An Interim Ambient Air Quality Objective for Sulphur Dioxide (SO ) 2 in Metro Vancouver Laurie Bates-Frymel, Air Quality Planner Ali Ergudenler, Senior Engineer Air Quality and Climate Change Division 1
Background Outline Intentions Paper Rationale for Considering an Interim Sulphur Dioxide Objective Review Process Literature review Proposed interim objective Achievability analyses Consultation Process 2
Background What is sulphur dioxide? compound with the formula SO 2 a colourless gas that smells like burnt matches emitted when fossil fuels containing sulphur are burned 3
2010 Background What are the largest sources of SO 2 in Metro Vancouver and the FVRD? Why is SO 2 a concern? Exposure to high SO 2 levels can aggravate asthma and increase respiratory symptoms Acidifies soil and surface water, damages crops, trees, structures and property 4
Background What is an ambient air quality objective? A concentration limit for a given pollutant in outdoor air Non-statutory Used for episode management (e.g., public air quality advisories/alerts, operational changes) Used to assess air quality and guide management decisions, including those related to environmental assessments and authorizations Not legally required, unless referenced in a regulation or authorization 5
Rationale for an Interim SO 2 Objective New health evidence 2011 Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan Continuous Improvement More stringent guidelines/standards adopted by: (2005) (2010) Canadian standards currently under review In October 2014, BC adopted interim objectives for SO 2 and NO 2 for new or significantly modified discharges 6
Health evidence Our short-term objective should be more stringent Other jurisdictions US EPA 1-hour SO 2 National Ambient Air Quality Standard 75 ppb* (99 th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum concentrations, averaged over 3 years) SO 2 Literature Review * parts per billion (75 molecules of SO 2 for every billion molecules of air) 7
Proposed MV Interim SO 2 Objective MV Existing Objective 174 ppb 1-hour average Not to be exceeded US EPA standard 75 ppb 99 th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum Averaged over 3 years BC Interim Objective 75 ppb 99 th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum Averaged over 1 year Only applicable to new or significantly modified sources MV Proposed Interim Objective 75 ppb 1-hour average Not to be exceeded The proposed MV interim SO 2 objective is: More protective of health in a densely populated region More practical for episode management Simpler to report Easier for the public to understand 8
Achievability Past Trends Regional SO 2 levels are decreasing 23 (ppb) (ppb) 15 8 Source: 2013 Lower Fraser Valley Annual Air Quality Report 9
Achievability Exceedances 10
Achievability Exceedances 11
Achievability - Future Emissions SO 2 emissions expected to decrease significantly by this year, mostly due to marine Emission Control Area requirements. In 2015, the refinery is expected to become the single largest source of SO 2 in the Metro Vancouver region. Source: Regional Emission Inventory and Forecast 12
Achievability - Preliminary Modelling MV and Port Metro Vancouver hired RWDI Air to model all sources in Burrard Inlet area Predictions: SO 2 levels are expected to decrease considerably in the Burrard Inlet area due to marine Emission Control Area requirements Some exceedances of the proposed interim 1-hour objective still predicted from time to time However, due to several simplifying assumptions we believe these predictions are underestimates 13
Achievability Additional source-specific modelling needed to determine achievability with greater certainty Without additional emission reductions, the proposed interim SO 2 objective may not be achievable everywhere in the region 14
Consultation Process 2 small group meetings January 22 nd and 27 th Federal and provincial authorities, municipalities, industry reps, NGOs, local health authorities Webinar January 23 rd (now online) Presentations Regional Engineers Advisory Committee December 5 th Lower Fraser Valley Air Quality Coordinating Committee December 9 th Technical meeting with Chevron staff December 18 th BC Marine Vessel Air Quality Working Group January 26 th Chevron Community Advisory Panel February 5 th Feedback deadline is Friday, February 13 th, 2015 15
After Consultation Review feedback Summarize comments into a staff report Metro Vancouver s Climate Action Committee Staff report to the March 26 th meeting Metro Vancouver Board Staff report to the April 17 th meeting 16
Summary Metro Vancouver is seeking your feedback on an interim SO 2 objective that: Is consistent with the principle of continuous improvement Is in line with US EPA standard and BC interim objective, but more protective Better protects the health of Metro Vancouver residents Metro Vancouver will consider the Canadian SO 2 standards after they have been adopted by CCME The feedback deadline is Friday, February 13 th, 2015 For more information www.metrovancouver.org/air 17
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01/01/2013 05/01/2013 09/01/2013 13/01/2013 17/01/2013 22/01/2013 26/01/2013 30/01/2013 03/02/2013 07/02/2013 12/02/2013 16/02/2013 20/02/2013 24/02/2013 28/02/2013 05/03/2013 09/03/2013 13/03/2013 17/03/2013 21/03/2013 26/03/2013 30/03/2013 03/04/2013 07/04/2013 12/04/2013 16/04/2013 20/04/2013 24/04/2013 28/04/2013 03/05/2013 07/05/2013 11/05/2013 15/05/2013 19/05/2013 24/05/2013 28/05/2013 01/06/2013 05/06/2013 09/06/2013 14/06/2013 18/06/2013 22/06/2013 26/06/2013 30/06/2013 05/07/2013 09/07/2013 13/07/2013 17/07/2013 22/07/2013 26/07/2013 30/07/2013 03/08/2013 07/08/2013 12/08/2013 16/08/2013 20/08/2013 24/08/2013 28/08/2013 02/09/2013 06/09/2013 10/09/2013 14/09/2013 18/09/2013 23/09/2013 27/09/2013 01/10/2013 05/10/2013 09/10/2013 14/10/2013 18/10/2013 22/10/2013 26/10/2013 31/10/2013 04/11/2013 08/11/2013 12/11/2013 16/11/2013 21/11/2013 25/11/2013 29/11/2013 03/12/2013 07/12/2013 12/12/2013 16/12/2013 20/12/2013 24/12/2013 28/12/2013 Determining Exceedances US EPA 1-hour Daily Maximum SO 2 at Burnaby-Capitol Hill Station - 2013 300 250 200 150 100 Determine maximum of 1-hour averages for each day Take the 99 th percentile of those 365 values (removes 3-4 days of high values per year) Do the same for the last two years and then average those 3 numbers 50 0 99 th percentile (ppb) Year 99.5 2013 69.4 2012 54.5 2011 Average = 74.4 ppb No exceedance 20