Air Matters, June 2008

Volume 3, Issue 3

Bureau of Air Management
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707

• Potawatomi Reservation Receives Class I Designation
• Kewaunee County Meets Air Standards
• Hazecam Operations Resume at Mayville & Milwaukee
• Daily Air Hotline Continues Operation
• Climate Change Briefing Provided to NR Board
• Winners of 2007 Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air Award
• Air Management Reports to NR Board on General and Registration Permits
• New Air Quality and Health Publications Available

Potawatomi Reservation Receives Class I Designation
By Marty Burkholder

After more than 13 years, a request by the Forest County Potawatomi to re-designate 10,818 acres of tribal lands located near Crandon, Wiscosnin to Class I status under the Clean Air Act (CAA) has finally been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The approval was published in the Federal Register [exit DNR] as a final rule on April 29, 2008 with an effective date of May 29, 2008.

The Potawatomi Tribal Council submitted their Class I request back in February, 1995. At that time, the reservation land was classified as Class II much like most of the rest of Wisconsin is today. A Class II designation allows a moderate decline in air quality, but never to the extent that the health of the public is threatened. A Class I designation means that little or no degradation to the existing air quality is allowed to occur. The only other Class I area in the state is Rainbow Lakes Wilderness Area located in Bayfield County.

PSD Program

The Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program under the CAA provides Indian Tribes the authority to request re-designation of their lands to a different class. The tribe must follow certain administrative procedures such as consulting with the state; notifying other governments; preparing a technical support document; and holding a public hearing. The governor of an affected state can dispute a proposed re-designation under section 164(e) of the CAA. States can also request re-designation for lands within their jurisdiction.

The intent of the PSD program is to protect pristine and scenic areas of the country. To do this, the program limits the amount of air pollution from major sources near Class I areas using an increment system (maximum allowed air quality deterioration) for three pollutants: Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Particulate matter (PM), and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). In addition, Class I areas may also include Air Quality Related Values (AQRVs) which are those special attributes such as aquatic or forest resources that may be affected by a decline in air quality. Examples of major sources that may be affected by the PSD program include power plants, paper mills, and foundries.

Final Approval

The EPA proposed approval of the Tribe’s request in June 1995. However, Wisconsin and Michigan officially opposed the re-designation and asked EPA to enter into negotiations to resolve their dispute. In 1999, the Potawatomi Tribe and the State of Wisconsin signed an agreement that resolved the issues related to Wisconsin’s dispute. The agreement became effective once the reservation received Class I status. Michigan and the Potawatomi Tribe were unable to reach a similar agreement.

In approving the Tribe’s Class I request, EPA actually published three federal register notices. Two of the notices resolve the state disputes and the third granted final approval of the Class I through a Federal Implementation Plan. The State, Tribe, and EPA are now working on details to implement the provisions of 1999 Final Agreement and Class I for the Reservation.

For more information on this topic, please contact Marty Burkholder at 608.264.8855 or email Martin.Burkholder@Wisconsin.gov.

Burkholder is a Natural Resources Staff Specialist located in Madison.

Kewaunee County Meets Air Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved Wisconsin's request to have Kewaunee County redesignated to attainment status for ozone, effective May 21, 2008. Air monitoring data for 2004, 2005, and 2006 show the county met the standard and data for 2007 shows continued attainment of the standard. To read the Federal Register notice related to EPA's approval, go to:
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2008/May/Day-21/a11295.htm [exit DNR].

At ground level, ozone is created by a chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of heat and sunlight. Vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, gasoline vapors and chemical solvents are some major sources of NOx and VOCs that form ozone. To learn more about ozone, please visit DNR's ozone web page.

 

Hazecam Operations Resume at Mayville and Milwaukee
By Bruce Rodger

After two years of being shut down because of a lack of funding, two digital cameras (hazecams) showing visual air quality at Mayville and Milwaukee are scheduled to be back in operation on July 1, 2008. Funding is expected to be available at least through March 31, 2009.

Back in 2002, Wisconsin participated with other environmental agencies to establish a network of digital cameras that periodically update visual images related to air quality visibility at air monitoring sites throughout the Midwest. Funding for operation and support of this network, referred to as the MidWest Hazecam network, was initially provided through LADCO (Lake Michigan Air Director’s Consortium) [exit DNR] which is funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and state and local environmental agencies.

