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Region 1: EPA New England

New England Celebrates 15 Years of Exceptional Air Quality Progress

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

By Robert W. Varney
November 18, 2005

This week marked the 15 year anniversary of passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This landmark legislation, strengthening one of the cornerstones of American environmental protection, has led to significant improvements in air quality and public health benefits across New England and the United States.

The amendments were signed by President George H. W. Bush on Nov. 15th, 1990 to foster the growth of a strong American economy and industry while improving human health and the environment. To date, the public health benefits of the amendments outweigh the costs by four to one.

One of the highlights of the '90 Amendments was the Acid Rain Program. The innovative cap-and-trade market approach employed in the program has reduced nationwide emissions of sulfur dioxide by 5 million tons, and nitrogen oxides by 3 million tons, from 1990 levels. In addition to substantial health benefits, these reductions have led to a decline in acid deposition and fewer acidic lakes. According to the federal Office of Management and Budget, the Acid Rain Program has accounted for the largest quantified human health benefits of any federal regulatory program implemented in the last 10 years, with annual benefits exceeding costs by more than 40 to 1.

The clean air benefits are not limited to acid rain. Following the 1990 Amendments, much of New England was formally designated as out of compliance with the then-current 1-hour ozone standard. Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause serious breathing problems, and aggravate asthma and other pre-existing lung diseases. It can also make people who are vulnerable more susceptible to respiratory infection. By 2005, only monitors in Connecticut indicate that some areas continue to be out of compliance with that standard, showing that our programs to reduce emissions are working and that the air is cleaner than it was.

Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, some of the measures implemented in New England include:

  • Vapor recovery nozzles at gas stations to reduce vehicle refueling emissions;
  • Cleaner burning gasoline reformulated to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds and other pollutants;
  • Strict NOx emission limits for power plants and industrial boilers;
  • Vehicle inspection and maintenance programs; and
  • Strict limitations on solvent usage in factories.

While these and other measures helped many areas meet the 1-hour ozone criteria, the standard itself has since been revised to an even more health-protective level, called the 8-hour ozone standard. Thus, currently ozone levels are considered unhealthy when average concentrations exceed 0.08 parts per million over an eight hour period.

EPA adopted the more stringent 8-hour standard after research showed that lower levels of ozone exposure over longer periods of time posed health risks not addressed in the 1-hour standard. Based on preliminary data collected this summer, there were 26 days when ozone monitors in New England recorded concentrations above the new 8-hour ozone standard (see: https://www.epa.gov/region1/airquality/nattainm.html ).

The 1990 Amendments also helped regulators to target pollution from particles. Fifteen years ago, Presque Isle, Maine and New Haven, Conn. were designated as out of compliance with EPA’s standard for coarse particulate matter (PM10). Today, all of New England is meeting the PM10 standard and the Agency is currently working with states to implement a more health-protective fine particle standard. Annual average PM10 concentrations decreased 29 percent in the Northeast between 1988 and 2003.

Immediately following the ‘90 Amendments, the metropolitan Boston area as well as both southwest and central Connecticut, were classified as moderate nonattainment for carbon monoxide (CO), meaning that these areas were not meeting the CO standard of 9 parts per million averaged over an 8-hour period. Today, all of New England is meeting the CO standard.

Emissions of several categories of air pollutants have decreased significantly since 1990. Specifically, New England has experienced the following decreases in emissions between 1990 and 2002 (the most recent year for which we have quality assured emissions data): NOx (34 percent); VOC (36 percent); CO (32 percent); and sulfur dioxide (51 percent).

The Agency has also taken a number of additional steps to further reduce air pollution.

Since 2004, new cars, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans are meeting stringent new emission standards. Requirements being phased in through 2009 are resulting in vehicles that are 77 to 95 percent cleaner than older models.

The program also requires a 90 percent reduction in the sulfur content of gasoline, which is helping reduce emissions from all vehicles new and old. Beginning in 2007, EPA’s standards for new diesel trucks and buses will reduce NOx and particulate matter emissions by 90 percent. In addition, EPA is requiring a 97 percent reduction in the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel starting in Oct. 2006.

We are also continuing to address air pollution challenges resulting from the transport of pollution from areas upwind of New England. In March 2005, EPA finalized the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) to help reduce the transport of air pollution from power plants across state boundaries. When fully implemented, CAIR will reduce power plant NOx emissions by over 60 percent and sulfur dioxide by over 70 percent from 2003 levels.

Reflecting on the significant advances made in our air quality in the past fifteen years since passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments should make us all proud of our accomplishments. Credit should go not solely to EPA, but also to our state environmental counterparts, to citizens and organizations working productively toward finding solutions to environmental concerns, and to the political leaders who showed vision and foresight in this strong legislation. Because of this work, people have cleaner air to breath.

Related Information

Robert W. Varney is regional administrator of EPA's New England Office in Boston.

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