# Presentation: 094460

## Notice: The views expressed here are those of the individual authors and may not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Scientists in EPA have prepared the EPA sections, and those sections have been reviewed in accordance with EPA’s peer and administrative review policies and approved for presentation and publication.  The EPA contributed funding to the construction of this website but is not responsible for it's contents. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

**Notice: The views expressed here are those of the individual authors and may not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Scientists in EPA have prepared the EPA sections, and those sections have been reviewed in accordance with EPA’s peer and administrative review policies and approved for presentation and publication.  The EPA contributed funding to the construction of this website but is not responsible for it's contents. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.**

## Integrated Environmental Initiative for the Central Carolinas Region

- ReVA-MAIA Conference
- May 15, 2003

## SEQL is a multi-governmental partnership

- EPA (Research & Development, Air and Radiation, Region IV)
- NC Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources
- SC Dept. of Health & Environmental Conservation
- Local governments in Centralina/Catawba Regions

## Great Success on Clean Air 

**Great Success on Clean Air **
**Across the U.S.**

- Source:  *Latest Findings on National Air Quality:  2000 Status and Trends*, 2001, EPA 454/K-01-002)

**Notes:**
-US EPA has achieved great success despite trends that might push us elsewhere...BUT

- To get the next increment of improvement is going to be tougher

( Transition to problem of sprawl in U.S. and Charlotte)

- Source:  *EPA’s Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS)*

**Bad Ozone Days (8-hr Standard)**

## Areas Currently* Exceeding 8-hour Ozone and PM2.5

- Ozone only

- PM2.5 only

- Both ozone and PM2.5

**Areas Currently* Exceeding 8-hour Ozone and PM2.5**
**                     ****NAAQS in the Southeast**

- *1997-1999 Ozone
- 1999/2000 PM2.5 - preliminary depiction based on
- two years of data. Three years of complete data are
- required for attainment demonstrations.

*** ***

##           Central Carolinas Region:  

**Predicted Cancer Risk Due to Air Toxics**

## Why is this happening?

- Federal and State agencies can regulate classes of sources, but not metropolitan growth or individual behaviors
- National and State gains are eroded by growth in population and motor vehicles
- Planning is not in synch for different pollutants
- Minimal integration across energy, land use, and economic development

## What SEQL is seeking

- Regionally-endorsed environmental initiatives
- Ongoing regional integrated environmental planning . . . and action
- Institutionalized environmental considerations in local and regional decision making

## How SEQL is proceeding

- Build a body of evidence to support paradigm shift
- Document the problems
- Establish regional context to allow impact analyses
- Show how each jurisdiction impacts neighbors
- Provide positive reinforcement for political action
- Show cumulative effects, return on investment, optimized actions

## General Approach

- EPA, States and regional parties work together to
- Identify critical quality of life indicators responding to all relevant sectors
- Assess combinations of actions and growth scenarios identified by participants to respond to each sector
- Help to identify optimal combination(s) based on total benefit to the region

## Steps for Evaluating Alternative Futures for the Region

## ReVA Scenario Evaluations

- Iteration #1:  Basic Charlotte/Rock Hill example for participant orientation purposes
- Use publicly, readily available data
- Land use data
- Census data
- TRI data
- What could it show
- Examples of how we can assess and display current status and future projections of important indicators

## ReVA Scenario Evaluations

- Iteration #2:  Portray current and projected future situation based on current policies and direction
- Use existing data available from different sources in region and States
- Establish bases for evaluating alternative futures by showing likely impacts of no change in current policies and practices

## ReVA Scenario Evaluations

- Iteration #3:  Complete future scenario evaluation using SEQL-derived alternatives
- Use data generated from new analyses not available for iteration #1, e.g.,
- Projections of land use and transportation changes
- Air quality modeling results
- Air toxics risk information
- Show impacts of different policy choices on region’s future and how results might differ based on alternative weighting

## Current Status

- Developing data system and baseline data
- Engaging environmental and business groups
- Compiling educational materials and information on other air projects
- Developing general public education campaign
- Seeking to identify regulatory and legislative enabling actions

## Schedule of Activities

- Phase 1 - Education and selection of initial measures:  March 2001 – September 2002
- Phase 2 - Begin to implement measures and establish baselines: February 2003 – September 2003
- Phase 3 - Develop integrated strategies: October 2003 – September 2005