REPORT FOR CONSULTATION ON THE
METROPOLITAN DETROIT PORT HURON INTRASTATE
AIR QUALITY CONTROL REGION
AIR POLLUTION 8, AIR QUAL TY
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Public Health Service
Consumer Protection and Environmental Health Service
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REPORT FOR CONSULTATION ON THE
METROPOLITAN DETROIT - PORT HURON INTRASTATE
AIR QUALITY CONTROL REGION
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Public Health Service
Consumer Protection and Environmental Health Service
National Air Pollution Control Administration
October 1969
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CONTENTS
Page
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION 1
EVALUATION OF URBAN FACTORS 10
EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING FACTORS 24
THE PROPOSED REGION 38
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSAL 38
APPENDIX A 46
REFERENCES 50
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PREFACE
The Secretary, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
is directed by the Clean Air Act, as amended, to designate "air
quality control regions" as an initial step toward the establish-
ment of regional air quality standards and implementation of air
quality control programs. In addition to listing the major
factors to be considered in the designation of region boundaries,
the Act stipulates that the designation of a region shall be
preceded by consultation with appropriate State and local
authorities.
The National Air Pollution Control Administration, DHEW, has
conducted a study of the Metropolitan Detroit - Port Huron area,
the results of which are presented in this report. The boundaries
vt
of the Region, as proposed in this report, reflect consideration
of available and pertinent data; however, the boundaries remain
subject to revision suggested by consultation with State and local
authorities. Formal designation will be withheld pending the
outcome of that consultation.
The Administration is appreciative of assistance received
during the course of this study and during previous activities
in the Metropolitan Detroit - Port Huron area from official air
pollution control agencies, the Michigan Bureau of Planning and
Program Development, the Detroit Regional Transportation and Land
Use Study, and local county planning commissions.
*For the purposes of this report, the word "region," when
capitalized, will refer to the Metropolitan Detroit - Port Huron
Intrastate Air Quality Control Region. When not capitalized,
unless otherwise noted, it will refer to air quality control
regions in general.
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INTRODUCTION
"For the purpose of establishing ambient air
quality standards pursuant to section 108, and for
administrative and other purposes, the Secretary,
after consultation with appropriate State and local
authorities shall, to the extent feasible, within
18 months after the date of enactment of the Air
Quality Act of 1967 designate air quality control
regions based on jurisdictional boundaries, urban-
industrial concentrations, and other factors including
atmospheric areas necessary to provide adequate
implementation of air quality standards. The Secretary
may from time to time thereafter, as he determines
necessary to protect the public health and welfare
and after consultation with appropriate State and
local authorities, revise the designation of such
regions and designate additional air quality control
regions. The Secretary shall immediately notify the
Governor or Governors of the affected State or States
of such designation."
Section 107(a)(2), Clean Air Act, as amended
THE REGIONAL APPROACH
Air pollution in most of the Nation's urban areas is a
regional problem, often extending across a number of State
and local governmental jurisdictions. The problem demands a
regional solution consisting of coordinated planning, data
gathering, standard setting, and enforcement. Yet, with few
exceptions, such coordinated efforts are notably absent among
the Nation's urban complexes.
Beginning with the Section quoted above, in which the
Secretary is required to designate air quality control regions,
the Clean Air Act presents a regional approach to air pollution
control involving coordinated efforts by Federal, State, and
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local governments. Figure 1 illustrates this approach which
is initiated when the Federal Government has designated
regions and published air quality criteria and information
on available control techniques. Following the completion of
these steps, the Governor(s) of the State(s) involved in a
region designation file a letter of intent with the Secretary
within 90 days indicating that the State(s) will adopt within
180 days ambient air quality standards for the pollutants
covered by the published criteria and control technology
documents and adopt within an additional 180 days plans for the
implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of those standards
in the designated air quality control region.
The new Federal legislation provides for a regional attack
on air pollution and, at the same time, allows latitude in the
form which regional efforts may take. While the Secretary
retains approval authority, the State(s) involved in a designated
region assumes the responsibility for developing standards and
an implementation plan which includes administrative procedures
for abatement and control. Informal cooperative arrangements
with proper safeguards may be adequate in some regions. In
others, more formal arrangements, such as interstate compacts.
may be selected. The objective in each instance will be to
provide effective mechanisms for control on a regional basis.
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HEW DESIGNATES
AIR QUALITY
CONTROL REGIONS.
HEW DEVELOPS AND
PUBLISHES AIR
QUALITY CRITERIA
BASED ON SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE OF AIR
POLLUTION EFFECTS.
HEW PREPARES
AND PUBLISHES
REPORTS ON
AVAILABLE CONTROL
TECHNIQUES
1' STATES INDICATE
THEIR INTENT
TO SET STANDARDS.
I 1£
\DA
0 \
Ysy
(PUBLIC
HEARINGS)
STATES SET
AIR QUALITY
STANDARDS
FOR THE AIR
QUALITY CONTROL
REGIONS.
/ U
VDA
30 \
YSJ
*-
STATES ESTABLISH
COMPREHENSIVE PLANS
FOR IMPLEMENTING
AIR QUALITY
STANDARDS.
I
I
STATES SUBMIT
STANDARDS FOR
HEW REVIEW.
