Backgrounder
Office of Air and Radiation
Docket and Information Centre (6101)
Docket No A-96-56
United States Environmental Protection Agency
401 M St., SW
Washington, D. C., 20460
Finding of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking for Certain States in the Ozone Transport Assessment Group Region for Purposes of Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone:
Proposed Rule
Submission filed by: Government of Canada
Ottawa,
Canada -- March 9, 1998
The Government of Canada is pleased
to submit comments in response to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) in the Federal Register
notice of
November 7, 1997 Docket No A-96-56
entitled "Finding of Significant Contribution and
Rulemaking for Certain States in the Ozone Transport
Assessment Group Region for Purposes of Reducing Regional
Transport of Ozone: Proposed Rule".
In 1991, Canada and the U.S. signed
the Air Quality Agreement (AQA), which codified
the principle that countries are responsible for the
effects of their air pollution on one another, and
confirmed the commitment of Canada and the U.S. to
consult and develop the means to deal with any existing
transboundary air pollution problems. The original focus
of the AQA was reducing emissions causing acid rain;
however, the Agreement also provides a forward-looking
framework for addressing new transboundary air quality
problems, such as ground level ozone and particulate
matter in air.
Canada wishes to support and
encourage the EPA in moving aggressively forward with
tougher clean air requirements generally and with
requiring State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions in 22
States and the District of Columbia to adopt control
measures that will mitigate the ozone transport problem
by meeting assigned statewide seasonal nitrogen oxide
emissions budgets by the year 2007.
Canada applauds the efforts being
made by the Environmental Protection Agency to meet the
1-hour U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standard for
ground-level ozone by reducing the summer-time emissions
of nitrogen oxides in the 22 States and the District of
Columbia by the year 2007. Further, Canada would
encourage the Environmental Protection Agency to maintain
the reductions of emissions of nitrogen oxides in the
region at the specified summer-time levels throughout the
entire year to ensure that acidification of the
environment from emissions of nitrogen oxides is also
reduced. Finally, Canada supports the implementation
timeframe being proposed and would encourage the
Environmental Protection Agency not to extend the period
for implementation of measures, particularly in the major
stationary source sector where the majority of emissions
of NOx in the 23 jurisdictions are generated.
The Canadian view is based on a
science program in Canada that has just completed an
assessment of ground-level ozone and acid rain. The
science assessments conclude the following:
- NOx emissions are key
contributors to the transport of ground-level
ozone.
- NOx emissions are important
contributors to acidification.
- Wind and weather bind Canada
and the United States with respect to
ground-level ozone and acid rain. NOx emissions
generated in midwest and northeastern U.S. States
contribute to central and eastern Canada not
meeting its health goals with respect to
ground-level ozone and its environmental goals in
terms of acid rain.
- Reductions of NOx emissions in
midwest and northeastern U.S. States will
directly ameliorate ground-level ozone levels and
acid rain damage in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick.
Specifically, Canada recommends and
urges the U.S. EPA to:
- maintain the aggressive State
NOx emission budgets proposed;
- require State NOx reductions
to be maintained annually; and
- retain the year 2007 as the
deadline for implementation of State measures to
meet the NOx emission budgets.
Technical information to
corroborate the views expressed by the Government of
Canada will be submitted in the coming days.
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