# Presentation: 410285

## U.S. Actions to Improve Air Quality 

**June 8, 2006**
**Toronto, Ontario**
**Brian McLean, U.S. EPA**

## United States SO2 Emissions

## Progress: Impacts of Emission Reductions on Transboundary Deposition Levels

**Acid Rain reduced in eastern U.S. and eastern Canada by 30-50%**

## United States SO2 and NOx Power Sector Emissions

- Source: EPA

## Ozone and PM Attainment Forecast with CAIR and with Other Clean Air Programs – Eastern U.S. -- 2015

**Ozone and Fine Particle Nonattainment Areas* (April 2005) **

**Projected Nonattainment Areas* in 2015 after Reductions**
**from CAIR and Existing Clean Air Act Programs**** **

**Projections concerning future levels of air pollution in specific geographic locations were estimated using the best scientific models available.  They are estimations, however, and should be characterized as such in any description.  Actual results may vary significantly if any of the factors that influence air quality differ from the assumed values used in the projections shown here.**

**Ozone and PM Attainment Forecast with CAIR and with Other Clean Air Programs – Eastern U.S. -- 2015**

**6 ozone nonattainment areas **
**14 PM****2.5**** nonattainment areas**

**108 ozone nonattainment or early action areas **
**36 PM****2.5**** **
**nonattainment areas**

- *Although tallies include all nonattainment areas in the eastern U.S.,
- maps show only those areas in States covered by CAIR. Four
- current O3 nonattainment areas in New England are not pictured.

## List of Joint Studies and Actions

- 1980: US and Canada sign a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) concerning transboundary air pollution
- Throughout the 1980s: US and Canada conduct extensive research and assessment programs
- 1985: Canada establishes a SO2 control program in eastern Canada
- 1986: Special envoys publish report recognizing acid rain as a serious transboundary problem
- 1990: US Clean Air Act Amendments include acid rain control program
- 1991: President Bush and Primer Minister Mulroney sign Air Quality Agreement on March 13
- 1992: Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement Progress Report
- 1994: Established Regional Ozone Study Area (ROSA) initiative
- 1994: Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement Progress Report
- 1996: Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement Progress Report
- 1997: Program to Develop a Joint Plan of Action for Addressing Transboundary Air Pollution focusing on ground-level ozone and particulate matter (PM)
- 1997: Began implementing integrated, interagency airshed management plans to improve air quality within the Georgia Basin, encompassing parts of Washington State and British Columbia
- 1998: Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement Progress Report
- 1999: Ground-Level Ozone:  Occurrence and Transport in Eastern North America, a join report by the Air Quality Committee Subcommittee on Program Monitoring and Reporting
- 2000: Ozone Annex to the Air Quality Agreement signed, to reduce emissions of NOx and VOCs in the transboundary region covering more than 50% of Canada’s population and 40% of the US population.
- 2000: Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement Progress Report
- 2004: Transboundary PM Science Assessment, a joint report by the Air Quality Committee Subcommittee on Scientific Cooperation
- 2004: Biennial US-Canada Air Quality Agreement Progress Report
- 2005: Three 2-year Border Air Quality Study (BAQS) pilot projects completed
- Ongoing: Developing shared emission inventories; air quality modeling capabilities; health studies; coordinated monitoring networks and activities; ecological studies; information exchange of control technologies and market-based mechanisms.

## Border Air Quality Studies

- To build on transboundary air quality improvement efforts, Minister Anderson and Administrator Whitman announced three pilot projects focused at the regional and local levels in June of 2003:
- Maintaining Air Quality in a Transboundary Air Basin:  Georgia Basin-Puget Sound
- Great Lakes Basin Airshed Management Framework
- US-Canada Emissions Cap and Trading Feasibility Study for SO2 and NOx
- These 2-year efforts focused on air quality management coordination across borders, states/provinces, local jurisdictions
- These efforts resulted in increased interaction in the public process, increased awareness and communication, and value in technical experts working together
- The Great Lakes Airshed Management project involved representatives from the federal governments with broad participation from Ontario and Michigan as well as local governments (Windsor, Sarnia, London, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments)

## Summary of Progress

- Over past 30 years, witnessed transition from identifying transboundary pollution issues to developing binational solutions to air quality problem
- For 15 years, Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement has become an example of success for international agreements: providing tangible progress in improving the environment
- With recognition of different governmental authorities, but commitment to common goals, expect continued progress working collaboratively

**To Learn More.....**

**Go To:**
**    **_[http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/usca/](http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/usca/)__ _
**    **
**    **_[http://epa.gov/cair/](http://epa.gov/cair/)__    _