Air Matters, Fall 2006
Volume 1, Issue 3

Bureau of Air Management
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707

Download version: Air Matters, Fall 2006 [PDF, 191KB]

Bureau Director's Message
By Kevin Kessler

I’m pleased to share the Fall 2006 issue of Air Matters, the Bureau of Air Management’s electronic newsletter. Whereas our summer issue focused almost entirely on the permits portion of the Air Management program, this issue covers a variety of topics related to air quality.


This issue of Air Matters reflects some challenging and exciting times in the Air Management program. There's an article on the new federal air quality standard for PM2.5 (particle pollution) and a status report on our state rulemaking efforts to incorporate federal regulations aimed at addressing ozone, particulate matter, regional haze, and mercury problems. We also provide a status update on two emission reduction rules as well as four permit streamlining tools including permit exemptions, construction permit waivers, and federal construction permit rules referred to as New Source Review.


We're also reporting on air quality improvements during the summer ozone season, a new web-based emission inventory tool that companies will use to report their annual emissions, and a new air quality fact sheet. One of our new permit streamlining tools is registration permits and we provide an initial update in this issue on that program.


I believe that you’ll enjoy reading this issue of Air Matters. Your feedback on our efforts and accomplishments is always welcomed.

-Kevin

Kessler is the Acting Director of DNR's Bureau of Air Management.

EPA Revises Particulate Matter Standards
By Larry Bruss

In September 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. The final standards address two categories of particulate matter: fine particles (PM2.5), which are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller; and inhalable coarse particles (PM10) which are smaller than 10 micrometers. EPA first issued standards for particulate matter standards in 1971 and revised the standards in 1987 and again 1997.

What is particulate matter?

Particulate matter, also called particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets in the air. When breathed in, these particles can reach the deepest parts of the lungs. Exposure to particle pollution is linked to a variety of significant health problems including: aggravated asthma; chronic bronchitis; reduced lung function; irregular heartbeat; heart attack; and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. It is also the main cause of visibility impairment in the nation’s cities and national parks.

What did EPA do with the particulate matter standards?

EPA’s revision of the particulate matter standard:

What are the sources of particulate matter?

Sources of fine particle pollution and precursors include power plants, gasoline and diesel engines, wood combustion, forest fires, and high-temperature industrial processes such as smelters and steel mills. Coarse particles can come from “rural” sources such as soil and biological sources, or “urban” sources such as roads, construction, demolition, and manufacturing.

How does EPA’s action affect Wisconsin?

Based on the most recent three years of monitoring data, Wisconsin has six monitors recording violations of the new 24-hour PM2.5 standard, three in Milwaukee County, one in Brown County, one in Waukesha County, and one in Dodge County. Historically, EPA designated an entire metropolitan area as a nonattainment area if one monitor in the metro area was violating the standard.

Figure 1 illustrates potential nonattainment areas in Wisconsin, assuming EPA continues its existing designation policy. The state will need to develop attainment plans for areas designated nonattainment areas. It is likely that DNR will work closely with Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio on a regional approach to address the problem.

What are some of the key dates for implementing the new PM2.5 standard?

Is there controversy associated with EPA’s action?

Yes. EPA’s action is controversial because the agency did not follow its own Clean Air Science Advisory Committee’s (CASAC) recommendations for fine-particles. CASAC’s permanent members sent a letter to EPA in October 2006 stating that EPA set a fine-particle standard that is not “protective of public health with an adequate margin of safety” as required by the federal Clean Air Act.

Is anything being done to reduce fine-particle concentrations in Wisconsin?

A number of control programs currently being implemented or soon to be implemented will reduce NOx and SO2 emissions and subsequently reduce fine particle concentrations. Those programs include:


It is not clear at this time whether these programs will reduce emissions enough to bring the problem areas into attainment by the 2015 due date.

Where can I get more information?

You can find more information on particle pollution and the new standards on EPA’s website: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_cr_fr.html [exit DNR].

For more information on how the new air quality standards may affect Wisconsin, please contact Larry Bruss at (608) 267-7543 or larry.bruss@wisconsin.gov.

Resources

Bruss is chief of the Regional Pollutants and Mobile Sources Section in the DNR Bureau of Air Management.

Status of New State Air Rules
By Anne Bogar

The Department of Natural Resources has been working on nine air quality rules this year to help reduce pollutants as well as streamline the permit review process.

Three of the rules are federally required. These include the Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) rule, Reasonably Achievable Control Technology (RACT) rule, and Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR).

The other emission reduction rules include the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and Indirect Source Rule. Four rules relate to permit streamlining efforts and include the commence construction waiver rule and permit exemption rule. The draft rules are all in various stages of development.

Federally required rules

The three federally-required air emissions reductions rules (BART, RACT, and CAMR) will be scheduled for the January 23-24, 2007 meeting of the Natural Resources Board (NRB) in Madison.

The department will seek approval from the NRB to conduct public hearings on all three rules. Over the past year, the department has held public information meetings and worked with stakeholders on options for all three rules. It is now informed about stakeholders’ concerns and is ready to revise the rule drafts and move them on to the next stage of the public involvement and legislative review process.