Funding to support LADCO was significantly reduced in 2006 resulting in the loss of financial support for maintaining routine operations of the hazecam network. At that time many state agencies assumed the costs necessary to continue support of their respective sites. Wisconsin, however, was also experiencing its own budget problems and was unable to support its two sites at Mayville and Milwaukee.

The information provided by the MidWest Hazecam sites is a useful educational outreach tool for the public to observe how elevated levels of air pollutants such as fine particulates and ozone can adversely affect visibility in their state. The visibility images provided by the hazecams at Mayville and Milwaukee also supported the efforts of DNR forecasters as they reviewed air monitoring data prior to declaring air pollution advisories for ozone and fine particulates in Wisconsin.

During the spring of 2008, the Department of Natural Resources and USEPA Region 5 agreed to restore the Mayville and Milwaukee sites for a trial period from July 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009. The DNR will be able to support both hazecam sites with funding provided by a current grant used for the fine particulate monitoring program in Wisconsin. In February 2009, the sites will be a reviewed and an assessment will be made on the number of website hits by Wisconsin residents and the usefulness of the hazecam information in declaring air pollution advisories during periods of elevated levels ozone and fine particulates.

Once they are back in operation on July 1, 2008, the visual images and air quality data for the Mayville and Milwaukee sites will be available on the Midwest Hazecam website [exit DNR]. The images from the cameras are updated every 15 minutes. In addition, near real-time air quality data (instantaneous) and meteorological data (hourly average) are provided to distinguish natural from man-made causes of poor visibility, and to provide current air pollution levels to the public.

Rodger is the Field Operations Team Leader for the DNR Air Monitoring program and is located in the Wisconsin Dells office.

Daily Air Hotline Continues Operation
By Tony Bowers

Not too long ago if you wanted to provide current information to the public, you would setup a “1-800“hot line or a local universal number like the old weather line (WE6-1212 ) for hourly updates. Today the World Wide Web has made most hot lines obsolete. If you call WE6-1212, you’ll find it’s been disconnected. However, the Daily Air Hotline (1-866-DAILY AIR) continues to be an exception to this trend.

The Daily Air Hotline allows callers to get the current air quality for locations throughout Wisconsin. It is based on an ambient air quality monitoring network operated by the DNR that includes continuous monitoring equipment in thirty counties. In March the Air Hotline system was modified to also include air quality watch or advisory messages whenever they are issued. This addition provides a path to communicate air quality watch or advisory messages to the entire state population. The result is that air quality data and watch and advisory messages reported on the Department’s web site are also available on the Daily Air Hotline.

The Department has not detected a decline in callers to the Daily Air Hotline as a result of posting the same information on its web site. One of the reasons may be that a portion of the population may simply prefer to make a telephone call to get information instead of using a computer. The growing popularity of cell phones may be another reason for the steady usage. General user feedback is supportive. As an example, Daycare center operators have told us that “when outdoor activities are planned, we can direct any staff member to make a quick call to the Daily Air Hotline number”.

Often times a standard voice response system can be annoying with the multiple loops of keys to press for information. The Daily Air Hotline however, is designed to avoid this annoyance by being an interactive information system. Callers are given the option to press “Zero” during business hours for more information and will be assisted by staff from the Department’s Transportation Team. This commitment and support separates the Daily Air Hotline from other standard hotlines by adding a “real person” interaction. The interaction can work both ways too as the hotline has some very loyal callers that will provide instant feedback when changes are made to the system.

Plans to upgrade and expand the system have been given tentative approval. Users of the system will soon notice that the automated voice messages will be clearer and options to get more information, un-assisted, will be expanded. In the long term the system messages will be in Spanish in addition to English, further expanding the customer base.

So the next time you have a concern about current air quality conditions but don’t have a computer handy, give a call to the Daily Air Hotline at 1-866-DAILY AIR (or 1-866-324-5924).

Bowers is an Air Management Specialist in the Southeast Region Air Monitoring program.

Climate Change Briefing Provided to NR Board

The Natural Resources Board held a special meeting April 22, 2008, to hear from experts on climate change. To view videos of the presentations made at the meeting, please go to: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/2008/April/04-22-08-Climate-Change-Seminar.htm. To visit the Department's web page on climate change (global warming), please go to: http://dnr.wi.gov/air/aq/global/climatechange.html.

