Northwest Indiana Air

What is going on up there?

Kathy Luther

Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission

Green Drinks

May 16, 2011

RPC

How’s the air up there?

• NAAQS

• Air Toxics

• Partners for Clean Air

• Things you can do

RPC

RPC

CRITERIA POLLUTANTS County

Lake Porter LaPorte

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 2000 2000 NL

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) NL NL NL

Sulfur Dioxide(SO2) 2005 NL 1997

Lead (Pb) NL NL NL

Ozone 8 Hour Std. (1997) 2010 2010 2007

Ozone Revoked 1 Hour Std. 2008 2008 NL

Particulate Matter (PM10) 2003 NL NL

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 1997 Std. 2009* 2009* NL

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 2006 Std. NL NL NL

NAAQS

RPC

EPA Lowering the BAR!

• New SOX Standard 140 75 = 54%

• New Nox Standard – Added Hourly + new monitoring requirements

• New Lead Std. – 1.5 0.15 = 10%

• WE STILL MEET THE STDS!

Ozone

RPC

Fine Particulate

RPC

How do I know what the air is like

NOW!

RPC

http://www.in.gov/idem/airfacts/

How do I know what the air is like

NOW!

RPC

www.airnow.gov

RPC

Air Toxics• 5 Monitoring Sites in Northwest Indiana

– Whiting, Hammond, East Chicago, Gary

– Ogden Dunes

• Categories– Carcinogens

– Non-Carcinogens

• IDEM – Our air is the no better or worse than other urban areas.

RPC

Air Toxics

• Acrolein– non-carcinogen, found throughout the state, but there are concerns about the monitoring protocols

– Causes congestion, eye and throat irritation

– Used as an aquatic herbicide and in chemical plants

– Most common sources

• Burning tobacco, wood, gas, or oil.

– Downward trends except for Whiting

RPC

Air Toxics

• Benzene – carcinogen, found throughout the state

– can be naturally occurring, or made for chemical plants

– Oil, gas, coke oven gas, and cigarette smoke

– Downward trends except for Whiting

RPC

Air Toxics

• NESHAPs

– EPA is establishing National Emission Standards

– Technology Based by source type

• Mobile Source Air Toxics Rule

– 4 pollutants of focus incl: Benzene, & DPM

– Focuses on cleaner fuels and engines

Who causes all this air pollution?

YOU!

ME!

All of US!

RPC

Who causes all this air pollution?

CARS!

• Average Annual emissions– 77 pounds HC

– 575 pounds CO

– 38 pounds of N0x

– 11,450 pounds of CO2 (almost 6 tons)

• Maintain your car - Keep your automobile well tuned and maintained and its tires properly inflated and wheels aligned.

• Drive wisely

• Reduce idling

RPC

Who causes all this air pollution?

Yard Care• Lawnmowers, snow blowers,

chain saws, leaf vacs

Source of N0x and HC

1 lawn mower/snow blower = 22,000 miles driving a new car• REDUCE MOWING!• Decrease Lawn area!• Plant Trees!

RPC

Who causes all this air pollution?

Boating

10 million marine engines in the United States. Boat engines HC &(NOx).• 1 boat hour = 348 cars• Reduce idling and full throttle use

RPC

Partners for Clean Air?

RPC

Partners for Clean Air is a coalition of Northwest Indiana and Chicago area businesses, industry, and community

groups committed to improving air quality through voluntary actions.

Who’s it all about?

Anyone can be a Partner for Clean

Air

• Businesses

RPC

Who’s it all about?

Anyone can be a Partner for Clean

Air

• Communities

RPC

Who’s it all about?

Anyone can be a Partner for Clean

Air

• Individuals

RPC

What do Partners Do?

1. Take a Pledge for Air Quality

Action

www.in.gov/idem/4445.htm

RPC

What do Partners Do?

2. Create an Air Quality Action

Plan that’s Right For You!

RPC

What do Partners Do?

3. Pay Attention

http://www.in.gov/apps/idem/smog/

RPC

What do Partners Do?

4. Implement your Action Plan

RPC

What can YOU do? Top 12 ACTION DAY TIPS:1. PICK SOMEONE UP BEFORE YOU GO OUT – Carpool2. USE mass transit, walk, bicycle and/or reduce driving 3. TRIP CHAIN- do your errands in one trip instead of 4. SKIP THE DRIVE THRU TODAY - Avoid drive-thru service

lanes. 5. DON'T TOP OFF YOUR TANK - Be careful not to spill

gasoline when filling your car or gasoline-powered lawn equipment.

6. REFUEL WHEN IT'S COOL - Wait until after 7:00 p.m to refuel your vehicle.

RPC

What can YOU do?

Top 12 ACTION DAY TIPS:

7. CONSERVE ENERGY - Participate in your local utility’s energy conservation programs.

8. KEEP HOUSEHOLD CONTAINERS SEALED - Seal containers household cleaners, chemicals and solvents to prevent VOC from evaporating into the air and dispose of the containers properly.

9. MOW GRASS AFTER 6:00 P.M. 10. EAT LUNCH IN THE OFFICE TODAY 11. DO NOT IDLE - Idling for 30 seconds uses more fuel than stopping and

starting your engine.12. AVIOD USING CHARCOLE GRILL and lighter fluid today.

RPC