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A Report on Additional Recommendations of the 

Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission

Regulatory History and Requirements

The recommendations of the GCVTC are presented throughout the June 1996 final report with 

varying degrees specificity.of Not all are included 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 GCVTC pointed out in its final report that: 

Some of the Commission's recommendations ask the EPA to take specific actions

or institute particular programs, in cooperation with the tribes, states and federal 

agencies as implementing bodies. Other recommendations provide a range of 

potential policy or strategy options for consideration by the EPA and 

implementing entities. As the EPA develops policies 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-emission industries to locate in transport 

region. This measure is not under consideration at this time. 

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 emissions 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 sulfur in gasoline beginning in 2004. It is this 

requirement that is primarily responsible for the demonstration by WRAP modeling that vehicle 

emissions will decline in the West, in spite of increases 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-emission vehicles. The Wyoming 

Department of Transportation is experimenting with ultra-low and zero-emission vehicles. 

3. Support of regional use of cleaner burning fuels, including RFG and diesel, natural gas, 

electric and hydrogen. No such regional programs have been proposed. Wyoming Statutes 

allow for tax credits for ethanol production. 
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4. Encourage EPA to adopt fuel standards and control strategies for diesel locomotives, marine 

vessels/pleasure craft, airplanes and federal vehicles because states are preempted from 

establishing their own standards. This matter is being discussed by STAPPA/ALAPCO and 

WESTAR, associations of air pollution control officers 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 heavy-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 development (multi-modal transportation 

options, reduce/eliminate entry and rate regulations for transit industry to promote greater 

competition, establish information clearinghouse about 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 visibility in downwind areas. The need to 

implement this has been superceded by EPA's new rules to reduce vehicle emissions and reduce 

sulfur in gasoline. See #1 above. 

12. Establish retirement programs for high-emitting vehicles. 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 time. 

Area Source Recommendations

1. Institute "green pricing" labeling on products - include information about pollution potential, 

energy requirements and relative efficiency (initially on a voluntary basis, eventually with 

national standards). Information on energy requirements and related efficiency is found in the 

section entitled "Documents Relating to Pollution Prevention and Renewable Energy Programs" 

of the Wyoming Technical Support Document. 
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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 achieved a much better understanding of distant 

effects--they are minimal, as documented in the WRAP Technical Support Document for 

regional haze SIPs. Wyoming supports continued WRAP investigation of near-field and distant 

effects. 

3. Develop cooperative funding mechanisms between burners 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 Management Program. 

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

human-caused sources. Under current development in Wyoming's Smoke Management 

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 Mexican sources. WRAP has acquired 

emission inventory information for Mexican sources; see the WRAP Technical Support 

Document for regional haze SIPs for a complete description. In addition, EPA has funded 

various entities including the Western Governors' Association to work with Mexico to improve 

the quality of the information. 

3. Develop regional and local mechanisms to address transboundary air quality issues. 

Wyoming supports efforts by entities such as the Western Governors' Association to address 

transboundary issues. 

4. Investigate potential NAFTA and other air quality funding possibilities. Wyoming supports 

efforts by entities such as the Western Governors' Association to address transboundary issues. 

5. Identify and promote specific renewable energy programs. Under development in the 

Wyoming SIP, Section G. 

6. Integrate P2 and renewable energy concepts in education 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.