Winners of 2007 Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air Award
By Jessica Lawent

Congratulations to Brownberry of George Weston Bakeries, Madison Metropolitan School District, and Orion Energy Systems, winners of the 2007 Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air Recognition Award. These three organizations adopted voluntary strategies to conserve energy and improve air quality in 2007. Awards were announced at the Clean Air Extravaganza event that was held on May 22nd at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

George Weston Bakeries - Brownberry – Oconomowoc

• Installed numerous energy savings fixtures like energy efficient lights, a high speed receiving dock door, programmable thermostats, digital spark igniters in ovens, sensor-controlled faucets, and low-flow shower heads.
• Other energy savings include reduced air compressor pressure and operation time, reduced washing of bread cooler, and reorganized production schedule.
• Continuous improvements through installation of meters to monitor oven and boiler gas usage; continual inspections to replace worn parts, fix air leaks, clean parts to maintain proper function; installing an air make-up automation system.
• Researching ways to further reduce energy loss through exterior lights, ovens, loading docks and HVAC systems.
• Formed an Energy Team to evaluate and maintain operation efficiencies.

Madison Metropolitan School District - Madison

• Implement energy efficiency projects on a continual basis including: lighting retrofits, installation of motion sensors, addition of PV panels, replaced over 300 steam traps, converted from steam to hot water heat, creation of community gardens, partnering with the City of Madison in extending a bike path, cease operation of outdoor power equipment during Clean Air Action Days.
• Environmental educational opportunities offered to their students result in improvements at the schools and the student’s homes. Created student energy clubs and facilitated a Lights Out at Lunch project to reduce energy used in building during lunch hours and to measure and promote the results.
• Earned a nationally recognized energy conservation program and Energy Star Building Certification at many schools.

Orion Energy Systems – Manitowoc

• Deployed their energy management products to over 3,300 facilities in North America and in 2007 alone reduced emissions by almost 400,000 tons.
• Developed its new Apollo Light Pipe which collects and focuses daylight into a facility replacing electricity during peak demand daytime hours.
• Developed a technology to accurately track carbon reductions, providing a platform for emission trading. Successfully completed its first sale of carbon credits with a lighting retrofit project that reduced 2000 tons of CO2 over 3 years and saves $100k annually.
• Took internal efficiency measures as well: installed a micro-turbine to operate a new powder coating system, while also using the turbine’s waste heat in the system’s baking chamber; recycle 95% of the materials from their manufacturing process; package fixtures in boxes that serve as return boxes for the customer’s old fixtures.
• Successful in their lobbying efforts for energy policy changes, including creating incentives for energy savings and credits for energy-saving products.
• Received numerous awards for their innovation and also award and promote their customers’ impacts.

For more information about the award or Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air, please visit:http://www.cleanairwisconsin.org [exit DNR].

Jessica Lawent is the Vehicle and Voluntary Air Quality Programs Specialist with DNR’s Southeast Region Air Program

Air Management Reports to NR Board on General and Registration Permits

In response to 2003 Wisconsin Act 118, the DNR's Air Management program expanded the number of general permits and created a new registration permit program for facilities with low actual emissions. The Natural Resources Board requested a report by December 2007 on implementation of these new and expanded types of air permits including a description of sources applying for the permits, compliance information, emission trends, air quality impacts, and satisfaction with the permit process. The report is available at http://dnr.wi.gov/air/permits/streamlining/reports.html.

New Air Quality and Health Publications Available

Three new publications regarding air quality and health are available this month. All the publications relate to health and fitness. Find out how you can protect your health when air quality is poor!

Particle Pollution and Your Health (Pub AM-389) is a US Environmental Protection Agency brochure modified for Wisconsin audiences. This brochure provides information on the health effects of particle pollution and what actions to take to protect health and reduce contributions to particle pollution.

Air Quality Index (AQI) Bookmark (Pub EI-7049) is an informational brochure with detachable bookmark contains air quality and health protection information. The bookmark easily detaches so you have AQI information handy wherever you travel.

How Lungs Work Poster in English (Pub CE-7023) and Spanish (Pub CE-7025) is designed to help younger audiences understand the how air pollution affects respiratory health. Perfect for classrooms or medical offices this poster is colorful, educational and fun

To request a copy of any of the new publications, please send an e-mail to: DNRAirEducation@wisconsin.gov and include the publication number and title.

 

Air Matters || Air Management