High-stakes planning for cleaner air

Northeast Ohio has a serious air pollution problem. It currently fails to meet federal standards for both ground-level ozone (smog) and fine particulates. In official language, we are a "nonattainment area."

This is a problem because of the health impacts of bad air and also because, if the region can't figure out how to meet federal standards, we could be hit with drastic sanctions — including restrictions on economic expansion and loss of federal transportation funds.

The region is now facing a strict timetable to develop a plan for reaching attainment. This planning process is being staffed by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) and is being overseen by an Air Quality Public Advisory Task Force. The task force has compiled a long list of potential emissions control measures in three categories — point sources (such as power plants), mobile sources (including cars and trucks), and area sources (such as airports, marine vessels, construction equipment, and other nonroad equipment like lawnmowers and forklifts).

As of March 2006, it's expected that a combination of many control measures will be needed to bring the region into compliance. The last time we had to do this, about 10 years ago, the ozone standards were less stringent, and we were able to comply with a couple of measures such as E-Check tailpipe testing. But now it could be very difficult. In the coming months, local officials could be faced with tough decisions.

Backgound information
Nonattainment fact sheet
Public involvement process (Powerpoint file)
Public Advisory Task Force members
Other background documents

Timeline
Here is the current timeline for submitting Northeast Ohio's ozone compliance plan to the Ohio EPA. The state incorporates Northeast Ohio's plan into an overall State Implementation Plan (SIP), which then gets submitted to the U.S. EPA for federal approval. Our region's plan for fine particle pollution will be developed later in 2006.

April 14 - Due date for Public Advisory Task Force voting for preferred ozone control measures.

April 26 - Public Advisory Task Force meets to endorse control measures.

May 12 - Briefing for NOACA Board.

May 19 - Mobile control recommendations presented to NOACA Transportation Advisory Committee.

June 16 - Mobile control measures approved by NOACA Transportation Advisory Committee.

July 14 - NOACA Board approval of ozone plan recommendations.

June 2007 - Ohio ozone plan submitted to U.S. EPA.

April 2008 - Ohio fine particle plan submitted to U.S. EPA.

April 2010 - Compliance deadline for fine particle nonattainment areas like Northeast Ohio.

June 2010 - Compliance deadline for moderate ozone nonattainment areas like Northeast Ohio.

Update
On August 11, 2006 NOACA's board adopted a State Implementation Plan to reduce Northeast Ohio's air pollution and bring the region in compliance with the federal Clean Air Act by 2010. Solutions range from cleaner burning gas to investments in clean diesel retrofits and electric truck stop plug-ins as well as anti-idling policies and a regional energy conservation strategy. Read the entire slate of recommendations signed by the board here.    

Resources
AirNow (daily air quality forecasts for U.S. cities)

NOACA - Live Northeast Ohio Particulate Matter Map

NOACA - Live Northeast Ohio Ozone Readings Map (ozone season only)