STATES SUBMIT
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
FOR HEW REVIEW.
STATES ACT TO CONTROL
AIR POLLUTION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH AIR QUALITY STANDARDS
AND PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
Figure 1. FLOW DIAGRAM FOR ACTION TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTION ON A REGIONAL
BASIS.
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THE SIZE OF A REGION
Several objectives are important in determining how
large an air quality control region should be. Basically,
these objectives can be divided into three separate categories.
First, a region should be self-contained with respect to air
pollution sources and receptors. In other words, a region
should include most of the important sources in the area as
well as most of the people and property affected by those
sources. In this way, all the major elements of the regional
problem will lie within one unified administrative jurisdiction.
Unfortunately, since air pollutants can travel long distances,
it is impractical if not impossible to delineate regions which
are completely self-contained. The air over a region will
usually have at least trace amounts of pollutants from external
sources. During episodic conditions, such contributions from
external sources may even reach significant levels. Conversely,
air pollution generated within a region and transported out of
it can affect external receptors to some degree. It would be
impractical and inefficient to make all air quality control
regions large enough to encompass these low-level effects.
The geographic extent of trace effects overestimates the true
problem area which should be the focus of air pollution control
efforts. Thus, the first objective, that a region be self-
contained, becomes a question of relative magnitude and frequency.
The dividing line between "important influence" and "trace effect"
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will be a matter of judgment. The judgment should be based on
estimates of the impact a source has upon a region, and the
level of pollution to which receptors are subjected. In this
respect, annual and seasonal data on pollutant emissions and
ambient air concentrations are a better measure of relative
influence than short-term data on episodic conditions.
The second general objective requires that region boundaries
be designed to meet not only present conditions but also future
conditions. In other words, the region should include areas
where industrial and residential expansion are likely to create
air pollution problems in the foreseeable future, and provide a
way of maintaining areas now favored by clean air. This
objective requires careful consideration of existing metropolitan
development plans, expected population growth, and projected
industrial expansion. Such considerations should result in the
designation of regions which will contain the sources and receptors
of regional air pollution for a number of years to come. Of
course, region boundaries need not be permanently fixed, once
designated. Boundaries should be reviewed periodically and
altered when changing conditions warrant readjustment.
The third objective is that region boundaries should be
compatible with and even foster unified and cooperative govern-
mental administration of the air resource throughout the region.
Air pollution is a regional problem which often extends across
several municipal, county, and even state boundaries. Clearly,
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the collaboration of several governmental jurisdictions is
prerequisite to the solution of the problem. Therefore, the
region should be delineated in a way which encourages regional
cooperation among the various governmental bodies involved in
air pollution control. The existing pattern of governmental
cooperation on the whole range of urban problems may become an
important consideration. The pattern of cooperation among
existing air pollution control programs is a relevant factor.
In general, administrative considerations dictate that govern-
mental jurisdictions should not be divided. Although it would
be impractical to preserve State jurisdictions undivided,
usually it is possible to preserve the unity of county govern-
ments by including or excluding them in their entirety.
Occasionally, even this is impractical due to a county's large
size, wide variation in level of development, or striking
topographical features.
To the extent that any two of the above three objectives
lead to incompatible conclusions concerning region boundaries,
the region must represent a reasonable compromise. A region
should represent the best way of satisfying the three objectives
simultaneously.
PROCEDURE FOR DESIGNATION OF REGIONS
Figure 2 illustrates the procedures used by the National
Air Pollution Control Administration for designating air quality
control regions. A preliminary delineation of the region is
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ENGINEERING EVALUATION
• EMISSIONS INVENTORY
• METEOROLOGY
• AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS
EXISTING AIR QUALITY DATA
DIFFUSION MODEL OUTPUT
URBAN FACTORS
• Jurisdictional Boundaries
• Urban-industrial Concentrations
• Cooperative Regional Arrangements
• Pattern and Rate of Growth
• Existing State and Local Air
Pollution Control Legislation & Programs
Preliminary
Delineation
of
Regions
Consultation
with State
and Local
Officials
Formal
Designation
by
Secretary-HEW
Figure 2. Flow diagram for the designation of air quality control regions.
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developed by bringing together two essentially separate
studies--the "Evaluation of Urban Factors," and the "Evaluation
of Engineering Factors."
The "Evaluation of Urban Factors" encompasses considerations
of a non-engineering nature. This evaluation consists of a
review of existing governmental jurisdictions, current air
pollution control programs, demographic data, current urbanization,
and projected patterns of urbanization. The study of urban
factors also attempts to determine the size of the region that
is necessary to include areas where projected urbanization will
create increasing air pollution problems in the future.
The "Evaluation of Engineering Factors" considers pollutant
source locations, emissions, and the geographic extent of air
pollutant concentrations in the ambient air.
The findings of the urban-factors evaluation are combined
with the results of the engineering-factors evaluation, and an
initial proposal for the air quality control region is made.
As indicated in Figure 2, the proposal is submitted for
consultation with State and local officials. After reviewing
the official transcript of the consultation proceedings which
provides the viewpoints of State and local officials toward the
proposal, the Secretary formally designates the region. Formal
designation includes a notice in the Federal Register and a
notification to the Governor(s) of the State(s) affected by the
designation.