Other emission reduction rules

In addition, at the January 2007 NRB meeting the department will seek adoption of Wisconsin’s Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from electric utilities. Later next year, it will also seek approval to conduct public hearings on revisions to the indirect source rule (NR 411) to reduce emissions associated with indirect sources such as new large truck facilities (eg, distribution centers), large urban parking lots and certain highway projects.

Permit Streamlining Rules

The commence construction waiver rule was adopted by the NRB at its October 25, 2006 meeting. The next step for that rule package will be an opportunity for legislative review by the Assembly and Senate Natural Resources Committees. Once promulgated, this rule establishes criteria under which a permit applicant can request authorization to commence construction activities prior to obtaining a construction permit.

The permit exemption rule that the Natural Resources Board adopted in August is pending as the department considers revisions in response to legislative committee request. In a letter dated October 18, 2006, the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources asked the department to consider unspecified modifications to the proposed permit exemption rule. The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Transportation has also asked the department to consider changes to the rule as well.

In his letter agreeing to consider modifications to the rule, DNR Secretary P. Scott Hassett expressed his great disappointment in the committees’ action. “This rule is necessary to provide regulatory relief to the state’s small business community, an objective I’m sure you all support,” he wrote. “If allowed to proceed, this rule would have made over 1,000 small businesses eligible for exemption from minor source air permitting. This rule, coupled with the recently enacted registration permit rule, are the centerpieces for the State’s air regulatory streamlining efforts for small businesses that were agreed upon as part of 2003 Wisconsin Act 118.”

The department hopes to work with the Legislature to ensure the earliest possible effective date for both of these important air permit streamlining rules.

In February 2006 the NRB and the Legislature approved for adoption two rules that implement changes made to federal construction permit rules, referred to as New Source Review. These rule changes were submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in May for approval as part of Wisconsin’s State Implementation Plan. USEPA is expected to approve these changes by Spring 2007, after which they will be included in the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

Resources

For more information on the rules please see:

For More Information

Please contact:

Anne Bogar
(608) 266-3725

Bogar is an Air Management Specialist with the Environmental Analysis and Outreach section in Madison.

State Experiences Improved Air Quality during 2006 Ozone Season
By Donalea Dinsmore and Bart Sponseller

Despite several periods of hot, humid weather, Wisconsin had relatively good air quality during the summer of 2006 with only three air quality advisories issued by the DNR alerting the public to high ozone concentrations.

Compared to previous summers, and especially the summer of 2005 when DNR issued 16 advisories, it’s easy to associate high ozone levels with hot, humid summer days. So what happened in 2006? It appears that favorable wind conditions and less polluted air masses explain the improved air quality for this year’s summer ozone season.

Ozone Season and the AQI

EPA's air quality index

Wisconsin’s “ozone season” extends from April 15 through October 15. During this time, information on ozone levels is posted for each hour on a map at DNR’s web site. The map uses EPA’s color coded Air Quality Index (AQI) to communicate air quality and its potential effect on people’s health. Figure 1 defines the AQI levels by health concern, color and index value.

DNR issues air quality advisories when the AQI reaches the orange range, unhealthy for sensitive groups. A watch is issued when forecasted conditions are favorable for the AQI to reach orange. Typically, the highest potential for ozone watches or advisories occurs between mid-June and late September.

Ozone formation in Wisconsin

The most favorable conditions for ozone formation in Wisconsin occur during the summer when morning winds from the southwest transport air pollutants from large metropolitan areas like Milwaukee, Chicago, and Gary, Indiana, over Lake Michigan. Sunlight and chemical reactions then convert these pollutants into ozone. Typically, an afternoon lake breeze forms that blows the ozone on shore back to Wisconsin. After a day or two under these conditions, pollutant levels increase resulting in elevated concentrations of ozone. For high concentrations of ozone to develop, several "classic" atmospheric conditions must be met.

Why 2006 wasn’t "classic"

Generally, weather conditions during the summer were less favorable for ozone episodes in Wisconsin. During the days when most conditions were favorable, strong westerly winds in the afternoon blew the ozone east towards the state of Michigan instead of on shore to Wisconsin.

During June, southeastern Wisconsin experienced below average temperatures for the month and about average rainfall. One brief episode occurred June 16-17, when ozone levels reached the orange and red levels in much of eastern Wisconsin. The DNR issued air quality advisories for ozone for six lakeshore counties on June 16 and for eight lakeshore counties on June 17.

Figure 3, Ozone levels over Lake Michigan region (August 1-2, 2006)

July brought slightly warmer than average temperatures and wetter than average conditions. Figure 2 shows temperatures, ozone concentrations and wind speeds for Sheboygan. Note the yellow line at 85: not only is it important for temperature, it’s also the ozone concentration where the AQI becomes orange. This graph shows that, although there were several periods when temperatures exceeded 85 degrees F, westerly winds in the afternoon blew the ozone away from Wisconsin. Only once did ozone concentrations exceed 85 parts per billion (ppb).

