Clean Air News

 

North Carolina is Moving Forward, But Federal Regulators Move Backwards on Clean Air Requirements

As the new home of NCPIRG's environmental work, Environment North Carolina can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release. 

RALEIGH—Smog monitors across the state recorded more than 180 instances during which North Carolinians were exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution in 2001, according to the annual Danger In The Air study released by N.C. Public Interest Research Group (NCPIRG). Moreover, partial 2002 data shows that the number of exceedances in North Carolina from 2002 will nearly triple 2001 figures. North Carolina recently enacted one of the strongest power-plant clean-up laws in the nation to address its smog problem. But the federal government is currently finalizing rules that would allow power plants in surrounding states to continue and even increase their emissions.

"North Carolinians have already felt the impacts of 2002's brutal smog season," said Elizabeth Ouzts, Director of NCPIRG. "State leaders have taken a great step to clean up major sources of air pollution-but the Bush administration should be working with us, not against us, to help clear the air, " she continued.

Ground-level ozone or "smog" is a dangerous respiratory irritant that affects the health of thousands of state residents each year. Mountains of research have established a link between smog levels and asthma attacks numbering in the millions each year. Smog triggers an estimated 240,000 asthma attacks each year across North Carolina. Recent studies have even linked smog with mortality from strokes and with the onset of asthma in children and adults.

Danger In The Air contains data from ozone monitors across the state and from thousands of other monitors across the nation. The report also contains preliminary data from 2002 from 20 states and the District of Columbia. According to the report:

• As of August 13, the state of North Carolina had already recorded 544 eight hour ozone exceedances, the highest number in the country.

• During 2001, North Carolina recorded 182 exceedances of the eight hour ozone standard on 33 different days.

• Based on number of exceedances in 2001, North Carolina ranked 7th among all states in the nation for most frequent exposure to unhealthy levels of ozone smog.

• Based on highest number of "smog days"-days during which at least one exceedance of the eight hour standard was recorded-North Carolina ranked 6th among all states in 2001.

The report also draws conclusions about smog pollution nationwide, including:

• 2001 was slightly smoggier than 2000, with roughly 10.3% more exceedances nationwide.

• During the 2001 ozone season, the national health standard for ozone, .08 parts per million averaged over an 8-hour period, was exceeded on at least 4,634 occasions at monitors in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

• The old, less-protective one hour ozone standard of .12 parts per million was exceeded on at least 533 occasions in 31 states and the District of Columbia.

• With the smog season still in full swing, the number of ozone exceedances recorded in 2002 in just 20 states and the District of Columbia combined is more than double the number in those states for all of 2000 and 59% more than recorded in these states in all of 2001.

"With the high heat levels this summer, we have experienced an extremely high number of red and orange ozone alert days," said Deborah Bryan of the American Lung Association. "These high-ozone days are harmful for everyone, but most especially the young, the elderly, and those suffering from asthma and emphysema."

This June, Governor Easley enacted legislation to clean up the state's 14 coal-fired power plants, one of the largest contributors to smog, over the next 10 years. The Bush Administration, however, is finalizing changes to the nation's "New Source Review" rules that would allow power plants across the nation, including 10 Southern Company plants and 7 Tennessee Valley Authority plants, to expand their operations without installing modern pollution controls. Senator John Edwards has been a vocal critic of the Bush Administration's move to weaken New Source Review rules, and will hold a hearing next week to examine the health impacts of the rule change.

"There is no reason to believe that the proposed changes adequately protect air quality," Senator Edwards said. "In fact, there are serious concerns that the changes could allow more air pollution - causing more asthma, more heart and lung problems, and more premature deaths."

The report suggests several policy solutions to begin to solve the smog problem, including the aggressive enforcement the New Source Review program of the Clean Air Act by both states and the U.S. EPA, and adoption of mandates and incentive programs to stimulate the market for advanced technology vehicles such as electric, fuel cell and hybrid cars. Further, advocates urged state policy makers to uphold permitting rules for new and expanding sources of air pollution.