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Flexible Attainment Region Program Case Study
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Prior to the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the Tulsa Metropolitan Area was designated as attainment for ozone. In 1991, however, Tulsa experienced two exceedances of the ozone standard, and faced the possibility, with one more exceedance during the next two ozone seasons, of being redesignated as nonattainment.
While the immediate response was to institute an Ozone Alert! Program, to attempt to prevent further exceedances on a voluntary basis, municipal authorities sought a more permanent solution to the problem of being on "the edge." The result was a proposal for a Flexible Attainment Region (F.A.R.) that recognized the need for more certainty in planning, both for the business community and the public sector.
The local support structure was largely in place, thanks to the Ozone Alert! Program, and the F.A.R. proposal
the approval of the business community. Spearheaded by the mayor, with the assistance of both the city government and the regional Council of Governments, as well as the state air quality agency, Tulsa made their case for the need for a more flexible response to the possibility of one more exceedance, which would have caused redesignation.
What the community proposed was based on the following. Tulsas air quality for the most part met the requirements of the ozone standard, and it was clear that there was no persistent or regular ozone problem. There were occasionally, however, incidents of elevated levels of ozone that could prove unhealthful. The community was operating a voluntary reductions program which had thus far been successful in educating the public about air quality issues, and in changing behavior patterns on days with the potential for elevated ozone levels. In part, these efforts had prevented any further exceedances of the standard. Thus a third exceedance, it was argued, should not automatically trigger a full-scale nonattainment program.
The community recognized and acknowledged, however, that some additional actions would be necessary should a third exceedance occur. With the full support of local industry, the city proposed that the most appropriate response to a third exceedance was a flexible one, with additional emissions reductions being made from appropriate sources until the ozone standard was once again attained. A list of potential reductions and sources was prepared, again with the support of local industry. Under the proposal, Tulsa would have three years to implement these additional reductions and to bring the region into attainment.
With the support of local and state government as well as affected industries and the public, Tulsa made this proposal to the EPA. After some negotiations, the proposal was approved by EPAs regional office in 1994, and the Tulsa Metropolitan Area became the nations first F.A.R.
Model Rule
A copy of the F.A.R. agreement may be obtained from the Indian Nation Council of Governments (INCOG) or from EPA.
Quantification
Quantification of the proposed reductions included in the F.A.R. proposal followed the Agency's guidance on the industries and processes involved. The goal in Tulsa was to propose reductions equal to about 15 percent of the total VOC inventory.
Further Information
For further information, contact INCOG, at 918 584-7526.