Ozone Non-Attainment in

San Antonio
Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
Director
City Council B Session
August 8, 2018
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Non-Attainment – What’s the Issue?
• The EPA Ozone standard is 70 ppb and our 3 year
average is 74 ppb
• Effective September 24, 2018 San Antonio/Bexar
County will be in Marginal Ozone Non-Attainment
• We now have 3 years to meet the standard before
being deemed in Moderate non-attainment and
facing more stringent requirements

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Attainment Thresholds for the
2015 OZONE NAAQS (70 ppb)
Nonattainment Classification 8-hour Design Value Range (ppb)

Marginal 71-81
Moderate 81-93
Serious 93-105
Severe 105-111

Bexar County’s Design Value for 2015-2017 is 74 ppb

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 MARGINAL NONATTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS
• Baseline Emissions Inventory
• Transportation Conformity process
• Emissions statements for emissions greater
than 100 tons per year
• New Source Review for new
businesses/expansions that increase
emissions by more than 100 tons per year

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 ECONOMIC COSTS OF NONATTAINMENT
• There will be economic costs
related to loss of gross regional
product (GRP) in Bexar County
• These increased costs are largely
attributed to permitting and
project delays
• Other non-attainment cities have
learned how to minimize these
delays and are showing economic Photo: San Antonio Express News

growth

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Ozone Nonattainment is a Public Health
Issue
• Ozone exposure is known to cause increased:
– Mortality (especially the elderly)
– Cardiovascular disease
– Respiratory disease
– Asthma attacks
– School and work absenteeism

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 PUBLIC HEALTH COSTS OF NONATTAINMENT
• The area could see 19
additional deaths per year if air
pollution continues to worsen
• An estimated 24 deaths could
be avoided annually if San
Antonio air quality improves to
a lower level than the EPA’s
standard. The avoided cost of
these deaths is estimated to be
$220 million
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High Ozone reduces Crop Yields
Ozone: most damaging air pollutant to plants

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Attainment is possible
• Jefferson County (Beaumont – Port Arthur)
achieved attainment status--current ozone
level 67ppb down from 80ppb in 2012
• Houston has reduced their ozone level from
88ppb in 2012 to current 2018 78ppb although
still striving for attainment

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Ozone Levels

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We’re already trending in the right direction

Source: AACOG Regional

Air Quality Strategic Plan
2018-2023

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 AIR QUALITY INITIATIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY
INTERNAL OPERATIONS CoSA & PARTNER POLICY
PLANNING
• Ozone Action Day Plans • Anti-Idling Ordinance
• Fleet Alternative Fuels Vehicle & • Business Registration Program
Emissions Testing • Coal Tar Sealant Ban
• Anti-Idling A.D. • Tree Ordinance
• Alternative transportation
encouragement for CoSA • AACOG Regional Air Quality Plan
employees 2018-2023
• Solar projects • VIA Mobility 2040
• CPS Energy Flex Path Generation
Plan

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 LOCAL OZONE FORMATION ANALYSIS
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS:
• Days with high ozone have slow morning winds
• One monitor is affected by morning winds from the north and
another is affected by morning winds from the west
• NOx is coming from mobile sources including cars and trucks
• Reactive VOCs are also necessary for ozone formation
• Reactive VOCs may only be present during short episodes when
releases occur
• NOx sources are widespread but point VOC sources are not
widespread
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 LOCAL OZONE FORMATION ANALYSIS

INFORMATION GAPS:
• There is a need for more VOC chemical data
• Additional wind data needed at some of the non-regulatory
monitors

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Next Steps - OZONE ATTAINMENT ACTION
PLAN
This plan will be completed by March 1, 2019 and
address:
• Transportation Conformity
• Partner roles (TCEQ, AACOG, AAMPO, Businesses)
• Point Source identification and mitigation

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Next Steps - OZONE ATTAINMENT ACTION PLAN
Effective Immediately:
• Convene internal CoSA Ozone Attainment Working Group to
identify, coordinate and implement city-specific solutions
• Identify partners for Attainment Task Force to assist with
implementing the Ozone Attainment Action Plan – finalize this fall
• Support the business community as they build their Attainment
Business Coalition to identify and promote air quality initiatives
• Expand existing Breathe Today. SA Tomorrow Webpage to include
attainment education and action

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Next Steps - Legislative
• Align requests for funding with City-specific
solutions and include in State and Federal
Legislative Programs [TERP, CMAQ]

• Advocate to maintain current Corporate

Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards

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Next Steps – City Council
• Local Ozone Formation Fall 2018
• Next update March 1

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Thank you. Any Questions?

Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD

Director
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