It is too late to improve the air quality in the San Antonio area.
Failure to meet federal emissions standards for ozone pollution, the environment is likely to be degraded – in line with environmental regulations and costs, including new vehicle emissions testing standards – over the next few years.
As of 2018, the amount of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds emitted from vehicles, construction and other sources has not fallen far enough to reduce ozone levels in Bazaar County to national limits. As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to change the so-called environment. And with that, more restrictions will be imposed on the county in an effort to reduce emissions.
The move – expected to be approved by the EPA on September 24 – could cost up to $ 8.7 billion in the San Antonio area, according to government estimates in the Alamo area. A number of factors contribute to the impact of the budget, including the cost of industrial licenses, delayed projects and the loss of regional production due to inspection fees and construction barriers. Costs may also be related to transportation.
Currently, San Antonio and surrounding areas have marginal nonattainment, and the national limit is set for 2018 when ozone depletion is less than this area. Lille Hufteller, coordinator of the AACOG Natural Resources Project, has very few of the five unsatisfactory assignments.
According to Huffeller, the allocation of margins has created a three-year period for the county to reduce the ozone level in the 70 billion units to the APA.
“Because we haven’t done that in three years, we’re getting to the middle ground,” he said.
Bexer County ended Ozone season last year – when Ozone peaked between March and November – at 72 ppb. Over the past few years, the concentration has changed between 72 and 73 ppb. Before 2018, the limit was 75 ppb.
Once Bexar County’s unpopular name is relegated to the middle ground, it will have another three years to reduce emissions – until September 2024 – Huffterler. If the county fails to meet the requirement again, additional restrictions may apply.
What does this mean?
Ozone pollution comes from heat and sunlight, nitrogen oxides emitted from cars and trucks, and volatile organic compounds such as construction and painting. The mixture can spread to cities and create a variety of health problems, including asthma and lung infections.
To reduce ozone pollution, Bexar County must follow certain restrictions to reduce nitrogen oxide and VOS.
The most notable of these changes for people in San Antonio is a new vehicle inspection and maintenance inspection for cars aged 2 to 24 years. Existing vehicle safety inspection stations may include emission inspections. They have to rent an analyst for $ 199 a month or buy one for $ 8,000.
The release cost will be the same as in the Austin-Zur Rock area, $ 11.50, which will add $ 7 for a security check. Bexsa County has four years to implement it.
For industrial facilities, air pollution compensation rates will be increased from 1 to 1 to 1.15-to 1. This means that in one process, an institution that increases pollution emissions must be compensated by reducing it elsewhere.
In addition, according to fresh air law, a state in an unstable state must develop a state implementation plan to enforce air quality standards. All federal agencies must comply with this plan, including all industry licenses and approvals. This can lead to delays in construction projects due to prolongation processes and road construction.
“According to the constitution, the rules are more acceptable to the industry, but somewhat harder,” said Wendel Hardin, director of the San Antonio Ozone Discovery Program. Regulatory bodies ask the industry more questions, such as which efficiency controls you set and how to lower your emissions.
What can we do?
According to a study by the Southwest Research Institute, no industry is the main cause of ozone pollution in Bakers County. It takes action on many small and large businesses to make a difference.
“Positively, there is not a single major contamination site that we do not know,” Sibenaler told SwRI. There were very few places we studied that did not contain at least one ozone contaminant.
According to the study, the industry can better cope with the overall pollution of the city by implementing more device inspections to investigate issues, replacing more harmful products with the environment, and implementing various mitigation measures to further reduce emissions.
“As our population grows and the number of businesses grows, it will take effort from a variety of stakeholders,” Sibenler said.
And it’s not just businesses that have a role to play in reducing ozone pollution. Individuals can also do things. Cars and trucks – especially in heavy traffic – are large sources of nitrogen oxide, and ozone pollution increases mainly after the morning run.
When not in traffic, Hardin advises you to reduce your driving time by waiting for a turn-off or rushing into restaurants, and then ordering driving-offs. He also said that it is a good idea to buy gasoline at 7 am or 6 pm. Nitrogen oxides combine with the sun and heat to aggravate ozone pollution.
“The most important thing you can do in a day is not only to improve your behavior during high ozone or ozone, but to change it all the time,” said Harddin. “We certainly don’t want to get to the critical zone. We need to stay calm so that we can continue to reduce pollution. ”
Elena Bruce writes for Express News in the United States for a national service program that puts journalists in local news outlets. ReportforAmerica.org. elena.bruess@express-news.net