Clean Air Month - Part 3

Last time we discussed concrete and practical ways to protect the air we breathe on a more personal level. In today's final blog, we’re looking at how our actions cumulatively impact the world. Our state is a leader in responding to climate issues. Learn more as we continue to celebrate Clean Air.

Clean energy
Concerns about climate change, the use of fossil fuels, and air pollution are accelerating clean energy development. Approximately two-thirds of Washington’s electric is generated from hydropower? Washington also ranks as one of the top nationwide producers of wind power. It’s also becoming more popular and affordable to use solar power for your home needs. 

Check with your local utility provider or find a clean energy non-profit group for possible incentives or grants. 

Use alternative transportation
Vehicle emissions are one of the main sources of air pollution in Washington. You can help reduce emissions by participating in the following: 

• Share a ride with others, carpool, or take a bus.
• Ride your bike. Your heart will thank you!
• Don’t let your car idle.
• Be the first on your block to buy a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV).

Drive an electric vehicle
ZEVs, or electric vehicles, are gaining in popularity and the savings to your pocketbook, health, and environment add up quick. Imagine not having to get an oil change or stop and pay for gas! 

Charging an electric vehicle is getting easier too! There is a significant effort to build the infrastructure to support the use of electric vehicles.

For example: the West Coast Electric Highway is an extensive network of electric vehicle (EV) DC fast charging stations located every 25 to 50 miles along Interstate 5 and other major roadways in the Pacific Northwest. Planning your trip just got easier with this map of Washington charging stations. 

If you are heading outside the Pacific Northwest you can check out the Department of Energy maps of electric vehicle charging stations and alternative fueling locations nationwide.

Keeping our mission alive
Air quality is vital to our agency’s mission to protect and enhance the environment today and for future generations. And you are a part of that mission as well – as businesses, industries, communities, families and individuals. Thanks for helping us celebrate Clean Air in the month of May!

By Kim Vaughn | Air Quality

Clean Air Month - Part 1

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

Shaping Washington’s plan for the $112.7 million to reduce air pollution from transportation

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:

1. 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.
2. 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

Re-use Center saves money and resources

By Tina Simcich, Green Purchasing, Waste 2 Resource Program

Need some binder clips? Looking for office organizing supplies? Want file labels NOW?!

At Ecology’s Lacey building, you can quickly find these items and more just an elevator ride away. Instead of purchasing new products, staff and agency purchasing coordinators often find what they need in the Re-use Center. Our new video takes you on a journey to the “treasure trove” organized by shipping and receiving warehouse staff.



The Re-use Center a quick way to restock supply rooms at no cost. "I find something our program needs each time I go down there. Usually, I check the Re-use Center for an item before placing a purchase request. I think it’s a pretty cool place, and sometimes I find supplies are in packaging that isn’t even opened," Purchasing Coordinator Divina Clark remarked about her experience.

Ecology saves money by avoiding the purchase of new items. Reuse also means avoiding the hassle of putting in a purchasing order and takes a load off of Ecology’s busy staff.

Many agencies and businesses are seeking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, wastes and other environmental impacts through a focus on sustainable consumption, including source reduction. Source reduction minimizes the quantity and toxicity of materials that later need to be disposed. Re-use can be a big part of source reduction as each file folder, stapler or calculator can be used by several staff until its functional life is over.

The Benefits of Re-use 

• Eliminates the cost of and shipping fees for new products.
• Reduces waste that is sent to landfills.
• Reduces the costs and waste of new product packaging.
• Reduces staff time to process purchase orders.
• Reduces toxics and greenhouse gases associated with the lifecycle of new products.

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The Benefits of Recycling

By Dan Weston, Recycling Data Analyst

Each year, Ecology's Waste 2 Resources Program collects recycling data from facilities throughout the state and compiles them in our Annual Solid Waste Status Report. Recycling in Washington continues to result in significant environmental and economic gains, and we track our progress from year to year in this report.

Saving energy

In 2012, over 8 million tons of material were collected for recycling across the state. Using recycled material to make paper, plastics, glass, and metal products requires less energy than extracting, refining, transporting, and processing raw materials.

The 8 million tons of material collected saved roughly 1 billion gallons of gasoline, equal to 128 trillion BTUs (British thermal units) of energy, which is enough to power 1.1 million homes for a year (nearly half the households in Washington)!

