IMO Adopts New Emission Standards for Ships

On October 9, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted new controls on airborne pollution from the world’s 300,000 oceangoing vessels.  The new rules would cut the sulfur content of the fuels ships use in controlled areas along coasts by 63 percent as of July of 2010, and by more than 95 percent as of January 2015.

Oceangoing ships are largely propelled by bunker fuel which is among the most environmentally destructive fuels in use anywhere.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) adoption of new emissions standards for large diesel ships and their fuels, means EPA can now move forward with a domestic rulemaking action under the Clean Air Act. When fully implemented, this will help reduce harmful emissions by 80 percent or more from large diesel ships, including those that are foreign-flagged operating in U.S. waters.

EPA states that under the new IMO program, large ships that operate in emissions control areas (ECAs) will be subject to more stringent standards. EPA will work closely with its federal partners to submit an application to the IMO for ECA status for U.S. coastal areas. In ECAs, ships use fuel that contains no more than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) sulfur, a 98 percent cut from the current global cap. EPA says ECA standards will ultimately achieve reductions of NOx by 80 percent, PM by 85 percent, and SOx by 95 percent, relative to current emissions levels.

EPA’s Online Tool Tracks Power Plant Emissions

On 16 October, 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new edition of its Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) and updated Power Profiler to help users better understand the environmental impacts of electricity use. With EPA’s latest updates, eGRID and Power Profiler now contain 2005 emissions data.  With just a few clicks of the mouse, users can find information on air emissions from power plants.

EPA’s eGRID is a comprehensive air emissions database of electric power plants in the United States, including emissions data on nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and mercury. The new edition of eGRID now also provides emissions data on two greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide.

Power Profiler is a user friendly online tool that helps consumers see how their individual energy use is impacting air emissions. Using data from eGRID, Power Profiler calculates how much nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide are emitted from electricity use.

In Wake of CAIR Vacature EPA Asks States To Revive NOx Budget Trading Programs

Ramifications continued in September from the 11 July 2008 ruling vacating the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) – see last issue of EMISSIONS MONITOR. 

On 2 September, 2008 letters from EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Robert J. Meyers were sent to states encouraging them to revive their Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) Budget Trading Programs (NBPs).  The NBPs resulted from EPA’s 1998 NOx State Implementation Plan (SIP) Call. The SIP Call rule, revised in 2004, required affected states to detail steps in their state implementation plans to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides to avoid contributing to ozone problems in downwind states. CAIR was intended to replace many of those requirements.

The Meyers letter urges states to move quickly to reinstate the trading programs by May 1, 2009, without making any revisions to minimize the risk of lawsuits that could delay the process.

South Coast AQMD At Odds With EPA Over Los Angeles Basin Ozone Measures

On 15 October, 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is proposing to approve parts of California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (AQMD) 2003 plan to meet the 1-hour ozone standard in the Los Angeles Basin. These measures will result in further emissions reductions for the South Coast according to EPA’s news release.

But EPA is also proposing to disapprove parts of the plan which EPA says represent revisions to previously-approved South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) plan elements. EPA says these particular revisions are not required by the Clean Air Act, and thus, no sanctions are associated with the disapprovals.

In a quick response to EPA’s partial disapproval of parts of its 2003 clean air plan, AQMD officials charged that the federal government has not fulfilled its commitment to cut air pollution in the Southland.

AQMD says one reason for EPA’s partial disapproval of AQMD’s 2003 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) was AQMD’s assignment of specific control measures to EPA under the plan.  According to AQMD, EPA has consistently refused to commit to emission reductions under AQMD’s clean air plans even though EPA has jurisdiction for pollution sources such as ships and trains that account for a large share of pollution in the Southland.

“It is high time for the federal government to do its fair share of cleaning up the nation’s worst smog problem,” said Barry Wallerstein, AQMD’s executive officer.  “AQMD adopted all local regulations called for under its 2003 clean air plan and is on track to do the same under the current plan.”