is a key
component of the air quality conversation, and the input of Minnesotans into
this relationship is critical to the plan update. Over the past eight months, more than 10,000
Minnesotans weighed in on policy and investment priorities. Join MnDOT at an upcoming stakeholder forum to
weigh in again before the draft plans are written this summer.
RSVP for an
upcoming stakeholder forum in your area. Forums will be held in Detroit Lakes, Grand
Rapids, Willmar, and the South Metro.
Visit the forum website for locations,
dates and times. Each three-hour meeting
will include an opportunity to:
-
Learn about public input received
- Review proposed policy and state highway investment direction
- Provide input on the direction before the plans are written this
summer
-
Share priorities for state highway investments beyond those
expressed in the fiscally constrained draft investment direction.
If
you can’t make a forum, you can:
For
more information, visit www.minnesotago.org.
|
The
State of Minnesota has launched a new web portal dedicated to the state’s permitting process for PolyMet’s proposed
NorthMet mining project at www.mn.gov/polymet. This project is very complex and will
need permits from several state agencies in order to proceed. The web portal provides basic permitting
information and directs users to agency websites with more detail. You can sign up on the portal to receive email
updates on the NorthMet project as it continues into the permitting process.
|
EPA releases final action on consideration
of cost in MATS for power plants
On April 14, 2016
EPA released the agency’s final action on the consideration of cost in the
“appropriate and necessary finding” for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards
(MATS) for power plants. This finding responds to a decision by the U.S.
Supreme Court that cost must be considered in the appropriate and necessary
finding that supports MATS.
EPA confirms that
it is appropriate and necessary to regulate emissions of toxic air pollutants
from power plants, including mercury, nickel, arsenic, and others. EPA
finds that the cost of compliance with MATS is reasonable and the electric
power industry can comply with MATS and maintain its ability to provide
reliable electric power to consumers at a reasonable cost.
In Minnesota,
power plant owners and operators are completing air pollution control retrofits or ending the operation
of coal-fired power plants to comply with both MATS and Minnesota’s Mercury Emissions Reduction Act. These two standards together have
resulted in mercury emissions reductions at power plants in 2015 of 80
percent overall.
The supplemental
finding and a related fact sheet are available on the EPA’s website.
New report on health
impacts of climate change
The United States Global Change Research Program, a
collaboration of the research arms of 13 federal agencies, released a new
assessment of the scientific understanding of the human health threat posed by
climate change. The report, The Impacts of
Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment,
draws on decades of advances in the scientific understanding of climate change. The work strengthens understanding of the
growing risks that a changing climate poses to human health and welfare, and
highlights factors that make some individuals and communities particularly
vulnerable. It includes a section
focusing on air quality impacts, which include health impacts of increased wild
fires, ozone, and worsened allergy and asthma conditions.
Air Mail is a quarterly,
email-based newsletter featuring updates on air quality issues and the work of
the MPCA and our partners. Subscribers to this list also receive Air Mail
Bulletins, which provide time-sensitive regulatory and technical updates.
To see past issues, Air Mail
Bulletins, or to subscribe, visit the MPCA's website.
If you have questions
or comments about Air Mail, please feel free to contact Amanda Jarrett Smith at
amanda.smith@state.mn.us.
|