Reducing pollution

Recycling also keeps materials out of landfills where they can contaminate groundwater and generate greenhouse gases (GHGs), reduces the amount of pollution entering the air and water, and keeps materials out of incinerators that can pollute the air and create ash residue.

The amount of material recycled in 2012 prevented 2.6 million tons of GHG emissions, similar to keeping 1.9 million cars off the road each year. It also reduced the 27 different types of air and water pollution that are produced when raw materials are used for manufacturing.

Conserving natural resources

Recycling reduces the harmful effects of mining and logging on the landscape. Supplying industry with recycled materials, instead of virgin resources from forests and mines, conserves these scarce resources.

By recycling over 1.5 million tons of scrap metal in 2012, Washington avoided mining and processing nearly 3 million tons of limestone, iron ore, and coal.

Learn more

• Focus on the Benefits of Recycling: Washington’s 2012 Recycling Produces Results (Ecology publication 11-07-007)
  
• Solid Waste in Washington, Twenty-second Annual Status Report (Ecology publication 13-07-070)
  
• Solid Waste and Recycling Data
  
  
  

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Toxic releases increase in Washington while some industries reduce emissions

By Erika Holmes, Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction Program

Releases of toxic chemicals in Washington increased in 2012, according to data reported annually to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology). The data is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report. Ecology works with reporting facilities to find ways to reduce toxic releases.

The annual TRI report provides key information about toxic releases to air, land, and water in our communities. Most of these releases are planned and managed, though some are accidental. TRI is a publicly available database of detailed information on nearly 650 chemicals disposed or otherwise released by nearly 21,000 industrial and federal facilities nationwide.

Washington's 2012 Report

In 2012, 310 Washington facilities reported releasing 19.6 million pounds of toxic chemicals to air, land, or water. Half of these releases were to air. Toxic releases in Washington increased 1.1 percent from 2011 to 2012.

 

More facilities are managing their waste on-site instead of disposing of it off-site. Washington facilities recovered 60.5 million pounds of waste for on-site energy, increasing 356 percent from 2011. On-site recycling and treatment also increased, reducing the pollution, cost of transportation, and risk of spills associated with moving waste off-site.

“Although we never want to see an increase in toxic releases, we are encouraged that some facilities reduced emissions through process improvement,” said K Seiler, who manages Ecology’s Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program. “Ecology works hard to create meaningful partnerships with industries to help them reduce or eliminate the use of toxics, often at a savings to the business.”

Two facilities stood out for cutting their toxic releases:

• Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) reduced ammonia emissions to the air at its Aberdeen plant by more than half.  SPI, a wood products company, generates renewable electricity by burning wood waste from its sawmill to power steam turbines. To reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, the company injects ammonia into the exhaust gases. Too much ammonia is itself a challenge, however, so in 2010 SPI began installing monitoring equipment to ensure it is using just the right amount. The new equipment allowed SPI to cut its ammonia emissions from 87,377 pounds in 2011 to 42,825 pounds in 2012.
• Tesoro Refining & Marketing installed emissions control equipment on their stacks, decreasing sulfuric acid aerosols reaching the air. By doing so, the company reduced those emissions from 158,095 pounds in 2011 to 120,091 pounds in 2012.

Ecology leads the state’s efforts to reduce toxics in our air, land, and water by:

• Providing free technical assistance to help facilities prevent pollution.
• Encouraging the use of safer alternatives to harmful chemicals.
• Promoting green chemistry.

To learn more about Washington’s 2012 TRI data, please visit Ecology’s 2012 Washington Toxics Release Inventory web page. You may also contact Ecology’s TRI Coordinator, Diane Fowler at (360) 407-6171.  

Find out more about toxic chemicals in your community – it’s your right to know!

You can access EPA’s data about releases of toxic chemicals to better understand the types and amounts of releases and the potential related risks in your community. TRI is an especially important data source for environmental releases of chemicals of particular concern, such as mercury, dioxins, and other persistent, bio-accumulative, toxic (PBT) chemicals. 

Access TRI data online

Envirofacts provides access to TRI and other EPA databases that contain information about environmental activities that can affect air, water, and land anywhere in the United States. Use Envirofacts to learn more about these environmental activities in an area or generate maps of environmental information.

