HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8087 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 2C)27
August 26, 1997
Tnt, To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page I of 3
raV 82
?'EXA Subject: DALLAS/FORT WORTH OZONE SERIOUS NONATTAINMENT
1873
STATUS
Information on the Dallas/Fort Worth (Metroplex) ozone nonattainment status has been given to
the City Council on various occasions. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
declared the Metroplex to be reclassified as a serious nonattainment area. This was an expected
action since the air quality monitoring data from 1994, 1995, and 1996 indicated that the
Metroplex could not demonstrate attainment by the November 15, 1996 deadline established in
the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA).
It is believed that Fort Worth may not experience much more adverse consequences than we are
already facing, with the exception of a few other requirements spelled out in the CAAA. The
greater effects of the reclassification will be felt by the additional eight counties that will become
part of the nonattainment region. These counties are Ellis, Henderson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson,
4, Kaufman, Parker, and Rockwall; and to a lesser extent, Collin and Denton co unties.
The consequences of reclassification include:
•Nonattainment region expands to the surrounding eight counties, to make it a twelve
county region,
•Extend existing requirements such as emissions inventory, transportation conformity,
use of 7.8 psi RVP (Reid Vapor Pressure) gas, installation of Stage 11 vapor recovery
systems, and implementation of vehicle Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) to the newly
included counties,
•Implement clean fuels program such as the current RFG (Reformulated Gas) to the
newly included counties,
•Re-define major sources from 100 tons per year to 50 tons per year for new construction
and from 40 tons per year to 25 tons per year for modification of existing sources,
•Increase the offset ratio from 1.15(currently) to 1.20 (for every new ton/year coming
into the area, 1.2 tons/year must be eliminated).
iqqi wn RV THE r1TV m Atiarzi=P FORT WORTH.TEXAS
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IN�FORM'AL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO.- 8087
August 26, 1997
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 2 of 3
49.&W Subject: DALLAS/FORT WORTH OZONE SERIOUS NONATTAINMENT
STATUS
*Apply RACT(Reasonably Available Control Technology) * to all newly defined major
sources in the existing area and to all qualifying sources drawn in from the expanded
*Implement enhanced monitoring ** within five years,
olmplement enhanced vehicle Inspection/Maintenance program to the newly included
*--RACT means reasonably available control technology.There is another acronym MACT which means
maximum achievable control technology. RACT addresses control measures taking into account econornic
reasonableness and it addresses all pollutants. MACT,on the other hand,addresses toxic pollutants and does not
consider economic reasonableness.
All major sources are required to have RACT as control measures unless bhas toxic emissions.Current definition
of major source is one that has emissions ofl00 tons per year o«more. VVi[hdhe reclassification this definition
changes to sources with emissions of5O tons ocmore.
Examples ofRACT:
�
For u painting operation BACTix high volume low pressure(BVLP)gun and
'
paints that meet the VOC content requirement of the TNRCC which varies depending on the
type o[application.
*
Gasoline terminal's RACT can bo any one of the following :
u. Refrigerated vapor recovery system with umbobnum 95%efficiency,where gasoline
vapors are condensed and recovered.
b. Carbon adsorption system with u95 '08Y4 efficiency,where the gasoline vapors are
adsorbed by activated carbon and then recovered.
o. Flare with un efficiency ofV9%,where the gasoline vapors are burned and thus
destroyed.
*
For an incinerator(medical or otherwise)RACT is an after burner with a flue gas
residence time of l5 seconds or better and uo after burner temperature ofl8O0degrees
Fahrenheit.
Wesent monitoring operations are known as CAMS(Continuous Air Monitoring Stations). These will have to
�� be supplemented with PAMS(Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations). CAMS measure Ozone,Carbon
Monoxide, Oxides of Nitrogen,Oxides of Sulfur,wind speed and direction,and ambient temperature on a
continuous basis. PAMS will be making more sophisticated meteorological measurements such as mixing heights
and Volatile Organic Compound(VOC)concentrations.
L—~`§SUED8Y THE CITY MANAGER F{JRTVVORTH.TEXAS
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8087
&pRTE TEp,
August 26, 1997
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
A
R Page 3 of 3
goo INM;Z41
Subject: DALLAS/FORT WORTH OZONE SERIOUS NONATTAINMENT
873
STATUS
Additional small sources that may be impacted include offset printing, commercial bakeries,
naphtha dry cleaners, wood finishing operations, and transportation control measures.
Some of the measures that could potentially affect the daily lives of ordinary citizens would
come from transportation control measures. This could mean partial loss of individual driving
privileges, if the region is forced to adopt a mandatory car pool/van pool program or an alternate
day driving schedule.
Until specific rules are developed and adopted by the TNRCC and the target sources identified
the real economic impact cannot be assessed.
Some of the consequences of being part of a serious nonattainment region are:
1. Our area will be less attractive to new businesses and those looking to relocate.
2. Expansion of existing businesses will be severely limited.
3. Will be hard to find emission reductions necessary to satisfy the offset requirements.
4. Currently unregulated small sources will be faced with new regulations. Cost of compliance
will be substantially higher.
The Department of Environmental Management will continue to actively monitor this situation
with the EPA and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC). The
Department will request the North Texas Clean Air Coalition to schedule a meeting for
representatives from all municipalities and major industries in the Metroplex area to address
potential actions for mitigation. A request will also made of the North Central Texas Council of
Govenments (NCTCOG) to convene local government officials and EPA representatives to
discuss alternate measures. In addition, efforts will continue with the NCTCOG, the Chamber of
Commerce, and other cities to increase citizen awareness of the situation and solicit their
involvement and cooperation. For further information concerning this issue, please contact Dr.
Edward Sierra, Director of Environmental Management(871-8085).
CILL
V Bob Terrell
City Manager
--ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS