News and Information
NOTE: You may sign up for a our Email Alerts / Newsletter Subscription service here.
Fireworks Impact Air Quality
Each year we celebrate our national birthday with colorful bursts of black powder – fireworks which ignite around American neighborhoods on the Fourth of July.
These pyrotechnical displays provide brilliant light shows each Independence Day, but they also cause spikes in air pollution levels that may be hazardous to the health of some individuals. The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) has noticed elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution at many of its monitoring stations during previous Independence Days. In some cases, levels at the monitoring sites reached Moderate Air Quality for more than a full day after the Fourth.
The smoke from fireworks displays generally dissipates within a few hours, but individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions may be impacted during that time.
ORCAA acknowledges that fireworks are a source of air pollution, but does not advocate a ban on the devices. Rather, ORCAA seeks to ensure people are aware of the potential health risk posed by exposure to the pollution from these devices.
To minimize impacts from fireworks pollution, individuals should reduce or eliminate their use of personal fireworks – these tend to concentrate their smoke near ground level. Instead, residents may attend community-sponsored aerial fireworks displays. These create pollution as well, but generally much higher above the ground where it can dissipate more completely before reaching people at ground level.
Folks who do set up fireworks on their own should keep the devices well clear of buildings and combustible materials (including vegetation). Besides the health risks from the air emissions of fireworks, the devices also pose serious fire-safety risks. They must also be careful when disposing of the debris afterwards. After dousing the paper and plastic with water (to reduce risks of fire), the waste material should be disposed of with your garbage. The waste should never be burned – not only does state law prohibit burning the material, but the colorful wrappings contain chemicals that could release additional dangerous toxics into the air if burned.
Of particular concern are illegal fireworks manufactured outside the United States as they frequently contain lead (lead is banned in fireworks production in the U.S.).
ORCAA encourages all residents to have a fun, but safe and healthful, Fourth of July Holiday.
New Permit Applications Received
New Notice of Construction (NOC) permit applications have been received by ORCAA. You may view the details of the applications here.
EPA Sets Stronger National Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Dioxide
First new SO2 standard in 40 years will improve air quality for millions
(National Association of Clean Air Agencies)
WASHINGTON– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a final new health standard for sulfur dioxide (SO2). This one-hour health standard will protect millions of Americans from short-term exposure to SO2, which is primarily emitted from power plants and other industrial facilities. Exposure to SO2 can aggravate asthma and cause other respiratory difficulties. People with asthma, children, and the elderly are especially vulnerable to the effects of SO2.
“We’re taking on an old problem in a new way, one designed to give all American communities the clean air protections they deserve. Moving to a one-hour standard and monitoring in the areas with the highest SO2 levels is the most efficient and effective way to protect against sulfur dioxide pollution in the air we breathe,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “This is one of many pollutants we’ve been able to significantly reduce through the Clean Air Act, keeping people healthy, protecting our environment and growing our economy. This new standard — the first in almost 40 years — will ensure continued success in meeting these challenges.”
EPA is setting the one-hour SO2 health standard at 75 parts per billion (ppb), a level designed to protect against short-term exposures ranging from five minutes to 24 hours. EPA is revoking the current 24-hour and annual SO2 health standards because the science indicates that short-term exposures are of greatest concern and the existing standards would not provide additional health benefits.
EPA is also changing the monitoring requirements for SO2. The new requirements assure that monitors will be placed where SO2 emissions impact populated areas. Any new monitors required by this rule must begin operating no later than Jan. 1, 2013. EPA is expecting to use modeling as well as monitoring to determine compliance with the new standard.
The final rule also changes the Air Quality Index to reflect the revised SO2 standard. This change will improve states’ ability to alert the public when short-term SO2 levels may affect their health.
EPA estimates that the health benefits associated with this rule range between $13 billion and $33 billion annually. These benefits include preventing 2,300 to 5,900 premature deaths and 54,000 asthma attacks a year. The estimated cost in 2020 to fully implement this standard is approximately $1.5 billion.
The first National Ambient Air Quality Standards for SO2 were set in 1971, establishing both a primary standard to protect health and a secondary standard to protect the public welfare. Annual average SO2 concentrations have decreased by 71 percent since 1980.
The final rule addresses only the SO2 primary standards, which are designed to protect public health. EPA will address the secondary standard – designed to protect the public welfare, including the environment – as part of a separate review to be completed in 2012.
EPA expects to identify or designate areas not meeting the new standard by June 2012. CLICK HERE for more information.
Public Invited to Comment on Draft Air Permit – Sierra Pacific’s Aberdeen Lumber Mill
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) firmly believes in its motto, “Clean Air is Everyone’s Business.” As such, ORCAA seeks to keep everyone within our jurisdiction well informed about the actions—and proposed actions—we take.
Public comment is currently being accepted on an Air Operating Permit (AOP) for Sierra Pacific Industries’ Lumber Mill located in Aberdeen, Washington, pursuant to Title V of the federal Clean Air Act. The draft AOP is intended to help ensure compliance with air quality regulations and standards that apply to Sierra Pacific Industries(SPI). The SPI Mill in Junction City requires an AOP because it has the potential to emit over 100 tons per year of volatile organic compounds and over 25 tons per year of hazardous air pollutants resulting from kiln drying of lumber.
Copies of the draft AOP and the associated Technical Support Document (TSD) for SPI Mill are on file and available for review at the Aberdeen branch of the Timbarland Public Library, and at ORCAA’s office in Olympia. The draft AOP and TSD are also available online HERE
Comments may be submitted to ORCAA in writing. Written comments should be addressed to: ORCAA, 2940-B Limited Lane NW, Olympia, WA 98502, and will be accepted up to close of business on Monday, June 30, 2010. Comments should pertain to adequacy of the draft AOP in assuring compliance with applicable air quality regulations and standards. Any concerned party may request a public hearing within the specified public comment period. The request should include information to justify the need for a public hearing. If there is significant public interest, ORCAA will hold a public hearing.
Preliminary Determination Issued for Interfor Pacific
Public Invited to Comment
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) firmly believes in its motto, “Clean Air is Everyone’s Business.” As such, ORCAA seeks to keep everyone within our jurisdiction well informed about the actions—and proposed actions—we take.
Public comment is currently being accepted on a Notice of Construction Application from Interfor Pacific of Forks. Interfor proposes a voluntarily limit on emissions of hazardous air pollutants at their lumber mill in Forks.
ORCAA has assessed air quality implications of Interfor’s proposed emissions limit and concluded that compliance with applicable air regulations and standards will likely be maintained. On this basis, ORCAA’s Preliminary Determination is to approve Interfor’s NOC application.
Copies of ORCAA’s Preliminary Determination are on file and available for review at the Forks branch of the North Olympic Library System, located at 171 Forks Avenue South, and at ORCAA’s offices in Olympia and Port Angeles. ORCAA’s Preliminary Determination is also found here.
Comments may be submitted to ORCAA in writing. Written comments should be addressed to: ORCAA, 2940-B Limited Lane NW, Olympia, WA 98502, and will be accepted up to close of business on Friday, June 25, 2010.