TRI Explorer is a searchable database of TRI data to help communities identify facilities and chemical releases or other waste management activities that warrant further study and analysis. Combined with hazard and exposure information, the TRI Explorer can be a valuable tool for identifying potential chemical hazards in communities.

The Risk Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) provides information about risks to human health related to potential exposures to TRI chemicals. RSEI is a screening-level model that combines TRI information on the amount of toxic chemical releases with other risk factors to help assess the relative hazard and risk of chemicals, facilities and industries.

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Test your knowledge about fuel-efficient driving

No-idle signs give good reminder

by Melanie Forster, Air Quality Program, Southwest Regional Office

Many of us know that unnecessary engine idling pollutes the air and wastes fuel. But we all could use a friendly reminder, even Department of Ecology employees whose job is to protect our environment. “No-Idle Zone” signs have recently appeared in Ecology's parking areas. You may have seen similar signs outside schools or other areas with frequent pick-ups and drop-offs. These signs remind drivers to turn off the engine if parked for more than 30 seconds.

Why do we need no-idle signs? After all, most of us know the common-sense things to do to keep our cars in good condition and promote fuel-efficient driving. Or do we?

Test yourself with this short quiz:

1.   Which of these practices generally burns the most gas?

a.   Stopping and restarting a car's engine.

b.   Running a car's engine at idle for more than 10 seconds.

c.   They use the same amount of gas.

2.   True or False: The vast majority of vehicles should have their engines warmed up before driving to help them run more efficiently.

3.   True or False: Today's cars are so much cleaner than in the past, the amount of pollution they emit when idling is not significant.

4.   True or False: Frequent starting and stopping of your car can cause wear and tear on the car's starter.

5.   In very cold weather, you should:

a.   Warm your car up by idling for at least five minutes.

b.   Never warm your car up by idling, even to defrost the windshield.

c.   Start and stop your car several times intermittently in place of idling to warm it up.

d.   All of the above

e.   None of the above

Answers

1.B: For most cars, running a car's engine for more than 10 seconds burns more gas than stopping and restarting the engine. The idea that restarting the engine burns more fuel than letting the engine idle is a common myth.

2.False: Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of vehicles do not need to “warm up” before being driven. This may have been true for older vehicles (prior to late 80s/early 90s model years), but modern vehicles with fuel injection do not need to warm up before driving.

3.False: Even today's cleaner cars still emit harmful pollutants like oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and toxic substances including benzene and PAHs. The wasteful burning of fossil fuel from idling also generates carbon dioxide (CO₂), contributing to climate change. Pollutants in vehicle exhaust contribute to a whole host of health problems, including lung diseases like asthma and emphysema, and cardiovascular problems like heart attack and stroke.

4.False: The California Energy Commission has found that turning off the engine when the vehicle is stopped for more than 30 seconds has little to no effect on the life of the starter. Excess fuel use and reduced engine life from idling would cost more than any additional starter replacement costs.

5.E: None of the above! Here in the Pacific Northwest, we rarely experience temperatures extreme enough to require much heating and air conditioning. Sure, it can be cold when you first get in your car, but it's not going to heat up any faster while you wait around in the parking lot. In fact, the vehicle's heater works more efficiently when you are driving. But use common sense; you may need to idle a little bit to defrost the windshield. Don't jeopardize your safety by driving a vehicle with frosty windows. Starting, stopping, and restarting your car isn't going to do the trick in that situation! In the summer, rolling down the windows before getting in the car will let excess heat escape. Again, if you're sitting in the vehicle anyway while you wait for the AC, you might as well be driving.

The bottom line

By now, you've probably realized you're not doing your car any favors by idling. Because an idling engine is not at optimal operating temperature, it does not combust fuel completely. This leads to residue buildup, decreasing the life of your engine.

Reducing idling is so easy to do, but has big payoffs—cleaner air and more money in your wallet! When you pick up your coffee at a drive-through, turn off your engine to save gas—and your barista's lungs. If you drop off or pick up children at school, it's especially important to turn off your engine since children's developing lungs are more sensitive than adults' to the harmful pollutants in vehicle exhaust.

Do yourself and everyone around you a big favor – turn off your engine if you will be idling for more than 30 seconds.

Read more about Clean Cars in Washington State.

