UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POSTAGE AND FEES PAID "NVIRONWENT AL PROTECTION EPA-335 AGE A ^ Environmental News Fitzwater (202) 755-0344 O'Neill (202) 755-0344 FOR RELEASE AFTER 3 P.M. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1974 EPA REQUIRES AIR POLLUTION IMPACT REVIEW OF INDIRECT SOURCES The Environmental Protection Agency today issued final regulations for reviewing the air quality impact, prior to construction, of new facilities which may generate significant amounts of auto traffic. These facilities, called "indirect" sources of air pollu- tion, include highways; large parking lots and garages; recrea- tion, sports and entertainment facilities with large parking lots, and major airports. EPA Administrator Russell E. Train stated that "review of new facilities that may cause air quality problems because of the motor vehicle congestion they stimulate is a crucial part of the nation's air pollution control program." Train noted that "although EPA is issuing these regulations, I anticipate and hope that State and local governments will soon assume administration of the indirect source review program." Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed ~ (indicate change, including zip code). EPA PORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-72) R-362 ------- -2- The new regulations are applicable to indirect sources commencing construction after January 1, 1975. The review is designed to insure that construction of such sources will not result in violation of the national ambient air quality standards. According to EPA, indirect source review is just one element in an overall strategy of air quality maintenance that includes such on-going programs as pre-construction review of new stationary sources (e.g., power plants, industrial facilities), standards of performance for new industrial sources, the Federal auto emis- sion control program, and air quality maintenance plans to be developed by each State for areas in which the next decade's development could jeopardize maintenance of air quality standards. These plans are to insure that proper consideration is given to air quality in overall community development and transportation planning. The regulations specify different sizes of facilities to be reviewed in "urban" versus "non-urban" areas. The nation's Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs) are the "urbanized" areas. The following indirect sources must be reviewed: —New road and highway sections in an urbanized area which are expected to carry average daily traffic volumes of 20,000 or more vehicles at any time within 10 years of construction; and modified road or highway sections expected to increase existing average daily traffic volume by 10,000 vehicles or more. —Any new airport in urban or non-urban areas, which is expected to have 50,000 or more aircraft operations per year by regularly scheduled air carriers or 1.6 million passengers per year within 10 years of construction; and any modified airport expected to increase scheduled air carrier operations by 50,p00 per year or passengers by 1.6 million per year. —Any indirect source in an urban area which has a new parking area for 1,000 cars or more, or has a modified parking area which increases capacity by 500 cars or more. —Any indirect source in a non-urban area which has a new parking capacity of 2,000 or more cars or is modified to in- crease capacity by 1,000 cars or more. All owners or operators of indirect sources would have to receive approval for construction from the EPA Administrator or his designated agency. (more) ------- -3- Although the regulations become effective for any source which "commences construction" on or after January 1, 1975, EPA will initiate advance review procedures on July 1, 1974. The early review is designed to help developers secure approval in advance for projects on which construction will be started shortly after January 1, 1975. "Today's regulations/" Train said, "will encourage communities and developers to use good planning and design practices to reduce congestion and thereby avoid air quality problems. By focusing on good planning and design we will largely avoid making air quality a constraint on orderly development." Today's regulations were established in response to a D.C. Court of Appeals order of January 31, 1973, in the case of Natural Resources Defense Council vs. EPA, which directed EPA to be cer- tain that the State Implementation Plans adequately provide for maintenance of the national ambient air quality/standards. EPA subsequently determined that no State plan contained such adequate provisions and required all States to submit indirect source review plans. To date, EPA has received 14 officially submitted State plans for review of indirect sources. Of these, the Florida and Guam plans were fully approved by EPA today. The Alabama plan was approvable except for a procedural deficiency related to public comment provisions. Five plans, from Connecticut, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Ver- mont and Virginia, have been or soon will be proposed for public comment on their approvability by EPA. The other seven plans (Alabama, Idaho, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington) had certain deficiencies. EPA today promulgated alternate measures to correct these deficiencies. For these States and the others that failed to submit plans, EPA will withdraw its regulations if the States submit an approv- able plan. EPA said it will work closely with cognizant State and local air pollution control agencies, community planning and transpor- tation agencies, and general purpose local governments. EPA is encouraging State agencies that develop their own programs to work with appropriate local governmental agencies. (more) ------- -4- In addition to the indirect source regulations, EPA is presently working with the States on plans which will insure the maintenance of all national ambient air standards in the frame- work of general growth, i.e. projected future increase in popu- lation, industrial activity, and motor vehicles. The timetable for these air quality maintenance plans is: March 18, 1974, the States must submit to EPA lists of areas where future development over the next 10 years may cause air quality to exceed the national standards* By June 18, 1975, the States must submit a program for measures to properly integrate air quality considerations into overall development plans. EPA is requiring the air quality maintenance plans since source-by-source review is not by itself an adequate means of evaluating and insuring that air quality standards will be achieved and maintained. Today's regulations will appear shortly in the Federal Register. # # # ------- SOURCES TO BE REVIEWED IN URBAN AREAS (SMSA's) ROADS & HIGHWAYS NEW 20,0 00 vehicles per day (average) MODIFIED 10,000 vehicles increase per day over existing traffic (average) AIRPORTS NEW 50,000 operations or 1.6 million passengers per year MODIFIED 50,000 operations per year increase over existing level, or 1.6 million passenger increase per year OTHER INDIRECT SOURCES NEW Parking for 1,000 cars or more MODIFIED Parking for 500 cars over existing number ------- SOURCES TO BE REVIEWED IN NON-URBAN AREAS (SMSA's) AIRPORTS (Same as in urban areas) INDIRECT SOURCES/ OTHER THAN HIGHWAYS & AIRPORTS NEW Parking for 2,000 cars or more MODIFIED Parking for 1,000 cars or more over existing number ------- |