Our future and air pollution
Air quality has improved dramatically since the Clean Air Act was initiated in 1970 to respond to industrial pollution that at that time had no prevention controls in place.
Still today, hundreds of studies show that air pollution threatens the health of Washingtonians -- your health. The challenge for the future will be to continue to improve air quality in the face of population and industry growth. Together, we can make a difference.
For the month of May we’ve been celebrating Clean Air with tweets and this blog post. Look for other updates on May 22 and 25 at ECOconnect.
What is clean air?
Clean air naturally balances gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. Clean air does not contain pollutants and allergens, harm the environment, disrupt your view of scenic vistas, or cause health problems, as defined in statute to protect human health and the environment.
Air pollution is caused from a variety of sources that we all contribute to. Some of the sources are:
- Emissions from vehicles, ships, trains, and airplanes.
- Emissions from construction equipment.
- Campfires, forest fires, and agricultural burning.
- Cooking, BBQ, and wood-burning stoves.
- Solvent-based cleaning supplies.
- Blowing dust, soot, ash, etc.
- Commercial and industrial facilities like factories, restaurants, and dry cleaners.
By doing your part, you can help protect our clean air, environment, recreation activities, and health.
How we protect the air
The federal Clean Air Act requires states to develop plans to monitor and reduce air pollution to protect the environment and public health. The EPA sets national standards, or limits, for six criteria air pollutants called the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The six criteria air pollutants are:
- Nitrogen dioxide.
- Ozone.
- Particle pollution.
- Sulfur dioxide.
- Carbon monoxide.
- Lead.
It is each state’s responsibility to monitor the air and make sure they are meeting the national standards. If air pollution reaches levels that harm human health, the state must develop a plan to clean up the air. These plans are known as State Implementation Plans.
Ecology and seven local clean air agencies help keep the air clean by:
- Developing and enforcing rules about air quality.
- Regulating harmful emissions from vehicles, burning, and industrial activities, and reducing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
- Issuing air quality permits. Inspecting – and fining, when necessary – businesses and industries that have those permits.
- Tracking air quality using about 70 air monitoring stations.
- Developing plans to maintain and improve air quality.
- Informing the public about air conditions by:
- Issuing daily decisions for agricultural burn permit holders.
- Calling burn bans.
- Educating the public about making healthy, clean air choices.
In our next blog, we’ll explore specific ways we all can protect clean air.
By Kim Vaughn | Air Quality
Washington is poised to receive $112.7 million from Volkswagen to reduce air pollution. That’s good news because Washington's largest source of air pollution comes from transportation.
Before any spending can take place, we need to draft a plan on how to use the funds. That’s what Ecology and our partner state agencies have been working on along with the public.
If you’re not familiar, Volkswagen violated the Clean Air Act by manufacturing diesel vehicles with software that cheated emissions tests by only turning on the vehicle’s emission control systems when the car was being tested. EPA uncovered the fraudulent act and the company known for fun-loving and environmentally-friendly cars was penalized.
Volkswagen entered into multiple settlement agreements with the EPA that affect all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and tribes. As a result of the agreements, the automaker must:
- Provide consumer relief to owners of vehicles that failed to meet federal emissions standards.
- Invest in and develop zero emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure.
- Deposit $3 billion into a mitigation trust for states and tribes to offset excess nitrogen oxide emissions from the vehicles.
On March 15, 2017, Wilmington Trust was appointed by the court as trustee to oversee the funds.
Funds to reduce air pollution
Out of the $3 billion Volkswagen must pay to states and tribes, Washington is eligible to receive $112.7 million. That amount was based on the number of affected vehicles registered in the state and can be used to reduce air pollution from transportation.
Percentage of affected vehicles in Washington counties.
In order to receive the money, Washington must do two things. First we must submit beneficiary certification documents and secondly, submit a mitigation plan that explains how the $112.7 will be spent.
Requirements for spending the money
The court issued a consent decree which specifies how the money can be spent. Funds can be used to:
- Reduce diesel pollution by replacing or repowering vehicles and equipment with new diesel engines, alternative-fueled engines (compressed natural gas, propane, or hybrid), or all-electric engines.
- Replace specific types of vehicles and equipment:
- Airport ground support equipment.
- Class 8 local freight trucks and port drayage trucks.
- Class 4-8 school/shuttle/transit buses.
- Class 4-7 local trucks.
- Ferries and tugboats.
- Forklifts and cargo handling equipment at ports.
- Freight switcher locomotives.
- Light duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment (limited to 15% of funds).
- Matching funds for projects eligible under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA).
- Shorepower for ocean going vessels.
States must also consider how to fund projects based on the benefits of reducing nitrogen oxides emissions in communities that have been disproportionately affected by them.
Nitrogen oxides emissions and your health
Nitrogen oxides contribute to harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone, and fine particulate matter. Exposure to these pollutants has been linked with a range of health effects that can be serious enough to send people to the hospital. These pollutants can cause or contribute to health problems like:
- Headaches
- Premature death in people with heart or lung disease.
- Heart attacks.
- Irregular heartbeat.
- Aggravated asthma symptoms.
- Decreased lung function.
- Irritation of the eyes and airways causing coughing or difficulty breathing.
- Respiratory infections.
- Cancer.
- Increased health care costs.
People at most risk are children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with cardiovascular or respiratory disease. Health effect research shows that death rates in several U.S. cities increased when there were higher levels of particulate matter in the air.
Nitrogen oxides emissions in Washington
The map below includes estimated nitrogen oxides emissions from on-road vehicles (e.g. cars, trucks, semi-trucks, etc.), non-road vehicles/equipment (e.g. for construction, agriculture, airports, etc.), marine vessels and pleasure craft, fuel use by various industries, and railroad equipment.
Drafting Washington’s plan
Ecology is working with the Departments of Transportation, Commerce, and Health as well as holding webinars, surveys, and stakeholder meetings to gather input from the public, local governments, businesses, and environmental interest groups. Recordings and results of these outreach activities, as well as additional details on the federal settlement, are all hosted on Ecology’s website.
Our most recent survey asked people which of the permitted categories were most important to them. The results of that survey, shown below, are helping us draft our mitigation plan. The plan is expected to be released for public comment before the end of 2017.
Ecology is dedicated to keeping you informed as the settlement progresses.
Sign up for our listserv to receive important updates, notices of stakeholder meetings and webinars via email.
By Kim Allen | Air Quality