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Let’s Talk Science! Cycle through our Ecology for Scientists web portal

By Brook Beeler, Environmental Educator, Office of Communication and Education

Did you know that Ecology has a web portal for all you hard core science types? It is a one stop shop for links to our monitoring databases, mapping and spatial data, and the most recent scientific reports and articles. Good science provides the foundation for credible decision-making. And we want you to have access.
But before you dive into the latest postings on Microbial Source Tracking, macroinvertebrates in the Wenatchee River, or the latest update to our Eyes Over Puget Sound monitoring, let’s talk science.

You may have heard that our oceans are a large “carbon sink,” meaning they absorb and store carbon. Before checking out our information on the state’s ocean acidification Blue Ribbon Panel, linked from our scientist’s page, learn about the carbon cycle. Understanding the carbon cycle is important because as the oceans soak up higher levels of carbon emissions, the chemistry of the seawater changes — both locally and globally. This carbon absorption alters the ocean’s natural water quality balance.

The Carbon Cycle

Diagram of the carbon cycle. The black numbers indicate how much carbon is stored in various reservoirs, in billions of tons ("GtC" stands for gigatons of carbon and figures are circa 2004). The dark blue numbers indicate how much carbon moves between reservoirs each year. (image source Wikipedia)

The earth is one incredible and dynamic system; and within this system there are processes that function in cycles. Just like a bicycle tire, round and round they go. On a larger scale, there is the rock cycle and water cycle and on the elemental level there is the nitrogen cycle and carbon cycle. All of these cycles are cruising along, interacting with one another to create a beautiful system we call home.

Let’s start with understanding one of these cycles. The carbon cycle allows carbon to be recycled and reused throughout the earth’s many systems and among all of its organisms. The major pathways for carbon are:

• Atmosphere — layer of gases that surround the earth
• Biosphere — living organisms on earth
• Geosphere — the earth itself
• Hydrosphere — the combined amount of water on the earth

Carbon is constantly being exchanged between these pathways through chemical, physical, geological and biological processes. Some pathways exchange carbon more readily than others. When carbon is not rapidly exchanging through these pathways, it is stored in what is known as a carbon reservoir. 

A Deeper Look

Carbon exchange between the atmosphere and the earth’s oceans is particularly interesting because the ocean is the largest reservoir of carbon. You can divide this reservoir into two pools. The ocean contains the largest active pool of exchangeable carbon near its surface, but the deep ocean part of this pool does not rapidly exchange. In regions of oceanic upwelling, carbon is released to the atmosphere. Conversely, regions of downwelling transfer carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere to the ocean.

When CO2 enters the ocean it undergoes a series of chemical reactions changing from dissolved carbon dioxide gas into carbonic acid, bicarbonate, then carbonate. As the carbon changes forms, hydrogen ions are released into the ocean. At this point, the different forms of carbon are now exchanging through other pathways in the cycle, including being absorbed into sediment, living organisms or back into the atmosphere, continuing the carbon recycling process.

But what about those hydrogen ions released into the ocean due to carbon cycling? As the concentration of hydrogen ions increases, the water chemistry of our oceans change. One way scientists verify this change in water chemistry is by measuring the pH of ocean water. pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in any solution. The higher the concentration, the more acidic the solution. When an increase in hydrogen ions occurs in the oceans, the pH decreases. This change is known as ocean acidification.

As carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere, how will Washington State be affected? Our scientists are part of a panel to answer that question. To learn more about the science and actions in Washington state visit our “Ecology for Scientists” web portal and link to the ocean acidification Blue Ribbon Panel.

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Air Time: New car standards drive fuel savings, jobs, cleaner air

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality Program

As this Forbes columnist points out, some major news for Americans and the U.S. economy may have gone without much notice last week because of all the debt drama.

President Obama announced new fuel efficiency standards for cars and light-duty trucks. These standards follow up on earlier increases in fuel efficiency that are required starting with 2011 models.

Taken together, by 2025 these new standards are estimated to:

• Increase the fleet-wide average efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon.
  
  
• Save Americans $1.7 trillion at the pump over the life of the program. (Ecology’s Air Quality Program estimates that Washingtonians will see total savings of $34 billion by 2025.)
  
  
• Reduce oil consumption by 12 billion barrels.
  
  
• Cut emissions of climate-changing carbon dioxide by 6 billion metric tons.