On August 1 and 2, temperatures approaching 100 degrees F were measured in Milwaukee. Again, strong persistent winds blew from the west in the afternoon, pushing the ozone towards Michigan. At many ozone monitoring locations in southeastern Wisconsin, the average wind speed was around 10 mph. Winds were lighter in northeastern Wisconsin allowing a weak lake breeze to bring some ozone on shore by Sheboygan (see Figure 3 at left).

Most of August and September were uneventful. Generally the weather could be described as cooler and wet. With pleasant but below average temperatures and above average rainfall, ozone forming conditions and air quality remained good throughout these months.

Summary

Though ozone-forming conditions seemed to be favorable at times during the summer of 2006, Wisconsin did not experience poor ozone air quality more than a few times along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Fortunately for Wisconsin residents, strong winds from the west, on several occasions, prevented a robust lake breeze from forming in Wisconsin and instead, the winds blew the ozone to western Michigan.

For more information

For further information on ozone and the air quality index, please contact:

Donalea Dinsmore
(608) 266-1552

Dinsmore is an air quality data manager at the DNR central office. Sponseller is an air quality analyst at the DNR central office.

Emission Inventory Users Need to Register For 2007
By Ralph Patterson

Starting in January 2007, companies that report 2006 air emissions or hazardous waste generation to the DNR will be required to use a new web-based system for entering their information. However, before they can use the new reporting system, companies will need to first register as a user on State of Wisconsin computer systems. To register, they need to do two things: (1) get a Web Access Management System (WAMS) Wisconsin User ID, and (2) complete the DNR Switchboard registration process. A letter explaining the new registration requirements was sent to company officials in October 2006. To view the letter, please go to: http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentprotect/switchboard/crs_letter.pdf

How to register

The registration process is available on the DNR Switchboard Registration page at: http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentprotect/switchboard/sbregistration.html. It includes a video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on the registration process. To go directly to the video tutorial, please visit: http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentprotect/switchboard/tutorial.html

If you encounter registration problems, please call the Switchboard Registration Helpline at 608-267-3123 between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Patterson is the Emissions Inventory Team Leader at the DNR central office.

Air Quality Fact Sheet Available for Physicians
By Lindsay Haas

Air pollution affects thousands of people each year - some severely enough to require medical attention.

To help inform Wisconsin residents of air quality issues, the Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the American Lung Association of Wisconsin, Fight Asthma Milwaukee Allies and the Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air, has created a fact sheet for physicians.

This fact sheet is available in tear-off pads for physicians to distribute to patients at their offices. Each fact sheet includes information on what poor air quality is, how it can affect human health, which people may be more sensitive to air pollution than others, and how to find current air quality conditions, as well as an introduction to the Air Quality Index.

For more information, or to place an order, please contact Lindsay.Haas@wisconsin.gov.

Haas is an air quality educator in the DNR Bureau of Education & Information.

Registration Permit Applications Being Processed
By Kristin Hart

The Department of Natural Resources has been busy processing applications for its new Air Registration Permit that became available in August 2006. This type of permit was developed to help low-emitting facilities obtain an air permit more quickly while at the same time ensuring that air quality and the health of citizens and the environment is protected. Applying for a Registration Permit is mainly a web-based process.

During the first three months that applications were accepted, the department approved 17 requests for revocation of existing permits to make facilities eligible for a Registration Permit. In addition, the department has issued final permit coverage to 16 facilities. On average, decisions on these applications were made within four days of receiving the signed hard copy.

Types of facilities

The types of facilities applying for a Registration Permit varies and includes small biotech firms, wood workers, printers and small manufacturing facilities. Facilities also appear to be applying for a variety of reasons that include plans to construct or modify their equipment in the future.

Now that the facilities are covered by a registration permit, they will not need to apply for a construction permit prior to making these changes. Several other facilities were up for permit renewal while others had asked DNR to defer issuance of their permits so they could be covered instead by a registration permit. Five applicants have never before applied for a permit or been included in the air emissions inventory.

The department hopes that the streamlined and flexible Registration Permit will induce other facilities who need permits but have never applied to come forward, get their air permits and come into compliance with all applicable air pollution regulations. Time will also tell if some facilities are willing to reduce air pollution emissions in order to qualify for coverage under the Registration Permit.

Evaluation planned

Early next year, the DNR will begin evaluating the Registration Permit program using either a survey or conducting focus group sessions. If you are interested in participating in the evaluation process to provide feedback on your experience with Registration Permits, please phone or e-mail Kristin Hart. Facilities that don’t want to participate in the evaluation are welcome to provide comments to Kristin Hart at any time.

To learn more about Registration Permits, please see the Summer 2006 issue of Air Matters. For more information on the application process or to apply for a permit, please go to the Registration Permit web page or contact:

Kristin Hart
(608) 273-5605

Hart is an air engineer at the DNR South Central Region office in Fitchburg and the Registration Permits Coordinator for the Air Management program.

Air Matters || Air Management

Last Revised: Friday November 09 2007