Discussion on the 2015 ozone standard and areas that will likely be classified as nonattainment. Also discussed new trends affecting ozone designations.

1. 2015 Ozone in 2018
Andrew D. Shroads, QEP
614.887.7227 • ashroads@scainc.com
PO Box 1276
Westerville, OH 43086
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, SC&A is not
responsible for any errors or omissions. This information is not a substitute for professional
environmental consulting services. If legal services are required, consult with legal counsel.

2. Location, location, location
Ozone is beneficial or harmful depending
on where it is located in our atmosphere
• Upper-level (stratospheric) ozone:
◦ Protects humans, plants, and animals
by absorbing ultraviolet radiation
• Ground-level (tropospheric) ozone:
◦ Irritates respiratory systems and
triggers chest pain, coughing, throat
irritation, and airway inflammation
◦ Damages sensitive vegetation by
reducing photosynthesis
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3. How Ozone is Formed
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX)
react with oxygen and solar radiation to form ozone
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NO2
O2
VOC
O3
O3

4. 2015 Ozone Standard
The Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)
was lowered to 0.070 ppm in 2015
• 3-year average of the 4th highest annual daily 8-hour max
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0.000
0.010
0.020
0.030
0.040
0.050
0.060
0.070
0.080
0.090
1997 2008 2015
Ozone NAAQS (1997-2017)

5. 2015 Ozone Designations - Expected
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Expected Ozone Non-Attainment Areas
Subject to change
Non-attainment in
any part of county

6. 2015 Ozone Designations - Classifications
Other than California, all other areas in the U.S. expected
to be classified as marginal non-attainment
• Marginal: 0.071-0.081 ppm
• Moderate: 0.081-0.093 ppm
• Serious: 0.093-0.105 ppm
• Severe-15: 0.105-0.111 ppm
• Severe-17: 0.111-0.163 ppm
• Extreme: >0.163 ppm
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7. 2015 Ozone Designations – Timeline
• 2015 Ozone NAAQS Promulgated – October 26, 2015
• States Submit Recommendations – October 26, 2016
• EPA Proposes Designations
◦ November 16, 2017: most attainment areas designated
◦ December 20, 2017: remaining designations submitted to
state air agencies for review and appeal (120-day letter)
◦ On or after April 19, 2018: remaining areas designated
• Attainment date based on area classification
◦ Marginal: Attain NAAQS within 3 years (2021)
◦ Moderate: Attain NAAQS within 6 years (2024)
◦ Serious: Attain NAAQS within 9 years (2027)
◦ Severe: Attain NAAQS within 15 years (2033)
◦ Extreme: Attain NAAQS within 20 years (2038)
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8. 2015 Ozone Designations - Follow-up
Non-attainment designations based on 2014-2016 data
• 2015-2017 monitor data will cause new exceedances
◦ Montgomery County, Ohio (Dayton)
2014-2016: 0.070 ppm
2015-2017: 0.071 ppm
• If ozone monitor did not meet minimum data
requirements, ozone designations were deferred
◦ Duval County, Florida
◦ Marion County, Oregon
◦ Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
• EPA is reviewing state requests for exceptional events
that could remove monitoring data exceedances
◦ Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Lancaster, and York
Counties, Pennsylvania (Harrisburg)
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9. Same Problems, New Standards
Observations:
• Same states, same ozone problems
◦ Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area has been designated
as a non-attainment area for each ozone NAAQS
◦ The state implementation plan for each ozone non-
attainment designation remains effective
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◄2018
◄2016
◄2012
◄2009
◄2004
◄1996
◄1992
79 O3 Std Maintenance 97 O3 Std Maint 08 O3 Std M
15 O3
Std
Non-Attainment
Non-Attainment
Non-Attainment
Non-Attainment
Attainment
Columbus, OH Ozone NAAQS Attainment Status 1991-2018

10. The 90’s Called;They WantTheir Law Back
Observations:
• The Clean Air Act focuses on stationary sources of air
pollution (including ozone)
◦ State implementation plans do not focus on mobile
sources (and e-Check is very unpopular)
◦ Clean Air Act Section 185 assesses a $9,377 per ton
penalty for facilities that emit VOC and NOX in severe and
extreme ozone non-attainment areas
• National initiatives have a larger influence on lowering
ozone levels by reducing NOX emissions
◦ National fuel economy standards and electric vehicles
◦ Switch away from coal-fired electric generating units
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11. TribalAir Quality
Tribal air agencies have expanded air quality monitoring
capabilities, especially for ozone and particulate matter
• Monitors in tribal areas used for non-attainment designations
◦ Adjacent counties included in non-attainment designations
as contributors to ozone exceedance
• Tribes can develop a tribal implementation plan (TIP)
◦ SIPs required for Tribal impacts from contributing sources
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