Natural Events Policy WESTAR Planning Committee NEP Workgroup September 22, 2005
Jan 06, 2016
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)