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United States
Environmental*
Protection Agency
Region 7
Air & Toxics
Division
April 1990
Nebraska Air Quality
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Progress Report
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A Review of Air Quality Improvements in the
State of Nebraska Under the Clean Air Act
Background
•-- -^ "•"'• — , , v
The first Clean Air Act promoting uniform laws and
cooperative activities between the states and the federal govern-
ment to control air pollution was approved in the Congress on
December 17, 1963. This law authorized federal grant funds to
support state, local, and multijurisdictional agencies in their
effort to control air pollutant emissions. This Act was amended
on November 21, 1967. The 1967 Act established the statutory
concept of air quality standards, air quality control regions,
and state implementation plans (SIP).
The 1967 Act required the Secretary of Health, Education,
and Welfare to identify air basins, both interstate and intra-
state. The Secretary was required to prepare air quality
criteria documents for pollutants of concern and companion
documents identifying control techniques. The states were to
use those criteria documents as guides for selecting air quality
standards which would protect against health and welfare effects
of the criteria pollutants. Under the authority of the 1967 Act,
the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare designated two
interstate and two intrastate air quality control regions in the
state of Nebraska during 1970. Figure 1 shows the boundaries of
the Nebraska air quality control regions.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created in 1970
and was given responsibility for the air pollution control program.
The Clean Air Act of 1970 required the Administrator of
EPA to promulgate National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
and prepare guidelines the states would use to prepare plans for
attainment and maintenance of those standards. The NAAQS were
promulgated by EPA on April 30, 1971.
Table I contains the air quality standards for criteria
pollutants. The table includes total suspended particulate (TSP)
matter even though EPA replaced the TSP standard with PM10 in
1987. The rationale for including TSP in this report is that all
states have long-term data, and those data show the change or
improvement in air quality over a long period of time. PM10 data
have only been gathered for a short period and any trends are not
yet apparent.
The Nebraska Legislature authorized air pollution control
activities in the state Health Department in 1971. Subsequent
to that original statute, the Nebraska Department of Environ-
mental Control was created to protect and enhance the Nebraska
environment. ,
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Table I
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Total suspended
paniculate matter (TSP)
(standard was replaced
by PH10 in 1987)
PH10 (July 1, 1987)
Sulfur Dioxide
Ozone (as revised
February 8, 1979)2
Carbon Monoxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Lead (October 5, 1978)
Primary
,1
75 iig/ta annual geometric mean
260 M9/m 24-hour value not to
be exceeded more than once per
year
50 0g/nr annual mean
150 jtg/m 24-hour average not
to be exceeded more than once
per year
80 jtg/m annual arithmetic mean
365 Mg/m maximum 24-hour
concentration not to be exceeded
more than once per year
0.12 ppm (235 M9/m3) 1-hour
average concentration not to
be exceeded more than once
per year
9 ppm (10 mg/m ) maximum
8-hour concentration not to
be exceeded more than once
per year
35 ppm (40 mg/m ) maximum
1-hour concentration not to be
exceeded more than once per
year
0.053 ppm (100 M9/m ) annual
arithmetic mean
1.5 M9/m maximum arithmetic
mean averaged over a calendar
quarter
Secondary
1
150 ng/m 24-hour value
not to be exceeded more
than once per year
Same as primary
1300 Mg/m maximum 3-hour
concentration not to be
exceeded more than once
per year
Same as primary
Same as primary
Same as primary
Same as primary
Primary standards are set to protect public health and secondary standards to protect public welfare.
The initial promulgation included photochemical oxidants and hydrocarbons. The photochemical oxidant
standard was revised to ozone in 1979 because the preponderance of photochemical oxidants measured is
ozone. The hydrocarbon standard was deleted in 1982. The hydrocarbon measurements included all organic
compounds. Hydrocarbons were measured as a precursor to ozone, but only reactive organic compounds
take part in the photochemical reaction producing ozone. The term "hydrocarbon" has been dropped and
replaced with the term "volatile organic compounds" (VOC) because not all hydrocarbons are reactive.
