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EPA Highlights Smog Reduction Activities; Releases Data on Health Benefits of Clear Skies Proposal

Release Date: 07/02/2002
Contact Information: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1008

MILTON – With poor air quality expected for much of this week, Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England Office, today highlighted the agency's smog reduction strategies for New England, and released modeling data showing the health benefits of reducing air pollution through the President's Clear Skies Initiative.

"There's plenty of work for all of us – individuals, states, and the EPA – to reduce air pollution," said Varney, speaking at a news conference at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, the oldest weather station in North America. "Among those actions is the President's Clear Skies initiative which will require the nation's power plants to reduce air pollution by an average of 70 percent. New data being released today shows that these reductions will lead to significant health improvements here in New England, including 500 fewer premature deaths and 10,000 fewer asthma attacks each year."

Poor air quality was predicted today for Connecticut and Rhode Island, and tomorrow for eastern and central Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, southeastern New Hampshire and southern coastal Maine.

"Air pollution still affects New Englanders on far too many days," Varney continued. "As much as we love summer, the forecast for hot and humid weather for this holiday week will mean high smog levels across much of the region. New Englanders should pay attention to ozone warnings and limit exercise during smog alert days, but they should also take individual actions to reduce air pollution, such as reducing driving or refueling at night."

Ozone – or smog – is formed on hot days when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides (NOx) interact in the presence of sunlight. Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause serious breathing problems, aggravate asthma and other pre-existing lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection.

Varney discussed the agency's various actions to reduce air pollution, both regionally and nationally. Among the highlights:

Transportation Sector

Cars, trucks and other vehicles are major contributors to smog, accounting for half of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and 40 percent of volatile organic compounds. In this regard, EPA has established substantially more stringent tailpipe emission standards for passenger cars (including SUVs) and heavy duty trucks, which will begin to take effect over the next few years.

Diesel emissions from trucks and buses also contribute to smog. Here in New England, the agency is working closely with the region's six states, schools and communities to reduce pollution from diesel vehicles on the road today. Among the biggest priorities is implementing anti-idling programs, with a particular emphasis on school buses. Earlier this year the agency announced an enforcement case settlement that will result in 150 Boston school buses being retrofitted with diesel filters, thus reducing emissions by up to 90 percent. This action, combined with using ultra low sulfur fuel, will eliminate an estimated 33 tons of diesel particulate matter and 140 tons of smog-forming hydrocarbons each year.

EPA also has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a voluntary, national program that provides tools, guidance, public recognition and other incentives to help U.S. employers of any size incorporate commuter benefits into their standard benefits plan. Employers that participate in the Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative provide benefits such as: transit subsidies, flex-time, van pool benefits, shuttle service to transit stations, bicycle facilities, and ridesharing. To date, 17 companies and organizations in New England, including Harvard University, have volunteered to participate in the Commuter Choice program.

Power Plants/Clear Skies

The Clear Skies initiative announced earlier this year sets mandatory nationwide emissions caps for three of the most harmful air pollutants – sulfur dioxide, NOx and mercury. Clear Skies will eliminate 35 million more tons of these pollutants in the next decade than the current Clean Air Act.

In New England, by 2020, Clear Skies is projected to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from power generators by 84 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 percent and mercury emissions by 26 percent over today's levels.

The annual health benefits of Clear Skies in New England by 2020 include:

• approximately 500 fewer premature deaths,
• over 300 fewer cases of chronic bronchitis,
• over 400 fewer hospitalizations/emergency room visits, and
• approximately 10,000 fewer asthma attacks.

Public Information on Smog

When air quality is forecast to be unhealthy, EPA asks the public to take action. You or your employer can help by limiting the things you do that make air pollution. For instance:

• use public transportation, or walk whenever possible;
• if you must drive, car pool and combine trips;
• go to the gas station at night to cut down on gasoline vapors getting into the air during day light hours when the sun can cook the vapors and form ozone;
• avoid using gasoline powered engines, such as lawn mowers, chain saws, leaf blowers on unhealthy air days.

Citizens can also sign up at this web address to receive smog alerts from EPA's New England office. Smog Alert is a free service provided by EPA in conjunction with the New England states which automatically notifies you by e-mail or fax when high concentrations of ground-level ozone are predicted in your area. Smog Alerts are issued to notify interested persons of predicted poor air quality in specific geographical areas of New England throughout the smog season, May through September.