1 A Report on Additional Recommendations of the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission

Regulatory History and Requirements

The recommendations of the GCVTC are presented thro ughout the June 1996 final report with varying degrees specificity.of Not all are include d in the Regional Haze Rule. However, some

of the recommendations were intended as a cafeteria of options, with no expectation that any geographic area would implement all of them. The G CVTC pointed out in its final report that:

Some of the Commission's recommendations ask the EP A to take specific actions or institute particular programs , in cooperation with the tribes, states and federa l agencies as implementing bodies. Other recommendat ions provide a range of potential policy or strategy options for consideration by the EPA and implementing entities. As the EPA develops policie s and takes actions based on this report, this distinction between "actions" and "options" should be maintained with diligence. That is, recommendations intended as policy options should not become mandated actions or regulatory programs. [ BOLD emphasis in original.]

Strategy Options for Consideration

Stationary Source Recommendations

1. Establish economic incentives to encourage low-emis sion industries to locate in transport region. This measure is not under consideration at this tim e.

2. Develop emission fees programs. The Wyoming Air Quality Division has emission fee programs established for New Source Review and the Operating Permit Program.

Mobile Source Recommendations

1. Support adoption of more effective 49-state low emi ssions vehicle (LEV) program in 2001 or federal Tier II standards in 2004. Federal Tier II standards were promulgated by EPA (65 FR 6698) along with requirements that reduce the sulfu r in gasoline beginning in 2004. It is this requirement that is primarily responsible for the d emonstration by WRAP modeling that vehicle emissions will decline in the West, in spite of inc reases in population and vehicle miles traveled, and that those declines will continue beyond 2018, the end of the first planning period for regional haze.

2. Support promotion of future ultra-low and zero-emis sion vehicles. The Wyoming Department of Transportation is experimenting with ultra-low and zero-emission vehicles.

3. Support of regional use of cleaner burning fuels, i ncluding RFG and diesel, natural gas, electric and hydrogen. No such regional programs have been proposed. Wy oming Statutes allow for tax credits for ethanol production.2

4. Encourage EPA to adopt fuel standards and control s trategies for diesel locomotives, marine vessels/pleasure craft, airplanes and federal vehic les because states are preempted from establishing their own standards. This matter is being discussed by STAPPA/ALAPCO a nd WESTAR, associations of air pollution control offic ers in which Wyoming is active.

5. Support requirements for effective refueling vapor recovery systems. This measure is not

under consideration at this time.

6. Establish clean fuel demonstration zones throughout the transport region . This measure is

not under consideration at this time.

7. Complete regional analysis of economic pricing and incentive programs to reduce reliance

on vehicle use and better internalize the true cost of using vehicles. The WRAP Mobile Source Forum is pursuing this project.

8. Develop emissions inspection program for on-road he avy-duty diesel vehicles. This measure

is not under consideration at this time.

9. Develop funding and other incentive-based programs to promote transportation mitigation projects. The Wyoming Department of Transportation promotes transportation mitigation projects.

10. Encourage sustainable community and economic develo pment (multi-modal transportation options, reduce/eliminate entry and rate regulation s for transit industry to promote greater competition, establish information clearinghouse ab out sustainable communities, etc.). This

measure is not under consideration at this time.

11. Establish mobile source emissions budgets for major urban areas that don't have ones to ensure protection of NAAQS, PSD increments and visi bility in downwind areas. The need to implement this has been superceded by EPA's new rul es to reduce vehicle emissions and reduce sulfur in gasoline. See #1 above.

12. Establish retirement programs for high-emitting veh icles. Implementation is not practicable at this time, as it would have almost no affect on visibility in Class I areas.

13 . Initiate public education programs for citizens regarding vehicle maintenance and air quality benefits. This measure is not under consideration at this t ime.

Area Source Recommendations

1. Institute "green pricing" labeling on products - in clude information about pollution potential, energy requirements and relative efficiency (initia lly on a voluntary basis, eventually with national standards). Information on energy requirements and related ef ficiency is found in the section entitled "Documents Relating to Pollution P revention and Renewable Energy Programs" of the Wyoming Technical Support Document.3

2. Study near-field and distant effects of road dust - if impacts are validated, develop performance standards. Study the effects of road dust has been the major research focus of the

WRAP since its formation in 1997. WRAP has achieve d a much better understanding of distant effects--they are minimal, as documented in the WRA P Technical Support Document for regional haze SIPs. Wyoming supports continued WRA P investigation of near-field and distant

effects.

3. Develop cooperative funding mechanisms between burn ers and regulatory agencies to implement better smoke management programs. This measure is not under consideration at this

time.

4. Develop public education program regarding role of fire in air quality (i.e., prescribed burns vs. wildfires). Under current development in Wyoming's Smoke Mana gement Program.

5. Implement park and wilderness planning processes to include reduction of emissions from

human-caused sources. Under current development in Wyoming's Smoke Mana gement Program.

Multi-Sector Possibilities

1. Identify and promote specific pollution prevention programs. Pollution Prevention programs and how they are promoted are identified in Section G of the Regional Haze SIP.

2. Develop comprehensive emissions inventory for Mexic an sources. WRAP has acquired emission inventory information for Mexican sources; see the WRAP Technical Support Document for regional haze SIPs for a complete desc ription. In addition, EPA has funded various entities including the Western Governors' A ssociation to work with Mexico to improve the quality of the information.

3. Develop regional and local mechanisms to address tr ansboundary air quality issues. Wyoming supports efforts by entities such as the We stern Governors' Association to address transboundary issues.

4. Investigate potential NAFTA and other air quality f unding possibilities. Wyoming supports efforts by entities such as the Western Governors' Association to address transboundary issues.

5. Identify and promote specific renewable energy prog rams. Under development in the Wyoming SIP, Section G.

6. Integrate P2 and renewable energy concepts in educa tion programs at all levels - incorporate energy efficient technologies at schools. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Outreach Office conducts a variety of education and outreach programs at all levels.