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SMOG AND
HAZE - HOW MUCH IMPACT WILL THE NEW AIR REGULATIONS
HAVE?
Smog and haze have caused
increasing concern in many areas of the United States in the
last year. In addition to concerns about loss of atmospheric
visibility in the Great Smoky Mountains, expanded concerns
have also been expressed in the Big Bend, Texas area. With
EPA's tightening of ambient air standards for small
particulates and ozone/nitrogen oxides, both New Jersey's
Governor Whitman and Pennsylvania's Environmental Secretary
Seif called quickly and strongly for the EPA to level the
playing field and limit dirty air coming in from Midwest
states.
This action is very important to
our region's economy. Meeting air standards through
installation of auto emission controls hasn't been easy, and,
here, power plants have more extensive emission controls or
burn cleaner fuels than many of those in the Midwest. With
energy deregulation, without a level playing field, the plants
with the better controls will get used less, and the plants
with cheaper power because they don't have emission controls,
get used more. This makes no environmental sense and we salute
Pennsylvania's and New Jersey's leaders for doing the right
thing.
Locating new or expanding
commercial and industrial facilities in the region won't be
easy by 2005 to 2010 if there is no room in the air permitting
scheme for any more permitted emissions. At the same time,
though, we have to have a realistic regulatory scheme for
controlling emissions from power plants, cars, and trucks to
meet ambient air standards.
Here is what already have going
for us, as well as what we need:
- EPA has already moved
to control emissions more tightly from diesel engines. NJ
has already started on the road inspections.
- EPA recently
promulgated final regulations for off-road diesel engines as
well (See our Web Page for more information).
- EPA recently announced
a new Implementation Plan call in for states where regional
transport of ozone is of concern.
- Every year, more and
more new cars enter our collective vehicle fleet, which is
improving emissions by itself.
The key thing we are still
missing, though, is implementation of a balanced
transportation system. Reality #1 is that motorists don't pay
for driving on most roads, yet, our most efficient form of
transportation, passenger rail, is expected to fully pay its
own way. Reality #2 is that we are shying away from building
more freeways in urban and suburban areas because of the huge
costs involved, which means we are giving up on keeping up
with traffic growth. Reality #3 is that we can make our roads
work better and reduce air emissions if we have an efficient
and balanced transportation. Look at the recent failed NJ
I-287/I-80 HOV lane projects - unbalanced transportation
systems and forced solutions do not work by contrast, new
approaches like car-sharing could be one answer. We need the
right roads, and, to maintain them, but we need realistic
plans. We don't need needlessly clogged roads.
Let's hope that as Pennsylvania
and New Jersey prepare their updated Implementation Plans for
the tighter ambient air standards that serious consideration
is given by top officials to make our transportation system
more balanced. Fewer cars and trucks sitting backed-up in
traffic every day is good for our air and for our economy.
Let's get our construction forces to work and on an integrated
road and rail infrastructure which will serve us well in the
21st Century!  |
