Background: the Federal Clean Air
Act and the Ozone NAAQS
Air Improvement Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting
Alamo Area Council of Governments
January 17, 2013
What is ozone?
• Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas.
• Ground-level ozone can cause:
– shortness of breath
– coughing or wheezing
– headaches nausea
– throat and lung irritation
• Ground-level ozone’s effects are most profound
on children, the elderly, and those with reduced
lung capacity.
What Causes Ozone?
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) &
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
Note: NOx = NO + NO2 (<= criteria)
Clean Air Act & National Ambient
Air Quality Standards
• Federal Clean Air Act requires EPA to set
KEY
– National Ambient Air Quality Standards for
– Pollutants harmful to public health & environment
– Six “Criteria” Air Pollutants: Carbon Monoxide, Lead,
Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate Matter, Sulfur Dioxide &
– Ozone
Compliance with Eight-Hour Ozone Standard
A community will meet the eight-hour ozone standard when the
three-year average of the annual fourth highest daily maximum
eight-hour ozone concentration measured at each monitoring
site is less than 76 parts per billion (ppb).
Violations and Nonattainment of the
Ozone Standard in the AACOG region
Violation: the three year average of ozone
levels on local monitors was too high.
KEY
On August 21, two monitors violated the 2008 ozone standard.
Monitoring Site
Camp Bullis C58
Calaveras Lake C59
San Antonio Northwest C23
Fourth Highest Average
2010
78
67
72
2011
75
71
79
2012*
87
70
81
Current
Three-Year
Average
80
69
77
* quality assurance/checks by TCEQ required prior to finalization
The “Three-Year Average” needs to be
less than 76 parts per billion (ppb).
Data: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/compliance/monops/8hr_attainment.pl
Requirements vs. Discretion
Requirements:
KEY
• The current 2008 ozone standard is now under review:
– May be revised in 2013 according to the five-year review cycle.
• IF the standard revised in 2013, and timeline did not change:
– Proposal for a revised standard would be published in 2013
– Final standard promulgated in 2014.
– Nonattainment designations promulgated in 2016 .
• Designations would be made based on 2013-2015 data.
• Next summer: possibly the 1st year in the 3-year average for
designations under a more stringent ozone standard.
• Now is a great time to initiate dedicated air quality
improvements.
Ozone Trends, San Antonio Region, 1980-2012
95
C07
90
C23
C58
80
75
75 ppb: Upper limit allowed
2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard
C59
C23
70
65
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Design Value (ppb)
85
Year
Northwest C23
North C07
Camp Bullis C58
Calaveras C59
8-Hr O3 Exceedance
Emission Trends for VOC and NOx in
San Antonio 8-County MSA Population
San Antonio / New Braunfels MSA 1996 to 2018
DRAFT
Eagle Ford Not Included
DRAFT
Initial Estimations: EFS, 2012
Draft NOx Emissions in tons per day from 24-county Eagle Ford shale play
Emissions Source
Exploration and Pad Construction
Drilling
Hydraulic Fracturing
Wellhead Compressors
Wellhead Flares
Midstream Facilities
Total* Estimated Emissions
2011
1.0
25.8
16.3
22.3
21.3
18.3
105.0
* 2012 estimations for Production does
not include all sources. Production may
create up to 20 additional tons of NOx/day
in 2012.
NOx Emissions in tons per day from Point Sources,
8-County San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA
Type of Industry / Year
2008
2013
Electricity Generation
46.5
42.9
Cement Industry
20.9
25
Petroleum Industry
5.7
5.7
Manufacturing
1.1
1.1
Military Bases
0.9
0.9
Other Sources
0.6
0.6
Total
75.9
76.4
2018
42.9
25
5.7
1.4
0.9
0.6
76.6
Eagle Ford & SA-NB Metropolitan Statistical Area
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration,
http://www.eia.gov/oil_gas/rpd/shaleusa9.pdf
New Power Generation in East Texas (Completed 2009-2011)
Facility
J K Spruce 2
VH Braunig 6
Bosque expansion
Dansby 3
Point Comfort
Winchester Power Park
Pearsall Expansion - 1
Pearsall Expansion - 2
S. Houston Green Power
Cypress Peaking Power
Cedar Bayou 4
Texas Medical Center
Engine Plant
Jack County 2
Jones 3
Sandow 5
Barney M. Davis
Nueces Bay
Oak Grove 1
Oak Grove 2
Jacinto Peaking Power Fac.
Comanche Peak 1,2 upgrade
Sand Hill expansion
Fuel
Coal
NG
NG
NG
Petcoke
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
Coal
NG
NG
Coal
Coal
NG
Nuc
NG
Capacity
(MW)
750
185
255
48
300
178
100
100
244
168
539
50
50
620
168
581
360
701
855
855
168
86
94
In
Service
Nov-09
Jan-10
Apr-09
Oct-09
Aug-11
Apr-09
Oct-09
Mar-10
Apr-09
2009
Mar-09
May-10
May-10
Aug-11
Jun-11
Apr-09
Aug-09
Oct-09
Aug-09
Jun-10
2009
Jan-10
Jan-10
Proposed Power Generation in East Texas (After March 2013)
Facility
Fuel
Capacity
(MW)
In
Service
Sandy Creek 1
Coal
925
13-Mar
White Stallion Energy Center
Coal
1,200
14-Jul
Coleto Creek 2
Coal
660
16-Jan
Limestone 3
Coal
800
King Power Station
NG
1,380
Colorado Bend Energy Center
NG
275
Deer Park Energy Center exp.
NG
400
Greenville
NG
1,792
Lakeside Energy Center
NG
640
Madison Bell Energy Center
NG
550
Mountain Creek expansion
NG
700
Sherman
NG
500
Las Brisas Energy Center
Petcoke
620
ES Joslin
Petcoke
303
Freeport
Petcoke
400
Sweeny
Petcoke
683
16-Jan
16-Oct
Rural
Background
Ozone Level
Relatively low
Ozone Increases
Downwind from
Major Combustion
Sources
Ozone Increases
Further Due to
Numerous Urban
Sources
High Ozone
Extends
Downward from
Urban Areas
Wind Direction
Rural
Sources
Cars
Trucks
Locomotives
Small Engines
Vegetation
Major
Combustion
Sources
Power
Generation
Cement Industry
Manufacturing
Courtesy TCEQ
Urban
Sources
Cars Trucks
Buses Airports
Industries Construction
Lawn & Garden Equipment
Vegetation
Transport
Image courtesy of the Capital
Area Council of Governments