Agenda - 05-04-2004-7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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/7~~ir~re~.~ ~ ~~ Greater Triangle Regional Council AIR QUALITY IN THE TRIANGLE REGION EXECUTIVE SiJMMARY In Mazch 2002, the GTRC identified that the Triangle was in violation of the federal 8-hour standazd for ground-level ozone and would be designated nonattainment of this standazd by the USEPA on April 15, 2004. In June 2003, GTRC formed an air quality task force to promote and coordinate strategies tc improve air quality in the Triangle region of North Cazolina. The GTRC asked the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ) to provide a report that would inform GTRC and Triangle community members about the current and projected status of air quality and air pollution control in the greater Triangle region. The full report is available at the GTRC website; www.triangleregion.org or the NCDAQ website, www.ncair.org. Cleaning up the air is a complex and cosily challenge. The region's failure to meet national air quality standards affects its physical, environmental and economic health, Dirty air increases health Gaze costs, causes deaths, harms the environment; impedes transportation projects, and makes it difficult to attract and retain businesses and residents, drives up the costs of doing business and the cost of living through increased regulations. The report focuses an ozone because it is the pollutant of greatest concern, from both a health and regulatory perspective, at this time. However, NCDAQ is algo concerned about fine particle levels in the Triangle, which are currently meeting the federal standard but aze close to the level of the standard, Fine particles pose a potentially serious health risk to some members of the public, and aze addressed in the report. The report discusses: (1) the levels, health risks, and sources of ground-level ozone and fine particles; (2) current and proposed state and federal controls on emissions contributing to these pollutants; (3) current and projected future levels of ozone precursor emissions; and (4) actions needed to sustain good air quality in future yeazs. The emissions data presented in this report are for the 8 county nonattainment designated region comprising Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Orange, Person, Wake counties. The North Carolina Division of Air Quality is a division of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR). NCDAQ is responsible for protecting and improving outdoor air quality in North Cazolina. To carry out this mission, NCDAQ has programs for monitoring air quality, pernutting and inspecting air emissions sources, and educating and informing the public about air quality issues. NCDAQ also enforces state and federal air pollution regulafions. For more information on NCDAQ programs, please visit the NCDAQ website at www.ncair.org.