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The body.of this report contains a proposal for the
boundaries of the Metropolitan Detroit - Port Huron Intrastate
Air Quality Control Region and the urban and engineering
factors evaluations supporting the proposal. The report
itself is intended to serve as a background document for the
formal consultation with appropriate State and local
authorities.
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10
EVALUATION OF URBAN FACTORS
INTRODUCTION
A number of urban factors are relevant to defining air
quality control region boundaries. Since human activity is the
primary cause of air pollution, and humans are the ultimate
victims, the location of population is an important consideration.
The projected population growth pattern is another important
consideration, since an air quality control region should be
designed not only for the present but also for the future. For
similar reasons, the location of industrial activity and the
industrial growth pattern are relevant considerations. Political
and jurisdictional considerations are important since the Clean
Air Act envisions regional air pollution programs based on
cooperative efforts among many political jurisdictions. The
following discussion of urban factors will present these
considerations as they apply to the Detroit - Port Huron area.
REGIONAL SETTING
The seven counties considered for inclusion in the
Metropolitan Detroit - Port Huron Intrastate Air Quality Control
Region are Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair,
Washtenaw, and Wayne. These counties are members of Region I
of Michigan's Planning and Development Regions and are included
in the Detroit Area Transportation and Land Use Study (TALUS) .
This group of counties is referred to throughout this section
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11
as the "study area." The study area lies in the southeast
corner of Michigan with Ohio on its southern boundary and the
Canadian cities of Sarnia and Windsor on its eastern boundary.
The three counties of Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne comprise the
Detroit Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA)." Monroe
County is a part of the Toledo, Ohio, SMSA. The Ann Arbor SMSA
is formed by a single county, Washtenaw. The Flint SMSA abuts
the study area to the northwest. St. Glair and Livingston
Counties are not part of SMSA's. Figure 3 outlines the four
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Population
Figure 4 and Table 1 display present population and
1 2
population densities in the Detroit area. ' Wayne County
contains over 2,700,000 people and represents 58% of the 7-county
study area population. Another 31% live in Oakland and Macomb
Counties. Thus, 89% of the study area population is located in
three of the seven counties. The population distribution by
o
county is shown in Figure 4. Figure 5, a generalized land-use
map, illustrates the 1965 urbanized area in the study area,
portraying a continuous urban area centered in Wayne County
and extending into Oakland and Macomb Counties.
Projected population growth1 from 1965 to 2000 is shown in
Table 1 and in Figure 6. Macomb County is expected to show the
greatest growth in population density with 2,215 additional
residents per square mile. Wayne and Oakland Counties are
SMSA's are defined by the Bureau of the Census and other Federal
agencies for use in publishing census data and a variety of other
government statistics.
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SHIAWASSEE
T
I
PL
GENESEE
FLINT
LAPEER
SMSA
SANILAC
PORT HURON.
SAINT CLAIR
LIVINGSTON
I
I
I
I
I
I
OAKLAND
MACOMB
.
WASHTENAW
LFNAWEE
MICHIGAN^ || £>_
"If"1"* ^ "*•
CQ
FULTON
ANN ARBOR SMSA
II
|| WAYNE
I
i
i
i
i
MONROE
O
I LUCAS
I
1
SMSA Boundary
Figure 3. Map of Standard Metropolitan Statistical
Areas (SMSA's).
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PORT HURON
\
SAINT CLAIR
\
MICHIGAN
OHIO"
Residents per square mile
>4000
1000---4000
300---1000
100 300
< 100
Figure 4. 1969 Population Density"*
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TABLE i. POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT DATA FOR DETROIT STUDY AREA
Area
2
mi.
572
480
557
867
734
711
605
County
Livingston
Macomb
Monroe
Oakland
St. Clair
Washtenaw
Wayne
Pop..
1965
41,327
521,000
107,421
771,000
107,985
191,223
2,679,000
Pop . Den
Res. /mi.
1965
72
1085
193
890
147
268
4420
Pop.
1969a
48,000
595,000
117,000
885,000
117,000
233,000
2,740,000
Pop. Den.
Res ./mi.
1969
84
1,240
210
1,020
159
328
4,540
Pop. *
2000
108,114
1,586,998
342,067
1,690,180
253,624
419,999
3,836,000
Pop . Den,
Res. /mi.
2000
190
3,300
615
1,950
346
590
6,345
Add, Res.
per mi.
1965-2000
118
2,215
422
1,060
199
322
1,925
Percent
Increase
1965 -2000
162%
205%
218% •
119%
135%
119%
43%
Mfg.
Empl.
1963a
2,303
69,722
6,837
66,528
9,741
25,827
357,663
Den. of
Mfg. Empl
Empl. /mi 2
1963
4
145
12
77
13
36
592
^''Population Study", Detroit Regional
Transportation and Land Use Study,
TATUS, June, 19o7.
a Commercial Atlas and Manufacturing fruide,
100th Edition, 1969, Rand-McNally and
Company.
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LAKE
HURON
INDUSTRIAL
Figure 5. Generalised land use maps of the TALUS study area (1965) and Region I of Michigan's Planning and
Development Regions (Adapted from Detroit Regional Transportation and Land Use Study).
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MICHIGAN
OHIO"
Additional Residents per square mile
>1500
50O---1500
150 500
< 150
Figure 6. Population Growth, 1965-2000,
Expressed in Absolute Terms.
