Teacher Fact Sheet
Chapter 3: Tulsa Air Quality
Major changes in the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) occurred in a 1990 amendment. EPA designated areas according to how severely they violated the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In preparation for these Amendments, the Tulsa area underwent aggressive and strategic control measures to meet the ozone standard. When the CAA revisions were passed in 1990, the Tulsa area was successfully designated in attainment of the NAAQS. CAA amendment revisions defined non-attainment classifications, which included specific control strategies and associated timetable requirements to achieve compliance with the standard. Also, automobile emissions standards were increased with these revisions. Use of low-sulfur and alternative fuels was also encouraged to reduce the amount of acid rain.
The EPA must have a way to check the states’ air quality and make sure toxic emissions are controlled. To do this, the EPA developed the Ambient Air Monitoring Program which collects data about regional air quality. In addition to judging a state’s compliance with regulations, the program provides for emergency measures that can be activated during severe pollution episodes. The data are also used for research and to observe pollution trends across the country.
Responsibility for collecting the data falls to the states. Local areas have monitoring stations in several places to sample the air. Oklahoma has many monitoring stations around the state.
Tulsa has five
ozone
monitoring stations in what is considered the
Tulsa
area ‘air
shed’. They are located in North Tulsa, Lynn Lane, Skiatook, Mannford,
and Glenpool.
Numerous additional stations monitor for carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide pollutant levels. The data collected by the monitors are transmitted to the EPA, which converts them into an Air Quality Index (AQI ). The AQI has values ranging from 0 to 500. The lower the number, the better the air quality. The AQI is also divided into zones, each a different color. For example, the values 0 to 50 are the green zone, 50 to 100 the yellow, and so on– see student handout. Daily reporting is required only for communities with a population over 350,000. Tulsa AQI information can be found at Tulsa’s Ozone Alert! Program Website: www.OzoneAlert.com, or the EPA at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/where/index.html.
The Tulsa area’s primary air pollution of concern is ground level ozone, largely due to the economic and industrial prosperity brought by the oil boom. When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first enacted the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground level ozone in 1971, the Tulsa area did not meet the standard and was a non-attainment area.
The Tulsa area regained its attainment status in 1990 just before the enactment of the new Clean Air Act Amendment. The Tulsa area experienced two exceedances of the 1-hour ozone standard in June 1991. To develop a pro-active program to diminish the chances of slipping back into non-attainment, the City of Tulsa and other area officials turned to INCOG, the regional planning agency in the Tulsa area. INCOG formed the Air Quality Committee composed of local public agencies, members of the business community, environmental interest groups, and interested citizens. The Air Quality Committee developed and initiated the Ozone Alert! Program in just two weeks time. The purpose of the Ozone Alert! Program was two-fold. First, the goal of the program was to improve the air quality in the Tulsa area. Secondly, the reductions in hydrocarbon emissions that would result from the success of the program, would support our continued demonstration of attainment.
The Tulsa area is clearly meeting the 1-hour NAAQS for ozone established by EPA, and is just slightly above EPA’s newly revised 8-hour ozone standard (as of June 2003). Since 1990, the area has remained in attainment for ozone—or not on the ‘dirty air list’, though at times we have been close.
We have many voluntary action programs to help keep Tulsa off the EPA’s non-attainment list. However, it is getting more difficult to control ozone formation. Traffic density keeps rising, which means more miles traveled in the area. EPA has also tightened the standards, which will make it difficult for Tulsa to meet the air quality standards. The newly revised 8-hour ozone standard will be more protective for pubic health.
At the end of 2002, the city of Tulsa and the EPA signed an Early Action Compact (EAC). Tulsa has agreed to voluntarily implement plans to further improve air quality through enforceable selected and modeled emission control strategies. Through the EAC, and as long as we remain in full compliance of it’s terms and agreement, EPA agrees to defer the effective date of Tulsa’s anticipated 2004 non-attainment designation.
Large cities have varying amounts of air pollution. Some cities are so bad, the EPA has stepped in to enforce air quality standards. Many cities, like Tulsa, have several programs in place that work to improve air quality. These programs show the EPA that Tulsa is working hard to stay in compliance with the standards. This not only keeps Tulsa from having to pay fines, but improves the health of the people who live in the area.
Ozone Alert!
One important program Tulsa has is the Ozone Alert! Program, which was developed in 1991. The program works with local businesses, gasoline suppliers and retailers, and local citizens during high ozone alert days to keep levels low. When a high ozone day is predicted, the community swings into action. Radio and TV announcements warns the public of the ozone alert. Notices appear at gasoline pumps to ask that people wait until night to get gas and not to “top off” their tanks. Gasoline suppliers provide fuels with a low Reid Vapor Pressure that reduce VOCs. People are urged to take a bus, carpool, walk, or bike to work. Drivers are asked to travel without air conditioning. The Ozone Alert! program has been so successful, it has won national acclaim.
Tulsa Commuter Choice/RideShare
The best way to reduce emissions is to reduce the number of cars on the roads every day. The Commuter Choice Program was designed to do just that. Its aim is to reduce the number of cars on the road that have only one person in them by promoting carpooling and alternative transportation such as mass transit, biking, or walking. In addition, the program reaches out to local communities who work with residents, to schools which work with students, and even developers who work with future tenants.
The Commuter Choice Program runs the Tulsa Area RideShare, a carpool matching program. It uses computer software to match up people who have similar commuting habits. Tulsa is the only city in the state that uses this type of software to create carpools.
Clean Cities
Tulsa has patterned its Clean Cities program after the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program. It encourages the use of alternative fuels and technologies that will eventually reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels and protect public health. Tulsa’s Clean Cities Program helps improve air quality in the area by:
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Educating the public about alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.
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Encouraging local governments, private businesses, and other organizations to work together to increase the market for alternative fuels and vehicles, especially places that sell alternative fuels.
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Promoting the alternative fuels program throughout a five county area.
One person changing some of his or her habits does not seem to be a good way to solve the big problem of air pollution. However many individuals, all making small changes in their daily lives can end up having a huge effect on air quality. The changes do not have to be big, and common sense can lead you to making better choices. Walk, ride your bike, or take the bus to school. If your parents have to take you to school, ask them if they will set up a neighborhood carpool. Play in your neighborhood instead of asking your parents to drive you somewhere. Walk, ride your bike, or skate to the corner store or just for fun. Pay attention to ozone alerts, and ask your family to do their part to keep Tulsa’s air as clean as possible.
All of these actions have helped to keep Tulsa off the EPA’s non-attainment list for the last several years. For more information about how to get involved or to have a speaker come to your class, visit our websites at: