An Integrated Framework for Multipollutant Air Quality Management and Its Application in Georgia

Abstract

Air protection agencies in the United States increasingly confront non-attainment of air quality standards for multiple pollutants sharing interrelated emission origins. Traditional approaches to attainment planning face important limitations that are magnified in the multipollutant context. Recognizing those limitations, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has adopted an integrated framework to address ozone, fine particulate matter, and regional haze in the state. Rather than applying atmospheric modeling merely as a final check of an overall strategy, photochemical sensitivity analysis is conducted upfront to compare the effectiveness of controlling various precursor emission species and source regions. Emerging software enables the modeling of health benefits and associated economic valuations resulting from air pollution control. Photochemical sensitivity and health benefits analyses, applied together with traditional cost and feasibility assessments, provide a more comprehensive characterization of the implications of various control options. The fuller characterization both informs the selection of control options and facilitates the communication of impacts to affected stakeholders and the public. Although the integrated framework represents a clear improvement over previous attainment-planning efforts, key remaining shortcomings are also discussed.

Efficacy of recent state implementation plans for 8-hour ozone

“…A collaborative approach, if practicable, would better reflect the fact that both state and federal measures are often needed to achieve attainment. The plans could also include integrated consideration of costs and benefits across multiple pollutants, as recommended by several studies (Chestnut et al, 2006;Cohan et al, 2007;National Research Council, 2004;Scheffe et al, 2007).…”

“…Some recent studies have shown that cost and benefit quantification could in theory enhance the selection of control measures for attainment plans (Chestnut et al, 2006;Cohan et al, 2007). However, the extent to which actual SIPs have quantified costs and benefits has not previously been investigated systematically.…”

“…A seminal study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) National Research Council (NRC) recommended transforming the SIP process to emphasize periodic review and refinement of integrated multipollutant air quality management plans (National Research Council, 2004). Integrated multipollutant approaches could enhance the net benefits of air quality planning at the state level (Chestnut et al, 2006;Cohan et al, 2007;Scheffe et al, 2007).…”

Sensitivity of the Weather Research and Forecast/Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system to MODIS LAI, FPAR, and albedo

“…To improve AQ and mitigate the deleterious effects on human health, ecosystems, and climate, policy makers and scientists rely on comprehensive computer modeling systems that simulate emissions, transport, chemistry, and deposition of air pollutants to design emission control strategies for achieving healthy sustainable AQ [Cohan et al, 2007]. The combined meteorology and air quality modeling system WRF/CMAQ-composed of the National Center for Atmospheric Research Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model [Skamarock et al, 2008] and the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model [Byun and Schere, 2006] is an important decision support tool that is used to help understand the chemical and physical processes involved in AQ degradation and to develop policy to mitigate harmful effects of air pollution on human health and the environment around the world [Isakov et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2010;Compton et al, 2011].…”

On the Origin of Surface Ozone Episode in Shanghai over Yangtze River Delta during a Prolonged Heat Wave

“…Effective attainment of ground-level O 3 concentration depends upon a reliable understanding of how O 3 responds to control of its precursors (Cohan et al, 2007). In this study, we apply the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions model (CAMx) to study the typical weather system and the exact formation mechanism of the O 3 pollution over YRD region.…”