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17
expected to follow with increases of 1,925 and 1,060 additional
residents per square mile, respectively. The remaining four
counties are projected to show increases of from 100 to 500
additional residents per square mile. By percent rate of
population growth, Macomb and Monroe Counties are expected to
show the greatest growth with rates of over 200% in the
thirty-five year period.
In summary, present population statistics indicate that
the core of the. study area is the City of Detroit (Wayne
County) whose metropolitan area extends into Macomb and
Oakland Counties. Projected growth patterns indicate that
most of the growth will occur in locations north and northeast
of Detroit, especially in Macomb County.
Industry
Two techniques are used to illustrate the location of
industrial activity. The first method is based on the density
by county of people employed in manufacturing activities.
2
According to 1963 data, Figure 7, Wayne County had by far
the greatest density of manufacturing employees with 592 per
square mile. Macomb County followed with 145 employees per
square mile. The remaining counties in the study area had
less than 100 manufacturing employees per square mile.
The second method shows the location of industrial areas
o
by the land use map (see page 15). Figure 5 shows that all
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MICHJGAN
OHIO"
Manufacturing Employees
per square mile
}>500
100---5CC
20---100
' 20
Figure 7. Manufacturing Employment
Density, 1963.2
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19
counties in the study area except Livingston have industrial
areas which are large enough to appear on the map. The
greatest concentration of industrial land-use is found in
Wayne County. Industrial land use is prevalent along the
Detroit River and along a corridor extending from northeast
Wayne County into southwestern Macomb County.
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMS
In 1966 the Governments of Canada and the United States
requested the International Joint Commission to investigate
the sources and extent of transboundary flow of air pollution
in the vicinity of Port Huron (St. Clair County)—Sarnia,
Ontario, and Detroit (Wayne County)--Windsor, Ontario. This
industrialized area along the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers
includes Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and St. Clair Counties. The
study within the United States is being conducted on a
cooperative basis by the personnel and material resources of
appropriate Federal, State, county, and municipal agencies.
The study within Canada has been conducted under the technical
administration and coordination of the Canadian Department of
National Health and Welfare (DNHW) and the Ontario Department
of Health. If transboundary flows of air pollution are
demonstrated, there will be recommendations of preventive or
remedial measures. In Canada, the Province of Ontario, and in
the United States, the Detroit-Port Huron Air Quality Control
Region would provide the proper mechanisms to deal effectively
with the transboundary air pollution problems.
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20
The Air Pollution Control Section of the Michigan Department
of Public Health administers a comprehensive air pollution
control program on a state-wide basis. Local units of government,
such as the Wayne County Department of Health, Division of Air
Pollution Control, may administer their own air pollution
control program if the rules and regulations of the State are
suspended by the State's Air Pollution Control Commission, The
Michigan Air Pollution Control Commission may suspend its rules
and regulations in a local jurisdiction which enacts regulations
at least as stringent as those of the State.
One significant aspect of the State program is its monitoring
of air quality in the major metropolitan areas. Additional
activities include the development of a comprehensive state-wide
emission inventory and a schedule for emission control, and
technical support to local community programs.
The Wayne County Department of Health, Division of Air
Pollution Control, was formed by the recent merger of the Wayne
County Department of Health, Air Pollution Control Section,
with the Detroit Air Pollution Control Program.
One purpose of the merger was to promote the control of
air pollution on a uniform county-wide basis. The merger combined
the staff and equipment of both departments. The new program has
plans to have 32 new staff members during the first year, in
accordance with a projected expansion to 113 staff members at the
end of three years. The new program will include field evaluation
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21
of emission sources, county-wide monitoring of ambient air
quality, an expanded emission inventory program, development of
emission and air quality standards, a meteorological and air
quality processing program, and permits and inspection
activities.
Regional Planning
The Office of Planning Coordination (Bureau of Planning
and Program Development), State of Michigan, has divided the
State into fourteen planning and development regions. Region
I, with Detroit as the regional center, is comprised of seven
counties—Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Glair,
Washtenaw, and Wayne. Several factors were used to delineate
the regional boundaries including inter-county commuting,
State Economic Areas, and newspaper circulation.
The Detroit Regional Transportation and Land Use Study
(TALUS) grew out of recommendations by a Special Mayor's
Committee on Transportation in 1963. The four-year investigation
of the study area began in July 1965, as a special project of
the Detroit Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Commission,
now called the Planning Division of the Southeast Michigan
Council of Governments—SEMCOG. SEMCOG consists of governmental
units of six counties—Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Glair,
Washtenaw, and Wayne. Besides the Planning Division, SEMCOG
has divisions of public works, public safety, health, education,
and governmental services.
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22
The six counties included in SEMCOG are also included in
the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA).
The Authority may consolidate, improve, and coordinate public
transportation within its jurisdiction.
In 1965, the Detroit Edison Company, working with Doxiadis
Associates (Athens, Greece) and Wayne State University, undertook
a 5-year comprehensive study to analyze growth patterns in the
Detroit and Great Lakes area. The results of the first two
phases of the study are published in two volumes, Emergence
and Growth of an Urban Region—THE DEVELOPING URBAN DETROIT
AREA. The third phase will be completed in 1970 and will
provide a broad basis for planning for future growth in the
Urban Detroit Area (25 counties in Michigan, 9 counties in Ohio,
and 3 counties in Ontario, Canada).
