SMOG AND HAZE - HOW MUCH IMPACT WILL THE NEW AIR REGULATIONS HAVE?

PROJECT PROFILES:

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!