Power plant emissions of smog component fall in eastern US: EPA

Washington (Platts)--18Aug2005

Ground-level ozone pollution, a key component of "smog," from power
plants and other sources is decreasing across the eastern United States,
according to a report released Thursday by the US Environmental Protection
Agency. 
     EPA said the improvement is due in large part to its rule directing 21
Eastern states and the District of Columbia to reduce their emission of
nitrogen oxide, a "precursor" to ozone, during the summer months. 
     EPA said this measure, known as the "NOX SIP Call" rule, has improved the
air quality for more than 100-mil people in the eastern part of the country.  
     All of the states that are subject to the rule comply with it by
participating in an EPA-run "trading" program for NOX emissions. This
approach allows polluters to either control their own emissions or buy
pollution-reduction "credits" from other, cleaner sources. 
     The NOX trading system "is yet another example of how market-based
trading programs are significantly reducing emissions of air pollutants," said
EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. 
     According the report, total "ozone season" NOX emissions from power
plants and other large combustion sources were 30% lower in 2004 than they
were in 2003, and 50% lower than their 2000 level. 
     EPA said it expects even greater ozone reductions through its recently
promulgated Clean Air Interstate Rule, which caps power-plant emission of NOX
and sulfur dioxide in 28 eastern states and the District of Columbia. 
     By 2015, CAIR, the NOX SIP Call rule and other programs will have reduced
ozone-season NOX emissions by about 50%, and annual NOX emissions by some 60%
from 2003 levels, EPA said.

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