In THE DEVELOPING URBAN DETROIT AREA, Volume II.5 various
alternatives to the present urbanization trends are explored
and evaluated. Each alternative solution falls into one of
five broad families which vary as to location of the major
center of the region: "A" and "B"—Detroit as a single center;
"C"—twin centers of Detroit and Port Huron area; "D"—twin
centers of Detroit and an area south of Toledo; and "E"—twin
centers of Detroit and the Flint area. Within each family,
other parameters and planned variables are introduced such as
transportation networks, future population, maximum travel times,
location of ports, airports, and schools, and employment
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23
distribution. In short, after use of the Isolation of Dimensions
and Elimination of Alternatives method (IDEA), Alternative 120
is ranked as the one superior to all others. Alternative 120
is based on a twin urban center for Detroit in the Port Huron
area. This alternative solution to the future urbanization
pattern of the Detroit area awaits critical review by experts
and the community.
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24
EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING FACTORS
The engineering evaluation for the Detroit-Port Huron
area was based on a study of topography, air pollutant
emissions, meteorology, estimated air quality levels, and
available ambient air quality data. The emission inventory
indicated the location of point and area sources and
estimated the quantity of pollutants emitted from these
sources. This information was combined with average
5
meteorological data and used in a diffusion model to
estimate air quality levels. The estimated air quality
information was supplemented by measured air quality data
whenever available.
EMISSION INVENTORY
The emissions inventory for the Metropolitan Detroit-Port Huron
area was conducted by the National Air Pollution Control Administration,
Division of Abatement. The four counties included in the emissions
inventory study area were Wayne, Macornb, Oakland and St. Clair
County. This inventory was based on fuel-usage data for 1967.
The National Air Pollution Control Administration was also responsible
for developing a final emissions report for the International Joint
Commission (IJC) composed of representatives of the United States
and Canadian Federal Governments. The data from the IJC emission
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25
inventory will be used as part of the final UC report in 1970,
which covers the same four-county area in Michigan, plus the
western portions of tha Province of Ontario, Canada.
For the purposes of this report, only total particulates,
sulfur oxides, and carbon monoxide emissions estimates are considered.
These three pollutants best represent the spectrum of air pollution
sources. Particulate emissions indicate primarily the extent of
industrial, heating, power and incineration emissions. Carbon
monoxide emissions show the impact of motor vehicle emissions,
since over 91 percent of all carbon monoxide emitted in the Detroit-
Port Huron area comes from motor vehicles. Emissions of sulfur oxides
illustrate the distribution of fuel burning activities at private,
commercial, industrial, and governmental establishments including
power plants.
The emissions inventory study area (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb,
and St. Glair Counties) was divided into 65 grids based on the
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System. Grid squares --5, 10
and 20 kilometers on a side—enclose a total area of 6,200 square
kilometers. The study area includes some of the most densely
populated and heavily industrialized areas in the United States.
Emission densities in tons/km2/day were determined for
each of the three pollutants by relating the estimated quantity of
pollutants emitted in each of the zones to the land area of each
zone. The resulting emission densities for particulates, CO,
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26
and SO are presented in Figures 8, 9, and 10. Figure 8 shows
A.
high particulate emission densities in the vicinity of Zug Island
along the Detroit River. The sulfur oxides emission density map,
Figure 9, shows high emission densities in Detroit and in southern
Port Huron. The highest densities extend along the Detroit River
near the River Rouge-Zug Island area. Carbon monoxide emission
densities, shown in Figure 10, are more evenly distributed throughout
the urbanized portions of the four-county study area. Highest densities
are found in downtown Detroit where traffic density is greatest.
Major industrial, institutional and municipal point sources
located in the area include 90 separate plants. Industrial establish-
ments cover a wide variety of processes, including the following:
food processing; paper manufacturing; crude oil refining; chemical
manufacturing; minerals processing; iron, steel, and non-ferrous
metals manufacturing; metal fabricating; and automotive manufacturing.
Figures 11 and 12 show the locations of major point sources of
particulates and sulfur oxides emissions, respectively. There are
17 power plants and heating plants among the 90 point sources. It
should be noted that the maps of estimated emission densities and
point source locations do not include emission sources for the
Province of Ontario, Canada.
AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS
A study of air quality levels, measured and estimated, is useful
in determining which areas are affected by pollution sources. Such
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l_ _
Figure 8. Density of
Particulate Emissions
Tons/km /day
RS^ MO
-------
I
DO
Figure 9. Densii, of
Sulfur Oxides Emissions
T"r>ns/km /day
0. 1
-------
115
T t_
Figure 10. Density of
Cariion Monoxide Emissions
'
Tons/km /da\
•
-------
-
Figure 11. Major Sources of
ParticuLate Emissions
• Industrial
O Power Plants
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Figure L2. Major Sources of
Sulfur Oxides Emissions
• Industrial
O Power Plant K
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32
analysis can be based directly on air quality sampling data in those
instances where the sampling program for particulates, CO, and SO
X
covers a sufficiently large area. Air quality data, measured over
a time period long enough to provide a reliable pattern, rarely exists.
