National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative: Creating Cleaner Air for Communities by Reducing Excess Emissions of Harmful Pollutants
Problem
People living in non-attainment areas or in communities that are near sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) may face significant risks to their health and environment. HAPs are pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects. In some instances, small amounts of these chemicals inhaled or ingested can cause serious illness. There are over 180 chemicals that the EPA has identified as HAPs, including mercury, benzene, dioxin, and lead compounds. Furthermore, significant sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to non-attainment with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) or may adversely affect the attainment status of an area. VOCs are a key component in the formation of ground-level ozone (a constituent of photochemical smog) and secondary organic aerosols, both of which may impact ecosystems and can cause adverse health effects like respiratory ailments. Many individual VOCs also are known to be harmful to human health.
Goal
This NECI, initiated in FY 2020, addresses the adverse health and environmental effects from exceedances of the NAAQS to which sources of VOCs contribute, as well as VOC- and HAP-related health impacts on communities. Implementing this NECI achieves pollutant reductions with the co-benefit of reducing emissions of methane which contributes to climate change.
Results
During FY 2022, the Agency continued to make significant progress on this NECI. The following summary illustrates the Agency’s efforts in FY 2022 to improve air quality and reduce excess emissions of VOCs and HAPs:
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Pollutant Reduction
- The EPA has addressed serious violations through enforcement actions, achieving measurable pollutant reductions and improving air quality to provide cleaner air for communities. FY 2022 enforcement actions have resulted in a reduction of approximately 11.9 million pounds of VOCs and HAPs as well as other harmful air pollutants. FY 2022 enforcement actions also resulted in over 60 million pounds of CO2 equivalent (7,250 MTCO2e) of methane and greenhouse gases reduced.
- The EPA has addressed serious violations through enforcement actions, achieving measurable pollutant reductions and improving air quality to provide cleaner air for communities. FY 2022 enforcement actions have resulted in a reduction of approximately 11.9 million pounds of VOCs and HAPs as well as other harmful air pollutants. FY 2022 enforcement actions also resulted in over 60 million pounds of CO2 equivalent (7,250 MTCO2e) of methane and greenhouse gases reduced.
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Cases
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Provided Early Relief to Protect Nearby Communities
- Significant EPA oversight of previously issued CAA Section 303 emergency orders is ongoing to address imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment in St. Croix and in South Carolina. Additional enforcement actions have been taken as necessary in FY 2022 to ensure EPA protects the health of the communities.
- Significant EPA oversight of previously issued CAA Section 303 emergency orders is ongoing to address imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment in St. Croix and in South Carolina. Additional enforcement actions have been taken as necessary in FY 2022 to ensure EPA protects the health of the communities.
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Examples of concluded enforcement actions in FY 2022 include the following:
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FY 2022 Number of CCAC Facilities with EPA Inspections / Off-site Compliance Monitoring
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Advanced, innovative equipment and techniques
- Employed infrared cameras using optical gas imaging and the National Enforcement Investigations Center’s geospatial measurement of air pollution (GMAP) vehicle during inspections. This technology allows for real time identification of VOC and HAP emissions, identifying potential noncompliance resulting from fugitive emissions and equipment leaks.
- Employed infrared cameras using optical gas imaging and the National Enforcement Investigations Center’s geospatial measurement of air pollution (GMAP) vehicle during inspections. This technology allows for real time identification of VOC and HAP emissions, identifying potential noncompliance resulting from fugitive emissions and equipment leaks.
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Enhanced use of compliance assurance tools
- Inclusion of a requirement for facilities to continually monitor concentrations of emissions along their property boundary (i.e. fenceline) in enforcement settlements, when appropriate, provides additional insight into emission sources and their potential impacts.
- For petroleum refineries which are required by regulation to implement a fenceline monitoring program for benzene emissions, the Agency released a Dashboard to make the publicly available data easier to access and analyze by EPA, state and other regulatory agencies, and members of the public.
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Continued Strong Partnerships
- Through partnerships with state and tribal authorities, conducted multiple joint inspections and joint enforcement actions.
- Through partnerships with state and tribal authorities, conducted multiple joint inspections and joint enforcement actions.
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Issued Enforcement Alerts
- CAA Engine Enforcement Alert informs owners and operators of stationary engines of the significant noncompliance that has been identified resulting in excess air pollutants and harmful health effects associated with exposure to such pollutants. In highlighting several recent enforcement cases compelling facilities to comply, the alert also recommends several actions owners and operators may proactively take to help minimize emissions and achieve compliance.
- CAA Engine Enforcement Alert informs owners and operators of stationary engines of the significant noncompliance that has been identified resulting in excess air pollutants and harmful health effects associated with exposure to such pollutants. In highlighting several recent enforcement cases compelling facilities to comply, the alert also recommends several actions owners and operators may proactively take to help minimize emissions and achieve compliance.
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Compliance Assistance Portal
- Enhanced the Environmental Compliance Information for Energy Extraction portal providing compliance assistance for owners and operators of crude oil and natural gas extraction operations.