AIR FORUM - Updates on Greenhouse Gases, SO2, Transport Rule

Good afternoon. After a fairly quiet spell, I have several updates to share with you all at once. See below for the latest developments on greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and transport rule modeling data availability. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions. Thanks.

Wendy Vit
Air Quality Planning Section Chief
Air Pollution Control Program
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
(573) 526-3167
wendy.vit@dnr.mo.gov

 

Greenhouse Gases

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposed new source performance standards (NSPS) for carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from new power plants was published in today’s Federal Register (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-01-08/pdf/2013-28668.pdf). EPA signed this proposal in September 2013, and today’s publication in the Federal Register triggers the official 60-day comment period. EPA is accepting comments through March 10, 2014.

In a separate action, EPA formally withdrew the April 2012 proposed NSPS for CO2 emissions from new power plants. EPA received over 2.5 million comments on that proposal and never finalized it. For more information on this action see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-01-08/pdf/2013-31079.pdf.

 

Sulfur Dioxide

 

EPA is making available two updated draft documents that provide technical assistance for states implementing the 2010 1-hour SO₂ standard.  These documents provide technical advice on the use of modeling and monitoring to determine if an area meets the 2010 SO₂ air quality standard.   Both updated drafts are available at:  http://www.epa.gov/airquality/sulfurdioxide/implement.html#jan14

On its website, EPA says it plans to issue further updated versions of these documents around the time the Data Requirements Rule for implementing the SO2 standard is finalized to allow for a further round of comment. 

Transport Rule Modeling Datasets

Today EPA is making available the 2018 emissions modeling platform to support modeling for projected air quality.  The 2018 emissions modeling platform consists of projected 2018 emissions inventory data, supporting data for the projection and modeling processes, and methods that are used to process emission inventories representing the year 2018 into a form that can be used for air quality modeling.  EPA may use this data in several ways, including the development of rules related to the transport of air pollution and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. EPA is requesting comments on these datasets through June 30, 2014. You can access the data for review at:  www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/emch/index.html#2011.