It becomes necessary in this situation to estimate prevailing air
quality through use of a diffusion model.
A description of the diffusion model used in this study, and the
meteorological data input are shown in detail in Appendix A. The
diffusion model results for the Detroit area are discussed below.
By estimating the patterns of dispersion of three major pollutants:
particulates j carbon monoxide, and SO,,, the diffusion model technique
has provided a guide to the Region boundaries but does not dictate
the exact boundary location. By way of example, if significant
concentrations of one or more of the three pollutants are found in
a county contiguous to the Detroit urbanized area, the county
should be considered for inclusion in the Air Quality Control Region.
The final decision on the boundaries of the Region, however, should
be based on joint consideration of non-engineer ing as well as engineering
factors.
Suspended Particulates
Figure 13 shows adjusted theoretical suspended particulate
contours as predicted by the diffusion model based on estimated
annual emissions and meteorological conditions. A comparison with
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MICHIGAN
OHIO" '
Suspended Particulates- -i(g/m
Figure 13. Theoretical annual suspended
particulate levels. Levels adjusted to
Include estimated background level.
Measured Air Quality Data
Station
(Michigan)
a
b
c
d
e
f
(Detroit)
-
h
i
j
k
1
Concentration, //g/m
Jan. -Nov., 1967
113
112
110
122
148
86
April, '67 -Jan.,1 68
210
62
162
113
124
161
Data supplied by the
Department of Public Health.
Data supplied by the Wayne
County Health Department.
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34
measured air quality data from the National Air Surveillance
Network, the Wayne County Health Department and the Michigan
Department of Public Health, showed that the theoretical contour
values tended to underestimate the measured levels by a factor of
about two in the Detroit area. The lower theoretical values may
be explained by one or both of the following: the theoretical
estimates do not take into account background concentrations of
o
suspended particulates (approximately 40/jLg/m ); and emissions
from the surrounding counties in Michigan, Ohio, and Canada were
not programmed into the diffusion model. If the assumed background
3
level of 40 yjg/m is added to each of the theoretical contour values,
the levels predicted tend to more nearly approximate the measured
air quality levels. Adjusted values are given in Figure 13.
Figure 13 shows that large parts of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne
Counties and parts of Washtenaw and Monroe Counties have annual
suspended particulate concentrations which are above background
levels. Another center of particulate pollution is found in St.
Clair County, just southwest of Port Huron.
Carbon Monoxide
Figure 14 shows diffusion model contours based on CO emissions
in the four-county area. These contours are presented as relative
rather than absolute. Highest relative carbon monoxide levels are
found in Detroit where traffic density is greatest.
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35
SAINT CLAIR ) [SARNIA
I '
MICHIGAN
OHIO"
Figure 14. Relative levels of Carbon Monoxide.
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36
Sulfur Oxides
Figure 15 shows theoretical annual sulfur oxide levels as
predicted by the diffusion model. The isopleths are based on
estimated annual emissions and meteorology in the four counties
of St. Glair, Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne. Despite a 3-hour
half-life factor applied to the model to allow for decay of sulfur
oxide in the air, the model results seem to be slightly overestimated,
o
The theoretical 0.01 ppm (approx. 28 iig/m ) contour as
predicted by the model has been used in past air quality control
region studies as a guide to show that area which is significantly
affected by sulfur oxides emissions from an urban complex. The
area enclosed by this isopleth should therefore be considered for
inclusion in the Air Quality Control Region. Encompassed by the
0.01 ppm contour are parts of Wayne, Macomb, Oakland and Monroe.
A separate 0.01 ppm contour is found in St0 Glair County in the
vicinity of Port Huron„
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PORT HURON
SAINT CLAIR i 1 'SARNIA
0,0
MICHIGAN
OHIO"
Sulfur oxides--ppm
Figure 15. Theoretical concentration of sulfur oxides
pollution, annual average.
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38
THE PROPOSED REGION
Subject to the scheduled consultation, the Secretary, Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare, proposes to designate an air
quality control region for the Metropolitan Detroit - Port Huron
area, consisting of the following jurisdictions in the State of
Michigan:
Macomb County
Oakland County
St. Clair County
Wayne County
As so proposed, the Metropolitan Detroit - Port Huron Intrastate
Air Quality Control Region would consist of the territorial area
encompassed by the outermost boundaries of the above jurisdictions
and the territorial area of all municipalities located therein and
as defined in Section 302(f) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 1857h(f).
Figure 16 shows the boundaries of the proposed Region while Figure 17
indicates the geographic relationship of the Region to the surrounding
area.
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSAL
To be successful, an air quality control region should meet
three basic conditions. First, its boundaries should encompass
most of the pollution sources as well as most of the people and
property affected by those sources. Second, the boundaries should
encompass those locations where industrial and residential development
will create significant air pollution problems in the future. Third,
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SAINT CLAIR 1 \SARN IA
Figure 16. Proposed Metropolitan Detroit-
Port Huron Intrastate Air Quality Control
Region.
