OXIDES OF NITROGEN

Lauren Kastner, Matthew Sullivan, Kristen Hackman

NOx!!!

• NOx= NO and NO2

• Main Sources:• Combustion of

fossil fuels• Natural sources

Health Effects

• High concentration Nox• Lung irritation• Increased susceptibility to respiratory

diseases• Harmful to asthmatics• Young children and elderly

• Secondary Pollutants- ozone and particulate matter

Environmental Effects

• NOx-• Acidification and eutrophication

• Ozone• Damage to crops and vegetation• Decreased crop yield

• So what is the market failure?

Catalytic Converter

• Two-Way1. Oxidation of carbon monoxides carbon dioxides2. Oxidation of hydrocarbons CO2 and water

Used on diesel engines

• Three-Way Nitrogen oxides nitrogen and oxygen Oxidation of carbon monoxide CO2 Oxidation of unburnt hydrocarbons CO2 and

water

Coal- Compliance Technology

Low-NOx Burner Technology Combustion prevents NOx from being

formed Used in over 370 coal-fired units

Scrubbers (Add-On) Removes NOx before emitted

Nitrogen Dioxide in the United States

EPA, 2010

Clean Air Act

1963 Clean Air Act Subsequent CAA amendments:

1967, 1970, 1977 1970 CAA made NAAQS enforceable by EPA

Focused mostly on automobile emissions 1990: NOx targets

1990 focus on stationary sources because of acid rain legislation

State Implementation Plan 1990 goal: reduce 2 million tons of NOx

emissions below 1980 levels by 2000 All states submit plan for implementation,

maintenance, and enforcement of NAAQS 18-36 months Primary standard Secondary standard Attainment, nonattainment, unclassifiable

Reviewed by EPA Federal implementation plan (FIP) if SIP fails

review

Acid Rain Program

Directed at coal-fired electric utility boilers SO2 main focus of ARP

Triggered NOx programs Phase 1:

1996-1999: 400,000 tons/year Phase 2:

2000: 1.17 million tons/year Market based allowances

Utilities choose their compliance method 2000 goal: below 8.1 million tons

All 960 units achieved compliance

Acid Rain Program

Figure 4: NOx Emission Trends for All Acid Rain Program Units, 1990–2009

EPA, 2010

Regional Trading Programs

1994 Regional Clean Air Incentive Market (RECLAIM) Southern California cap and trade program Across sectors (power generation, cement, etc.) Critique: Price volatility and power shortage

2003-2008 NOx Budget Trading Program (NBP) 19 east coast states Intended to reduce ground level ozone in summer 2008 budget: ~528,000 tons Success: 75 percent lower than in 1990

Clean Air Interstate Rule 2009

State specific emissions trading program 28 states and D.C.

Midwest and East Replaced NBP

Two choices at a state’s discretion:1. Interstate cap and trade in two phases2. Meet individual state budget (assigned by

EPA) through method of state’s choosing Controlling power plant emissions is cost-

effective

Clean Air Interstate Rule

Reduction Results

All areas in the U.S. meet the current (1971) NO2 standards 53 ppb standard Current average: 10-20 ppb

2010 NAAQS rule 1-hour NO2 standard at level of 100ppb

Short-term exposure to NO2 County, urban monitoring

2011 proposed NAAQS rule Review of secondary NAAQS

Protection of lakes and streams

Canada

International Regime: 1979 UN Economic Commission for

Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution= UNECE LRTAP Signed & Ratified! NOx Protocol (1988) Protocol to Abate Acidificaiton,

Euthrophication and Ground-Level Ozone (1999)

National

CEPA=Canadian Environmental Protection Act "An Act respecting pollution prevention and

the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development.”

Under CEPA 1999, On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emissions Regulations (2004)

“National Emissions Mark”

Provincial Level-Ontario

Anti-Smog Action Plan Canada-Wide Acid Rain Strategy Clean energy projects to offset coal-

powered electricity generation Industry Emissions Reduction Plan (IERP)

Set cap on industrial sector

Canada-US NOx Relations

Image

Canada-US Air Quality Agreement, 1991

Under International Joint Commission (IJC) Addressed transboundary air pollution that

leads to acid rain Acid Rain Annex

• Prevention of air quality deterioration• Visibility protection• Emission monitoring

Ozone Annex Ground-level ozone PEMA (Pollutant Emission Management Area)

Progress

Both Canada and US continue to meet goal provided by the agreement

Canada: Transportation continue to be main source 53% of emissions

US: Clean Air Act

NOx in the UK

~50% decrease in emissions since 1990

33%-transportation (49% with off-road vehicles)

20%-power generation

European Union NOx Policy

1988 Sofia Protocol Required countries to reduce NOx emissions below1987 levels by 1995

1999 Gothenburg Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone Multi-pollutant, multi-effect (SO2, NOx, VOC, NH3) Critical loads

EU Supranational Policy

National Emission Ceilings Directive (2001/81/EC) Sets upper limits for each member state

with regard to 4 pollutants UK codified into law with National

Emission Ceiling Regulations 2002 No teeth

EU Supranational Policy

Air Quality Framework Directive (Council Directive 96/62/EC) Described methods of monitoring and determined

target pollutants First Daughter Directive (Council Directive

1999/30/EC) Described limits and thresholds for managing air

quality with regard to several pollutants (coordinated with Gothenburg Protocol)

Third Daughter Directive (Directive 2002/3/EC) Set standards for monitoring of ozone and NOx

EU Supranational Policy

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (2008/1/EC) Permit allocation system Integrated approach-addresses several

environmental concerns Best Available Techniques

Widespread information exchange Flexibility for licensing authorities E-PRTR (public information provision)

EU Supranational Policy

Large Combustion Plants Directive (Directive 2001/80/EC) Oldest plants can join

National Emissions Reduction Program

Newer must be built/made to comply

Euro emissions standards (auto)

Begun in 1993 Initially, design

standards requiring catalytic converters

Now performance standards

Road transportation accounted for 53% of NOx emissions in 1993

UK Domestic NOx Policy

National Air Quality Strategy Reported by Environment Agency Sets objectives and identifies measures to

be used by local authorities Never less stringent than EU requirements

UK Domestic Policy

Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) Local authorities are required to review and

assess quality of air in region with respect to several pollutants.

If objectives are not met, region is designated as Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), and authorities must provide action plan.

Measures for AQMA:

Corporate commitment to putting air quality at the heart of the decision making process

Commitment to working closely with authorities responsible for highways and/or environmental regulation where trunk roads and/or industrial sources are major local sources of pollution

Local traffic management measures to limit access to, or re-route traffic away from, problem areas. Low emission zones are a possible solution

Commitment to developing or promoting green travel plans and/or to using cleaner-fuelled vehicles in the authority’s own fleet

LAQM (cont.)

Strategy for informing members of the public about air quality issues, perhaps via local newsletters or other media

Quality partnerships with bus or fleet operators to deliver cleaner, quieter vehicles

In the longer term, perhaps, congestion charging schemes and/or workplace parking levies

Hot spots were expected, non-compliance has been the norm

In 93% of AQMA’s, NO2 is the culprit (along with transportation

Action planning has had a limited impact Other possibilities: transport, land planning, climate change

Thank you

Questions?