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The states were required by Section 110 of the 1970 Act to
submit a plan showing attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS
within nine months of promulgation of the NAAQS. The original
Nebraska SIP was submitted January 28, 1972. The SIP submitted
in 1972 provided for attainment of the TSP, SO2, and NOX standards
and maintenance of the carbon monoxide (CO) and photochemical
oxidant (ozone) standards. EPA acted on the state's submittal
May 31, 1972. EPA's action approved the plan, but identified
deficiencies needing corrective action by the state. The state
adopted and submitted revisions to the SIP to correct deficien-
cies identified in the 1972 approval. These revisions were acted
on by EPA through 1977. The Nebraska SIP also included an
Emergency Episode Plan. That plan provided for curtailment of
emissions at certain source operations in the event air quality
levels increased to certain concentrations and meteorological
conditions were expected to contribute to air stagnations for an
extended period of time.
The Clean Air Act, as amended in 1977, added significantly
to the state and EPA responsibilities. The states were to
identify areas in their jurisdictions where air quality was worse
than the NAAQS, equal to or better than the NAAQS, and areas
where there were insufficient data, to determine their attainment
status. EPA published a listing of those areas as nonattainment,
attainment, or unclassifiable. Table II identifies the Nebraska
nonattainment areas designated in 1978. The steites were required
to adopt and submit plans for attainment and maintenance of
standards in nonattainment areas. The Act also contained
requirements for prevention of significant deterioration (PSD)
of air quality in areas meeting the national stcindards. The
1977 Act provided for certain Scinctions if states did not adopt
or implement plans providing for attainment of the standards.
The Nebraska plan was submitted to EPA on September 25,
1980, and an amendment on August 9, 1982. Initial approval of
the plan was published in the Federal Register March 28, 1983.
Those revisions provided a strategy for attainment and mainte-
nance of standards in the nonattainment areas of the state.
Among other control measures, the plan required reasonably
available control technology (RACT) on all existing major sources
in the nonattainment areas and lowest achievable emission rates
for new sources in these areas. The state later adopted require-
ments for best available control technology (BACT) in attainment
areas to prevent significant deterioration of air quality.
EPA promulgated the national air quality standard for lead
on October 5, 1978. Nebraska submitted its lead SIP January 9,
198.1. EPA approved the basic plan November 29, 1983. Subsequent
revisions to address lead standard violations in Omaha were
approved in 1985 and 1987. ;
EPA promulgated a size specific particulate matter standard
(PM10) July 1, 1987, to replace the existing TSP standard. The
state submitted its PM10 SIP revision on June 15, 1988. The
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state's PM10 SIP was approved May 16, 1989. All remaining TSP
nonattainment areas were designated "unclassified" with respect
to the old standard.
Table II
Nebraska Nonattainment Area Designations (1978)
Primary Secondary
County TSP TSP Ozone CO S02
Lancaster p
Douglas W P
Cass U
Sarpy W
P—Partial
W—Uhole county
^ Because the lead standard was promulgated subsequent to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977,
nonattainment designations for lead are not officially promulgated. However, the lead standard
has been exceeded through the years in Douglas County and is still not being attained.
Nebraska's Air Quality Progress
The data discussion that follows is not to be construed to
be an exhaustive or detailed data analysis. An effort was made
to use data from 1974 through 1988 as an indication of air quality
changes or improvements. Where monitor sites were discontinued
and/or relocated, this was not possible. If a monitor was relo-
cated in the same general area in order to provide a continuing
overview, the new location was used to provide the continuity
sought. This has introduced some data bias; however, the intent
is to merely illustrate continuing air quality changes over the
time period stated above. Where multiple monitor sites exist, a
single site somewhat representative of the overall air quality
of an area was selected. Some of the selected sites may not be
either a best or worst case site in an area.
