Natural Events Policy

Natural Events Policy

WESTAR Planning CommitteeNEP Workgroup

September 22, 2005

1996 Policy

1998 Implementation

Memo

WESTAR Recommendations

EPA Staff Work Paper

Over-Arching Comments

• WESTAR States Have Natural Events Experience – Use Us

• Natural Events ≠ Exceptional Events• Establish the Process For Defining “Appropriate

Documentation” • SAFETEA-LU allows until March 2006 to Develop

Proposed Rule– Requires Consultation with State Air Quality Agencies

• New Rule Should Apply To All Forms Of PM NAAQS

• Control Sources That Contribute Significantly To NAAQS Violations

StaffWork Paper Cover Letter

WESTAR Responses To EPA Questions

• Documentation Levels– National Guidance Followed By Regional Collaboration

• Annual Standard Data Flagging– Apply To Any And All Data Impacted By Natural Events

• Timeframe For Documentation Submittal– Documentation Should Be Collected Immediately– Submitted To EPA Within 180 Days Following Quarter When

States Make A Finding Of A Violation

• Bright Line For What Constitutes A “High Wind”– Maintain Current Distinction Between “Natural” And “Exceptional”

• “Unusual And Not Typical” Is Definition Of “Exceptional Event”

– “Wind-generated Dust” Vs. “High Wind”

1. What Pollutants?

WESTAR

• All Pm (2.5, 10, Coarse)

Staff Paper

• Excludes PM10• Ozone Mentioned

2. What Type Of Events?

WESTAR

• Seismic/Volcano• Wildfires• Wind-generated

Dust• Impact Of Drought

Staff Paper

• Seismic/Volcano• Wildfires• High Winds• For Exceptional

Events, Case-by-case

3. Annual NAAQS?

WESTAR

• Yes

Staff Paper

• Yes

5a. Flagging Data(Attainment Status)

WESTAR

• Within 90 Days Following End Of Quarter When Event Occurred

Staff Paper

• Within 60 Days Following End Of Quarter When Event Occurred

5b. Documentation Submittal(Attainment Status)

WESTAR

• Within 180 Days Following End Of Quarter When Violation Determined

Staff Paper

• Within 60 Days Following End Of Quarter When Event Occurred

6. Documentation Collection (Attainment Status)

WESTAR

• Immediately Following Event

Staff Paper

• Within The 60-day Time Frame For Submittal To EPA

6. Documentation For Events (Discovered During SIP Development)

WESTAR

• Any Time During SIP Development

Staff Paper

• Not Allowed

“Reasonable Documentation” Definition?

WESTAR

• National Guidance• Regional

Collaboration• Technical Dispute

Resolution Process

Staff Paper

• “Compelling”• “Clear and Causal

Relationship”• Administrative

Dispute Resolution Process

Natural Events Action Plan Should:

WESTAR• Public Education /

Notification• Minimize Public

Exposure• Controls for Sources

Contributing Significantly

Staff Paper• Public Education /

Notification• Minimize Public

Exposure• Abate/Minimize

contributing sources– For High Wind Events,

specifically requires BACM for any source disturbed by anthropogenic activities

10. Timeframe for NEAP Submittal

WESTAR

• 18 Months Following End of Quarter when Violation of NAAQS Determined

Staff Paper

• Within 18 Months of “NAAQS Violation”

11. Natural Event and NEAP Processing

WESTAR

• Collaborative Process between States and EPA Regions to Define Expectation Beforehand

Staff Paper

• EPA “Concurrence”– Not Defined

Workgroup Members• Gerry Guay (AK)• Bruce Friedl (AZ)• Mark Lewandowski (AZ)• Karen Magliano (CA)• Rich Hackney (CA)• Mark McMillan (CO)• Ray Mohr (CO)• Dan Redline (ID)• Diane Riley (ID)• Jean-Paul Huys (NV)

• Gail Cooke (NM)• Andy Berger (NM)• Brad Musick (NM)• Brian Fineran (OR)• Larry Calkins (OR)• Dave McNeill (UT)• Doug Schneider (WA)• Tina Anderson (WY)• Mike Stoll (WY)