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Michigan
Milwaukee
AQCR-7
Lake
ichigan
Proposed Detroit
Port Huron AQCR
Caicago
AQCR
Indianapolis
AQCR-
Illinois
9
Indiana
Cleveland
AQCR-
Proposed Dayton
AQCR-
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
—AQCR
Ohio
Cincinnati
s-— AQCR
-Proposed
Steubenville-Weirton-
Wheeling AQCR
West Virginia
Kentucky
Virginia
Figure 17. Relationship of Proposed Metropolitan
Detroit-Port Huron Air Quality Control Region
to surrounding areas.
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Al
the boundaries should be chosen in a way which is compatible with
and even fosters unified and cooperative governmental administration
of the air resources throughout the region. The "Evaluation of
Engineering Factors" (discussion beginning with page 24) discussed
the first of these conditions, and the "Evaluation of Urban Factors"
(page 10), the second and third. The determination of regional
boundaries requires that both urban and engineering factors be
considered. The boundaries chosen should create a cohesive combination
of jurisdictions suitable for region-wide administration of an air
resource management program.
The first consideration--that most air pollution sources and
receptors be within the Region boundaries—is satisfied by the
proposed Region. Most major point sources of sulfur oxides and
particulates are found in Wayne County. However, St. Glair and
Macomb Counties also have several major industrial point sources
and power plants. The emission density maps (Figures 8 , 9 , and
10) point out the area of high emissions of particulates, sulfur
oxides, and carbon monoxide. Wayne County is the primary source
of particulates and sulfur oxides. Highest emission densities of
particulates are found in Detroit and of sulfur oxides in Detroit
and south Port Huron. Carbon monoxide emission densities are more
evenly distributed over the four-county area, and they tend to
reflect the urbanization pattern, since the motor vehicle is the
main emittor. Highest densities are found in Detroit where the
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42
traffic density is greatest.
Air pollution concentrations were predicted by a mathematical
diffusion model. Theoretical concentrations of suspended particulates
were adjusted by adding an assumed background-level concentration.
Parts of six counties have areas which are enclosed by the 40 ug/m3
isopleth (annual average)—St. Clair near Port Huron, southeastern
Oakland, eastern Washtenaw, northeastern Monroe, most of Macomb
and all of Wayne. Highest relative levels of carbon monoxide are
found in Detroit. The area within 0.01 ppm (approx. 28 ug/m) sulfur
O
oxides contour is less extensive than that within 40 ^ig/nr suspended
particulate isopleth. Five of the same six counties, however are
affected according to the diffusion model; Washtenaw does not appear
to be significantly affected by emissions from the proposed 4-county
Region.
The second consideration is directed towards population and
industrial growth potential in the area. Over 4,300,000 people
live in the area proposed as the Detroit - Port Huron Region, which
represents over 4970 of the population of the State, and over 9070
of the population in the 7-county southeast Michigan area. Out of
the seven counties in the area, Macomb County is expected to show the
greatest absolute growth in population density from 1965 to 2000 with
an increase of over 2,200 residents per square mile. Wayne and
Oakland are projected to show increases of 1,925 and 1,060 additional
residents per square mile, respectively. Thus, the main thrust of
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43
population growth is projected to occur north and northeastward
from the City of Detroit.
Though St. Clair County is not projected to grow as rapidly
as Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties, potential for urban growth
certainly exists. In THE DEVELOPING URBAN DETROIT AREA, Volume I,
it is pointed out that Port Huron presently lies on one of the lines
forming the "six-radial pattern of Detroit urban growth." In
4
Volume II of the same study, various alternatives to the present
urbanization trends were explored and evaluated. Alternative 120,
based on a twin urban center for Detroit in the Port Huron area,
was ranked as the one superior to all others. This alternative
solution to the future urbanization pattern of the Detroit area
awaits critical review by experts and the community. It does
point out, however, that Port Huron and therefore St. Clair County
does have the potential for future urbanization and industrial
growth.
The third objective relates to governmental administration in
the area. The four counties proposed for the Air Quality Control
Region are members of SEMCOG—Southeastern Michigan Council of
Governments—along with Monroe and Washtenaw Counties. They are also
part of the Region I of the Office of Planning Coordination, State
of Michigan. The counties are included in the Michigan Economic
Region I and the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA).
The National Air Pollution Control Administration attempts when feasible,
to propose regions which correspond to, or are at least compatible
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44
with State or locally defined planning regions and councils of
government. Though the whole of SEMCOG or Region I of the State's
Office of Planning Coordination is not included in this proposal,
the proposed Air Quality Control Region boundaries do not cross
other existing regional boundaries. The importance of this action
will be more fully realized subsequent to the designation of the
Air Quality Control Region when air quality standards must be set
and an implementation plan devised to achieve these standards.
The regional planning groups may be capable of providing assistance
in the development of air quality standards and implementation plans
which recognize the close relationship between air quality management
and transportation, land-use patterns, solid waste disposal and
other urban activities.
In summary, based on the technical data on air pollution emissions
and theoretical ambient air concentrations, four counties should be
included in the Region. Monroe County, though affected by emissions
of SOx and particulates from Wayne County, is, at the same time,
closely tied to Toledo, Ohio (Monroe is part of the Toledo SMSA).