Table III shows a chronological record of the redesignation
of areas in Nebraska since the original areas were identified
in 1978. These redesignations occurred primarily as a result of
changes in air quality. Most represent an improvement in the
status of the area.
Particulate Matter (TSP and PM10)
Figure 2 shows the variation of the annual geometric mean
concentration for TSP for five sites in the state (Omaha,
Hastings, Kearney, Scottsbluff, and Waverly). These sites were
selected because they are representative of statewide air
quality, and monitoring has continued without interruption for
a period of 14 to 15 years.
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Table III
Redesignation of Nebraska Nonattaihment Areas
Area (County)
Redesignation
From
To
Date
Part of Lincoln (Lancaster)
Part of Cass County (Cass)
Part of Sarpy County (Sarpy)
Bellevue (Sarpy)
Part of Douglas County (Douglas)
Weeping Water (Cass)
Omaha (Douglas)
Omaha (Douglas)
Omaha (Douglas)
Weeping Water (Cass)
Lincoln (Lancaster)
All remaining TSP areas
CO Nonattainment
PTSP Nonattainment
PTSP Nonattainment
PTSP Nonattainment
PTSP Nonattainment
PTSP Nonattainment
PTSP Nonattainment
CO Nonattainment
CO Nonattainment
PTSP and STSP
Nonattainment
Unclassified
Unclassified
Attainment
STSP Nonattainment
Attainment
STSP Nonattainment
STSP Nonattainment
Attainment
PM1Q (Group II)1
PH1Q (Group II)1
Attainment
Unclassified
1982
1982
1982
1982
1982
1984
1985
1986
1987
1987
1988
1989
PTSP—Primary TSP !
STSP—Secondary TSP
1
After promulgating the PM^Q standard in 1987, EPA divided all areas of the country into three categories:
(1) areas with a strong likelihood of violating the standard (Group I); (2) areas where attainment of the
standards is possible (Group II); and (3) areas with a strong likelihood of attaining the standard (Group
HI). . i
Figure 3 shows the second maximum 24-hour TSP concentration
changes for Omaha, Hastings, Kearney, Scottsbluff, and Waverly.
Waverly is in Lancaster County, Nebraska, and was selected
because of an absence of long-term total suspended particulate
(TSP) measurement sites in Lincoln. The second maximum is an
illustration of 24-hour values which exceed the national standard
for TSP. The standard allows one exceedance per year of the
24-hour standard; thus, second-high values exceeding the standard
are a violation. Except for Scottsbluff in 1985, there have been
no measured exceedances of the primary standard at these sites
since 1980. The data presented indicate there were no violations
of the 24-hour TSP standard in theit period.
Figure 4 illustrates the second maximum 24-hour PM10 values
for Omaha, Hastings, Weeping Water, and Louisville. The PM10
standard allows one exceedance per year; thus, the second maximum
value is an indicator of standard violations. Omaha and Weeping
Water are Group II areas for PM10° The remainder of Nebraska is
designated Group III. There have been no measured exceedances of
the PM10 standard in Nebraska through 1988.
Sulfur Dioxide (802)
There are no significant SO2 problems in Nebraska. Except
for violations of the 24-hour primary standard (365 jug/m3) in
Omaha in 1975, there have been no measured violations of the
5
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primary or secondary SO2 standard. SO2 monitoring data collection
began in 1975; however, only Omaha has SO2 data which have been
collected through 1988. These data were collected at different
Omaha locations from 1974 through 1988; as a result, long-term
data (10 years or more) are not available at any one location.
Only Omaha continues to report ambient SO2 data.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
The metropolitan areas of Omaha and Lincoln are the only
areas which have had recorded violations of the CO standard.
Figure 5 illustrates the CO air quality improvements in Lincoln
and Omaha. The second high maximum concentration is an indicator
of violations.