The Forbes columnist cites a national study — “More Jobs Per Gallon” – that predicts the new standards will spur creation of nearly 500,000 new jobs, including about 43,000 in the auto-manufacturing industry.

It’s a remarkable achievement. Just a few years ago, automakers were fighting tougher standards in court. Now, they have joined with President Obama, environmentalists, workers, and a variety of others in backing these new standards.

And we all get cleaner air to breathe, too. As this Los Angeles Times editorial notes, it's a winning deal.

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Polluted waters listings will not fix the problem of declining pH on marine waters

By Sandy Howard, Communication Manager, Water Quality program

You might be hearing about the problem of declining pH in our ocean’s waters, also called “ocean acidification.” The Center for Biological Diversity is bringing this topic up once again today.

What is the cause?

What causes declining pH and why is it a problem?

It’s a fact that our earth’s oceans are becoming more and more acidic as they absorb greenhouse gas emissions produced all over the planet. When our ocean water becomes more acidic — or in other words, it declines in pH — marine animals suffer and lose their ability to build the protective shells they need to thrive. In short, declining pH threatens the health of a very important natural resource — our shellfish — and the health of many other marine organisms. The Department of Ecology’s just-out draft 2010 Marine Water Quality Assessment includes the list of the state’s polluted marine waters. Ecology currently has the draft list ready for the public to review. However, the list does not include marine waters that may be affected by declining pH.

The Center for Biological Diversity thinks Washington should include listings for pH in its polluted marine waters list.

Ecology agrees that declining pH in marine waters is a very real problem.

However we think placing these waters on the state’s polluted waters list is the wrong tool to fix the problem.

What is the remedy?

The true remedy for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide getting into the oceans is to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Washington uses its list of polluted waters to develop water cleanup plans — Total Maximum Daily Load studies. The heart of a cleanup plan is that it identifies sources of pollution within our state over which it has authority. The cleanup plan then outlines actions to reduce or eliminate the pollution sources to improve water quality.

While Washington undoubtedly produces its own set of greenhouse gas emissions, ocean acidification is a global problem. Sources of greenhouse gas emissions come from distant locations where our state has no authority.

So listing for ocean pH on our polluted waters list would not lead to effective cleanup strategies and could cause unnecessary requirements for industries in Washington that are not causing the pollution problem.

Furthermore, Ecology’s marine monitoring program has measured pH in marine waters for years. Ocean experts have recently determined that traditional measurements of pH in marine environments are not precise enough because of the complicated chemistry in saltwater. The technology needs to improve so we can get more accurate methods of measuring subtle changes in pH. We are currently working with federal agencies to improve the methods we use to measure pH.

Climate change is real. Ecology is very much involved in finding regional and global solutions to reducing greenhouse gases and we care about solving declining pH in marine waters.

Read more about how Washington is responding to climate change.

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Air Time: Governor supports President's call for more pollution cuts for vehicles

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality Program

Gov. Chris Gregoire just released a statement lauding President Obama’s call to expand auto emission standards for cars and trucks, and develop new standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

She praises the President’s “bold step” and points out that Washington has been at the forefront of the states pressing for tougher standards.
(Read the entire statement).

In other air quality news:

• Ecology and EPA have come up with a solution to an obstacle that was blocking Longview Fibre’s request for a variance to its permit for operating a furnace at its Longview plant.
  
  Here’s an Ecology news release about the public comment period for the request.
  
  Longview Fibre asked Ecology for permission to operate a furnace above current limits for one year while promising to keep emissions at or below permitted levels. The furnace generates steam for the mill.
  
  Longview Fibre would temporarily shut down an older, less-efficient furnace and reduce overall sulfur emissions. The mill also could measure the effectiveness of its pollution control technology on the furnace that would be operating at higher output.
  
  While state rules allow Ecology to grant such a variance, the authority delegation agreement between the EPA and Ecology doesn’t. We’ve worked it out.



• Our friends at DNR offer tips on how to prevent wildfires if you take to the outdoors for the coming Memorial Day weekend.
  
  We’re working with DNR to protect property and human health from wildfires. Fine particles in smoke from wildfires pose risks to people who breathe them.



• Here’s a new look at an old idea – burning garbage to produce power.

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Western Climate Initiative meets in Seattle; three regional groups announce carbon offset framework

by Janice Adair, special assistant on Climate policy

Washington welcomed its Western Climate Initiative partners to the state this week as the group held a two-day meeting in Seattle. Gov. Chris Gregoire, who helped found the WCI, met with us this morning.