It is anticipated that Monroe will be proposed as part of the Toledo
Air Quality Control Region later this year. Washtenaw County does
not appear to be significantly affected by air pollution eminating
from the Detroit core area. The county is, however, part of SEMCOG
and the proposed Region I of the Office of Planning Coordination,
State of Michigan, and has considerable growth potential. Therefore,
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45
it should be observed carefully and added to the Region if future
conditions warrant. Livingston County, likewise, is not part of
the regional air pollution problem and is at present almost entirely
rural, but it is included in area-wide planning efforts now in
effect. It is expected that Livingston will become part of SEMCOG
in the near future. Like Washtenaw it may be considered for
inclusion in the Air Quality Control Region at a later date if
conditions warrant.
The Region proposed is considered on the whole to be the most
cohesive and yet inclusive area within which an effective regional
effort can be mounted to prevent and control air pollution in the
Detroit - Port Huron area.
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46
APPENDIX A. DIFFUSION MODEL
Section 107 (a) (2) of the Clean Air Act, as amended, calls for
the designation of air quality control regions based on a number
of factors including "atmospheric areas," interpreted to mean
that the boundaries of air quality control regions should reflect
the technical aspects of air pollution and its dispersion. Within
this guideline, however, the position has been taken that region
boundaries cannot be based on an extreme set of circumstances which
might have a theoretical chance of occurrence. Hence, the analysis
of a region's atmospheric dilution potential is largely based on
mean annual, summer and winter conditions.
With the realization that the meteorological analysis would
help define tentative boundaries only and the final boundaries would
be developed subsequently to reflect local government aspects, it
was decided that the meteorological assessment should be as
unpretentious as possible. Accordingly, the modified long-term
6 7
Gaussian diffusion equation described by Pasquill and Turner
has been applied. The basic equation assumes that the concentration
of a pollutant within a plume has a Gaussian distribution about the
plume centerline in the vertical and horizontal directions, with
the standard deviations in the two directions being a function of
distance from the source and certain characteristics of mixing
layer, collectively referred to as "stability class." In summary,
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47
the diffusion equation is utilized to provide a theoretical estimate
of the geographical distribution of long-period man ground-level
concentrations. This model has the necessary flexibility to utilize
information on emissions from both point and area-wide sources.
To maintain simplicity, sulfur oxide and particulate point
sources were assumed to emit pollutants from a 75 meter level, and
area sources from ground level. A three hour half-life for SOX was
arbitrarily selected.
METEOROLOGICAL DATA INPUT
Appropriate surface wind rose data are selected from U.S,
Weather Bureau records; if necessary, special wind data tabulations
are obtained from the National Weather Records Center (NWRC). The
mean mixing depth for each region, for each respective time period
(seasonal and average), is determined on the basis of computed
8,9
mixing depths documented by Holzworth and recent tabulations
furnished the Meteorology Program by the National Weather Records
Center (ESSA).
The diffusion model was applied for each of the three pollutants
for the three different time periods—annual, winter and summer.
Table A-l and Figure A-l show the meteorological data required to
apply the model for each of the three time periods. Figure A-l
shows the percent frequency of occurrence of wind direction from
1951 through 1960 at the Detroit City Airport for summer, winter,
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48
Figure A-l. Percent frequency
of wind direction for various
averaging times based on data
from the Detroit City Airport.
Annual
20%
Winter Sunmer
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49
and annual conditions. The wind data from the Detroit City Airport
was selected as adequately representing prevailing wind patterns
throughout the area.
The mixing depths for each season and the year are shown in
Table A-l.
Table A-l
AVERAGE MIXING DEPTHS FOR THE DETROIT-PORT HURON AREA*
BY SEASON IN METERS
Season
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Annual
(Four Seasons)
Mixing^
Morning
280
400
518
429
407
Depths 3 Meters
Afternoon
1,697
1,213
762
1,496
1,292
Average
Morning and
Afternoon
989
807
640
963
850
*FUnt, Michigan (1960-1964)
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50
REFERENCES
1. "Population Study," Detroit Regional Transportation and
Land Use Study, TALUS, June, 1967.
2. Commercial Atlas and Manufacturing Guide, 100th Edition,
1969, Rand-McNally and Company.
3. "Generalized Land-Use, 1965," Detroit Regional Transportation
and Land-Use Study, June, 1968.
4. Doxiadis, Constantinos A., Emergence and Growth of an Urban
Region, The Developing Urban Detroit Area, Volumes 1 and 2,
Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Edison Company, 1966, 1967.
5. "General Atmospheric Diffusion Model for Estimating the
Effects on Air Quality of One or More Sources," Martin D.
and Tikvart, J., Paper No. 68-148, 61st Annual Meeting,
APCA, St. Paul, Minnesota, June, 1968.
6. Pasquill, F., "The Estimation of the Dispersion of Windborn
Material," Meteorology Magazine, 90, 1963, pp.33-49.
7. Turner, D. B., "Workbook of Atmospheric Dispersion Estimates,"
U.S. DREW, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1967, revised 1969.
8. Holzworth, G. C., "Mixing Depths, Wind Speeds and Air Pollution
Potential for Selected Locations in the United States," J. Appl.
Meteor.. No. 6, December 1967, pp. 1039-1044.
9. Holzworth, G. C., "Estimates of Mean Maximum Mixing Depths in
the Contiguous United States," Mon. Weather Rev. 92, No. 5,
May, 1964, pp. 235-242.
* U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1 °69— 3?5-??7 '2 1
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