PARTICULATE MATTER REGULATORY RESPONSE Presented by Karl Loos

PARTICULATE MATTER: REGULATORY RESPONSE Presented by: Karl Loos

REGULATORY RESPONSE: THE ROLE OF INDUSTRY Recognition of the problem Particulates <2. 5 microns in community air are considered to be a serious health risk Emissions from combustion sources are a source of PM 2. 5 Chemical composition of ambient PM 2. 5 is important for assessing sources and developing control strategies Defining the problem with better measurements Working with stakeholders to develop solutions American Petroleum Institute, EPA, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, City of Houston

DEVELOPING BETTER MEASUREMENTS: 1997 -2004 Multi-Stakeholder Project American Petroleum Institute, Department of Energy, Gas Research Institute, California Energy Commission, New York State Energy Research & Development Authority >$3, 000 to develop and test Focus on gas-fired combustion units Boilers, process heaters, turbines, IC engines Results show that these emissions are much lower than believed Share findings with EPA

1997 -1998 EARLY TEXAS PM 2. 5 STUDY Industry and Regulatory Agency Partnership Houston Regional Monitoring Corp. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality City of Houston Measure and Characterize PM 2. 5 in Texas Focus on Houston (9 sites)

PM 2. 5 EMISSIONS REDUCTION Importance of Measurements: Source assessments What to Control Fixed Sources: Scrubbers, VOC leak control (~90% reduction in SO 2 at Shell Deer Park) Mobile Sources: Low sulfur diesel Catalytic converters, PM filters