The monitor in Omaha was relocated in 1980. The Lincoln
monitor was relocated in 1985. The data in Figure 5 were
collected at differing monitor locations. However, it is
believed that the monitor results illustrate air quality changes
in each community. There have been no CO exceedances reported
in Omaha or Lincoln since 1983.
Ozone
Ozone measurements have been reported for Omaha since 1974.
Lincoln ozone measurement reports date from 1979. Figure 6
contains second maximum 1-hour concentrations reported for Omaha
and Lincoln. No violations have been reported for ozone.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NOX)
Nitrogen dioxide measurements began reporting in 1974 in
Omaha and Lincoln. The nitrogen dioxide concentrations found in
Nebraska are so far below the national standard that EPA allowed
the state to discontinue NOX measurements. No NOX measurements
are reported for Nebraska since 1984. Nitrogen dioxide plays an
important role in photochemical ozone formation. Since there are
no ozone problems in the Omaha and Lincoln metropolitan areas,
NOX measurements are unnecessary.
Lead
EPA promulgated the NAAQS for lead on October 5, 1978.
The lead standard is 1.5 micrograms (p.g) per cubic meter (m^)
quarterly average and is both the primary and secondary standard.
Lead levels measured in Omaha are primarily attributed to a lead
refining operation; whereas, lead levels in other areas of the
state are generally attributed to motor vehicle lead emissions.
Figure 7 shows the measured quarterly averages from Omaha from
1985 through 1988. Omaha is the only area in Nebraska with
significant lead concentrations.
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Summary
The reduction of particulate matter concentrations in
Nebraska is the single greatest air quality improvement state-
wide. Air pollution control activities began with the 1967 Clean
Air Act which provided grant funds which had a significant impact
on air program development in the state. The 1970 Clean Air
Act initiated the NAAQS and required SIPs that would provide for
attainment within three years of approval. A review of the
state's air quality measurements from 1974 through 1988 suggests
that the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1977, with its built-in
sanctions and requirements for reasonably available control
technology (RACT) in certain areas and best available control
technology (BACT) in others and its emphasis on nonattainment
areas had the greatest influence on improving air quality.
Figure 2 shows for the first time in 1981 that einnual average TSP
concentrations, with one exception, are consistently at or below
the standard. In that same period, the two metropolitan areas of
Nebraska did not exceed the primary 24-hour TSP standard.
Figure 3 shows that most of the areas with high particulate
(TSP) concentrations were within the primary TSP standard by
1982. Comparing the years 1986 through 1988 on Figure 3 with
the same years of PM10 monitoring in Figure 4 suggests that much
of the TSP collected were greater than the 10 micron size cutoff
for PM10. Figure 4 shows no exceedances of the 24-hour PM10
standard.
Figure 5 suggests that the Clean Air Act, as amended in
1977, had a significant impact on CO levels measured in Omaha and
Lincoln. The federal motor vehicle pollution control program, in
conjunction with traffic flow improvements and traffic reduction
techniques, has improved CO air quality in the two metropolitan
areas.
As shown in Figure 6, ozone is not a pollutant of concern
either in Lincoln or Omaha. It seems reasonable*, however, that
the federal motor vehicle pollution control program has helped
keep ozone concentrations well below the standard. Likewise,
EPA's lead phase-down in gasoline and the use of unleaded fuels
contributed to the atmospheric lead reductions in the state.
Lead levels in Omaha are still impacted by a stationary lead
source. EPA and the state are evaluating the lead emissions in
Omaha to determine what further action is needed to bring the
area into attainment. :
The Clean Air Act of 1967 provided funding to start up or
expand state air pollution control programs, but the 1970 and
1977 amendments provided the structure needed to develop strong
and effective programs. The 1977 amendments contained require-
ments for areas not attaining the NAAQS to institute more
stringent emissions controls to meet the standards, as well as
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provisions intended to prevent violations in areas with air
quality equal to or better than the NAAQS. The Clean Air Act has
directly influenced activities which have benefited air quality
in Nebraska.
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