Transcript Item #3: EPA`s New PM2.5 Standard

Item #3
EPA’s New Fine Particle Standard
&
Metropolitan Washington Region
Sunil Kumar
MWAQC, December 18, 2012
MWCOG
New Fine Particle (PM2.5) Standard
 December 14, 2012 - EPA announced a new PM2.5
standard
 PM2.5 Standards


Annual Standard - Revised from 15.0 µg/m3 (1997) to 12.0 µg/m3
Daily (24-Hour) Standard – Retained existing 35 µg/m3 (2006)
 Attainment/nonattainment designations - December 2014

Designations likely effective from early 2015
 Attainment date – 2020 (5 years after effective designation date)
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Why Did EPA Make PM2.5 Standard Tighter ?
 Multiple studies - negative health impacts at lower levels
than previously understood
• Chronic bronchitis, Asthma attacks
• Respiratory symptoms (cough, wheezing, etc.), Decreased lung function
• Heart attack, Cardiac arrhythmia, Changes in heart rate and heart rate variability
• Premature death
• Prevention of 40,000 premature deaths, 32,000 hospital admissions , 4.7
million days of work lost due to illness from diesel vehicle & equipment
control measures alone
• Reduced hospital admissions, treatment cost , and loss of work hours will lead to
benefits of $4b-$9b per year
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EPA Projections for PM2.5 Attainment
in 2020
4
Implementation of New PM2.5 Standard
 Requirements for near-roadway monitoring of PM2.5 at
one location in Washington region

Existing monitor can be relocated to meet this requirement
 EPA revised Air Quality Index (AQI) to be consistent with
new standard
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Annual PM2.5 Design Value Trend
Annual PM2.5 Design Value
Washington, DC-MD-VA Nonattainment Area (1999-2011)
18.0
17.3
17.1
Design Value (µg/m3)
17.0
16.0
15.8
15.1
1997 Annual PM2.5 Standard = 15.0 µg/m3
15.0
14.2
14.0
14.6
14.5
13.1
13.0
12.4
12.0
2012 Annual PM2.5 Standard = 12.0 µg/m3
11.5
11.0
10.8
10.0
Year
* Design value = 3-year avg of annual mean PM2.5 concentrations.
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24-Hour PM2.5 Design Value Trend
24-Hour PM2.5 Design Value
Washington, DC-MD-VA Nonattainment Area
(1999-2011)
Design Value (µg/m3)
70
65
1997 24-Hour PM2.5 Standard = 65 µg/m3
60
55
50
45
45
41
44
42
38
37
40
35
35
30
32
2006 24-Hour PM2.5 Standard = 35 µg/m3
29
27
26
25
Year
* Design value = 3-year average of 98th percentile of PM2.5 concentrations.
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Emissions Trends, NOx, SO2, PM2.5
(2007-2025)
Emissions Trend
(Washington, DC-MD-VA PM2.5 NAA)
200,000
191,441
NOx
Emissions (tpy)
180,000
SO2
160,000
140,000
PM2.5-Pri
165,247
120,000
100,000
90,799
74,504
80,000
60,000
40,000
33,315
33,287
18,654
18,010
20,724
20,000
0
2007
2017
2025
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New PM2.5 Standard & PM2.5 Maintenance Plan
 Washington region scheduled shortly to submit PM2.5
Maintenance Plan for 1997 annual PM2.5 standard (15.0 µg/m3)
 Maintenance Plan demonstrates continued attainment in
future years of


Annual PM2.5 Standard - 15.0 µg/m3 (1997)
24-Hour PM2.5 Standard - 35 µg/m3 (2006)
 Current downward PM2.5 design value and emissions trends
show likely continued attainment of


Revised annual (12.0 µg/m3 ), and
Existing 24-hour (35 µg/m3 ) standards
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Conclusion
 New PM2.5 Standard improves public health
 Metro. Washington region is already below the new
standard (meets the tighter standard)
 Metro. Washington region expects to be in attainment
of the new standard in 2020 and beyond.
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