States at the Table Engaging Energy & Environmental Opportunities with Federal Advisory Committees
OVERVIEW • Introduction to AAPCA • The Greatest Story Seldom Told: Profiles and Success Stories in Air Pollution Control • AAPCA resources and comments on Federal Advisory Committees • STATES AT THE TABLE: Engaging Energy & Environmental Opportunities with Federal Advisory Committees • Early Successes • Future Opportunities
Introduction to AAPCA • Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies • Consensus-driven organization of more than 40 state and local air quality agencies • Focus on technical information sharing and serving as a conduit with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Senior officials from 20 state agencies serve on AAPCA’s Board • Located in Lexington, KY with The Council of State Governments • More information: www.cleanairact.org
The Greatest Story Seldom Told • In April 2017, AAPCA published The Greatest Story Seldom Told: Profiles and Success Stories in Air Pollution Control: • Catalogues air quality trends through publicly available data from U.S. EPA and other agencies • Highlights the tremendous progress air quality agencies have made in virtually every measure of air pollution control • Where data sets allow state-to-state comparisons, show areas where states that serve on AAPCA’s Board have provided leadership • Coverage and citations: U.S. EPA (including in testimony), Arkansas DEQ, Texas CEQ, Louisiana DEQ, Wyoming DEQ (including: legal brief and a song), Rep. Kevin Cramer (ND), Oil & Gas Journal, Inside E.P.A., Greenwire, Chattanoogan, Western Wire, Strata Policy Research, Bracewell LLP, Mitchell Williams LLP, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Center for Regulatory Solutions, Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center, National Association of Regional Councils
Criteria Air Pollutant Trends • From 1970 through 2015, there was a 71% reduction in combined emissions of the six criteria air pollutants for which there are national ambient air quality standards. • Concentrations for the six criteria air pollutants are down significantly over the last several decades.
Greenhouse Gas Trends • U.S. EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, 1990 - 2014 : • Greenhouse gas emissions in 2014 were 9% below 2005 levels. • CO2 constituted approximately 81% of total greenhouse gas emissions; methane was second, representing about 11% • From 1990 to 2014, methane emissions fell by 5.6%. • The electricity sector accounts for about 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. • U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions at the State Level, 2000-2014 : • Since 2000, energy-related CO2 emissions down 7.5%. • Per capita energy-related CO2 emissions down more than 18% and energy intensity by state down nearly 22%.
Air Toxics Trends • Between 2005 and 2015, reported toxic air releases were down 56%, or more than 851 million pounds. • AAPCA Member States accounted for nearly two-thirds of the total reduction.
Compliance & Enforcement Trends • In 2016, states performed full compliance evaluations for more than 14,500 facilities, 80x the number conducted by U.S. EPA. • From 2010 to 2014, AAPCA Member States performed full compliance evaluations at nearly 47% of facilities annually, well ahead of the national average.
Permitting Trends • In 2016, AAPCA Member States were more efficient in permitting, with only a 15% backlog for renewing Title V permits among states with more than 100 Title V sources, according to U.S. EPA.
AAPCA Surveys & Resources • AAPCA surveys of state agency perspectives: – The State of Regulatory Reform: Navigating State Perspectives on Clean Air Act Regulations Under Executive Order 13777 (7/2017) – Perspectives on EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (4/2016) – State Environmental Agency Perspectives on Timely NAAQS Implementation (9/2015) – State Environmental Agency Perspectives on Background Ozone & Regulatory Relief (6/2015) • Reports and Fact Sheets: – Timing of U.S. EPA Nominations & Appointments in Past Presidential Transitions (1/2017) – State Clean Air Act Deadlines, 2016 – 2021 (3/2017) – Preparing for Personal Air Sensors: Definition, Opportunities, and Data Limitations (6/2017)
State Perspectives on EPA’s CASAC • In 2016, AAPCA surveyed state air directors for feedback on U.S. EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). • Total of 20 responses, both AAPCA members and non-members • Informative results: – A majority of respondents said state and local agencies are not adequately represented on CASAC and its subpanels, and that these panels are not sufficiently geographically diverse. – A majority of respondents agreed that the CASAC process for nominating and recommending expert candidates was transparent and clearly understood. – Top three barriers selected by respondents to state personnel serving on CASAC or its subpanels were lack of time to serve, low likelihood of being selected, and a perceived lack of expertise. • Role of the AAPCA
AAPCA Comments • In September 2017, U.S. EPA released the Draft FY 2018 – 2022 EPA Strategic Plan , which identified the following strategic goals: Core Mission, Cooperative Federalism, and Rule of Law and Process. • AAPCA provided feedback on the draft plan in October 2017: • “AAPCA regularly tracks state and local environmental agency comments on EPA rulemakings and Clean Air Act issues, many of which highlight the need for a state- driven air quality planning process.” • “AAPCA encourages EPA to identify avenues to increase the early participation of state, local, and tribal experts through federal advisory committees.” • “[G] eographically diverse state and local officials have a unique, independent perspective as a result of their on-the- ground experience carrying out the Clean Air Act and other environmental statutes.” • AAPCA has also provided comments on candidates nominated for U.S. EPA’s Science Advisory Board, Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, and other advisory panels, pushing for geographically diverse state and local officials.
States at the Table Joint project of AAPCA and CSG, located at: www.cooperativefederalism.org Funded in part by a grant from CSG’s 21 st Century Foundation
States at the Table: Overview • Resource portal that catalogues federal advisory committee opportunities at: – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – U.S. Department of Energy – U.S. Department of Interior – National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration • Provides info on meetings, activities, history, and openings with federal energy and environment advisory committees • Dedicated pages have been created for nearly 60 committees, with information on more than 50 meetings and open nominations.
States at the Table: Inside the Portal
States at the Table: Inside the Portal
At the Table: Early Successes • In October 2017, U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a new policy directive on advisory committees that seeks to: – Strengthen Member Independence – Increase State, Tribal and Local Government Participation – Enhance Geographic Diversity – Promote Fresh Perspectives • The three most influential EPA advisory committees now include the highest percentage of state members since at least 2000. • In March 2017, senior officials from AAPCA agencies testified at the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee on proposed legislation affecting EPA advisory committees. • AAPCA / CSG webinars on EPA’s Board of Scientific Counselors, Clean Air Act Science Advisory Committee, and Science Advisory Board. • Portal has been covered by Greenwire , Undark magazine, and CSG’s The Current State and Capitol Ideas magazine.
States at the Table: Future Opportunities • Additional webinars on advisory committees from U.S. EPA, Department of Energy, Department of Interior, and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration • Continued development of STATES AT THE TABLE portal to include updated resources and opportunities • Highlight the importance for federal advisory committees geographic diversity as well as demonstrated knowledge implementing federal rules and regulations
Contact Information Jason Sloan Interim Executive Director Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies (AAPCA) Office: (859) 244-8043 Fax: (859) 244-8001 Email: jsloan@csg.org Nick Conley Graduate Fellow State Energy & Environment Graduate Research Fellowship AAPCA / CSG Email: nick.conley@csg.org
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