If you haven’t followed the WCI closely, it’s a coalition of state and provincial governments concerned about greenhouse gas emission and climate change and taking actions at the regional level.

It’s one of three regional initiatives that have formed in North America. The others are the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (the Accord).

Reducing emissions is good for the economy

Government policies that require greenhouse gas reductions have multiple benefits. They help create jobs, improve efficiencies so we spend less on energy, and reduce the impacts of climate change.

Clean energy will drive the new “innovation” economy. The rewards will go to states, nations and businesses that face the realities, and seize the job-creating opportunities, of living and working in a carbon-constrained world.

But we haven’t had a clear federal framework in place, so regional groups like ours are stepping up to take the lead on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and positioning states and provinces for the economy of the future – and the jobs that will come with it.

Leading the change

On May 19, 2010, the three regional initiatives released a paper describing a jointly designed framework for making work a key component of a carbon market.

In a carbon market, large emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG) need a permit for every ton of greenhouse gases they emit. If they emit less than the number of permits – called allowances – they have, they can sell those extra allowances to others who need them. That provides an incentive to industries and utilities to emit less. If they need more allowances than they have, they can buy reductions made by companies that aren’t part of the carbon market. These are called “offsets.”

Most people know “offsets” as a way to make their airplane trips or electricity “carbon neutral” because they buy offset credits to match the GHG emissions associated with those actions. But this kind of voluntary offset isn’t good enough for a regulatory program. And, there are serious questions about the real value of those offset credits. Reliable, high-quality offsets are necessary for companies that need them to take the place of an emission allowance and ensure that money is being well spent.

By agreeing on standards for offsets, the regional initiatives’ work delivers a “guidepost” for the criteria to use in developing high quality offsets. Or as RGGI board chair David Littell has said, “By making offset definitions and criteria uniform, and by potentially accepting offsets issued by other jurisdictions, we will enhance the market for offsets.”

It’s also a blueprint for Congress as it continues to tackle federal climate change legislation.

Taking it national

What’s really exciting as WCI participant is seeing how quickly the three regional initiatives have come to agreement. The three groups started this project just six months ago.

While there are many questions that still must be answered, it’s clear that when people roll up their sleeves to collaborate, it can be done. There is at least one offset project here in Washington, and we hope to have more. And we are working with congressional staff and federal agencies so this model can serve as a framework for a strong national program in the U.S. and Canada.

Even though Congress is once again working on climate change legislation, we’re continuing our work, continuing to lead. We’re moving closer to designing a system that could be implemented across 23 states and four Canadian provinces. That accounts for nearly ½ of the U. S. population and ¾ of the Canadian population and significant portions of both countries’ greenhouse gas emissions.

“By collaborating on this issue, we’re moving close to uniformity across the three regional programs,” said Accord member Doug Scott.

He’s right: With or without national legislation, our uniform approach will have major national impact.

What it means

Q: What’s a carbon offset?
A: Offsets are reductions in greenhouse gases that happen outside of the industries that are required to have permits (or allowances) to emit those gases.

Q: What are the key features in the three-region blueprint for designing an offset program?
A: The three regional climate groups agree that reductions achieved through offset projects must be real, must add value, must be verifiable, must be permanent rather than short-term, and must be enforceable.

Uniform standards gives purchasers of offset great confidence in the value of the offset, and suppliers will find it easier to meet a consistent set of standards.

Q: What makes this multi-region consensus document a big deal?
A: Together, these 3 regional cooperatives represent 23 states, four Canadian provinces, half the U.S. population and three-quarters of the Canadian population. This blueprint is a milestone and it’s a first. Regional leaders in the three North American cooperatives believe this is a good model for Congress to consider when establishing a nationwide offset program as part of comprehensive climate and energy legislation.

Q: What’s in it for businesses and other employers?
A: Offsets reduce the cost of reducing greenhouse gas emissions because sometimes, these reductions are cheaper or faster to achieve than others. It also allows companies that aren’t part of the carbon market to participate, making it more liquid.

Q: What’s in it for consumers and the public?
A: Offset projects can create jobs. And, we all benefit if utilities, manufacturers, and others can minimize costs while maximizing their reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

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