1 ST. LOUIS REGION AIR QUALITY REPORT EWGCOG Staff Report July 7, 2006.

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ST. LOUIS REGIONAIR QUALITY REPORT

EWGCOG Staff ReportJuly 7, 2006

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St. Louis Air Quality History

Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 Moderate Ozone Non-Attainment Area Completion of 15% Rate-of-Progress

State Implementation Plans (SIPs) Attained 1-Hour Ozone Standard in

2002

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Ozone – What is it? Ground level ozone found in the lower

atmosphere Created by chemical reaction of volatile

organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in strong sunlight

Weather conditions needed are high temperatures (900+), intense sunlight and low wind speeds

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How Ozone is Formed

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Four Sources of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership

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Health Effects of Ozone

Headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing

Irritates eyes, nose and respiratory track

Aggravates chronic heart disease and chronic respiratory ailments

Decreases resistance to infection Triggers asthma attacks

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New Standards and SIPs

New 8-hr Ozone Standard in 2004 Standard is 80 parts per billion (ppb)

averaged over an 8 hour period More protective of human health St. Louis designated as Moderate area

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Violation

Violation of the standard is determined by averaging the 4th highest annual maximum average by monitor over a 3 year period

Based on 2004-2006 data, Orchard Farm monitor is in violation (still to be verified)

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2004—2006 4th Highest 8-Hr Ozone Averages (ppb) as of July 4, 2006

Monitor 2004 2005 2006Monitor in Violation

Arnold 70 92 72

West Alton 77 89 87

Orchard Farm 76 92 88 Yes

Maryland Heights

New in 2005 88 82

Sunset Hills 70 89 78

Pacific New in 2005 87 68

Blair St. New in 2005 89 66

Margaretta 72 91 70

Wood River 73 87 73

Maryville 78 88 76

Alton 74 91 76

East St. Louis 73 94 75

Jerseyville 73 86 69

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Fine Particles or PM2.5

December 17, 2004 USEPA identified those areas which do not meet the fine particle or PM2.5 standard

20 states were notified All or part of 224 counties and

Washington, D.C. were designated as non-attainment

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Source - USEPA

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Fine Particles or PM2.5 PM is a mix of solid particles and liquid

droplets suspended in the air Fine PM is less than or equal to 2.5

microns in diameter (1/30 the width of a human hair)

Made up of a number of components

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Fine Particles or PM2.5

Components include acids, organic chemicals, metals, soil or dust particles

Can be emitted directly Can be chemically formed in the

atmosphere from gases such as SO2, NOx and VOC

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Fine Particles or PM2.5 Sources

Smoke from fires Power plants Industrial activities Vehicle exhaust

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Gateway’s Air Quality Planning Activities

Facilitate SIP process for Ozone and PM2.5 Coordinate the AQAC

Prepare Air Quality Conformity Determination Coordinate the IACG

Ozone Data Sharing Project Special Projects

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Important Dates

June 15, 2007 – 8-Hour Ozone SIPs to be submitted to USEPA

April 5, 2008 – PM2.5 SIPs to be submitted to USEPA

June 15, 2010 – Area to attain 8-Hour Ozone standard

April 5, 2010 – Area to attain PM2.5 standard

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Ozone Data Sharing Project

Ozone season is April 1 – October 31 EWGCOG acts as clearinghouse for data Initial quality assurance screening Record in a spreadsheet computer

program

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Exceedances & MO Air Activities

010203040506070

84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 '00

'02

'04

Years

# o

f Exce

edance

s

1984 – Basic I/M Test 1993 – Low RVP Gasoline (7.2 psi)

1988 – Stage II Vapor Recovery 1995 – Low RVP Gasoline (7.0 psi)

1990 – Computerized I/M Testing 1999 – Federal Reformulated Gasoline Program

1991 – Low RVP Gasoline (7.8 psi) 2000 – Centralized I/M Program

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Things to do to Reduce Ozone Levels – On Days Forecasted to have High Ozone Levels

Set air conditioner no lower than 78o to conserve energy

Share a ride or use mass transit; bicycle or walk errands when possible

Avoid using oil- and solvent-based paints, degreasers or lighter fluid

Defer use of gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment

Refuel cars and trucks after dusk to reduce daytime pollution releases

Combine errands and reduce trips Limit vehicle idling when possible

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Ozone and Transportation Facts

People in St. Louis drive over 75 million miles per day

Carpooling saves 320 lbs of emissions and $1,000 – per person/year

Two MetroLink tracks = 16 lanes A full MetroBus at rush hour removes 40

cars from the highway

St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership

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For Additional Information

On-line Air Quality Resource Center www.ewgateway.org/environment/aq/aq

.htm