RESOLUTION OF THE STATES OF THE OZONE TRANSPORT COMMISSION CALLING FOR COMPLETION THIS SUMMER OF INTERREGIONAL OZONE TRANSPORT PLANS RELATED TO THE EXISTING HEALTH-BASED STANDARD

WHEREAS the Clean Air Act requires that States submit State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions to meet the existing health-related National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for nonattainment areas by November 15, 1994; and

WHEREAS the States of the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) have adopted emission control measures to reduce ozone levels within the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States; and

WHEREAS transport of ozone and ozone precursors into the Ozone Transport Region (OTR) interfere significantly with efforts of the States of the OTC to submit attainment demonstrations; and

WHEREAS reductions of transport of ozone and ozone precursors into the OTR will be necessary to protect public health in the OTR; and

WHEREAS emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) contribute not only to ozone transport, but also to nutrient loading in watersheds and acid deposition, as well as other environmental impacts; and

WHEREAS EPA in March of 1995 provided an opportunity for States across the eastern United States to work together, beyond the original Clean Air Act deadlines, to develop new approaches to regional and interregional ozone transport by the end of 1996; and

WHEREAS States created the Ozone Transport Assessment Group to develop such approaches to reduce ozone transport; and

WHEREAS the OTAG process has been repeatedly delayed, and now is scheduled to finish in June 1997; and

WHEREAS EPA indicated that they would propose calls for SIP revisions by March 1997, using OTAG data, to support the OTAG process; and

WHEREAS the OTC on January 28, 1997, formally passed a resolution calling on EPA to keep to their schedule for SIP calls; and

WHEREAS despite the OTC resolution, EPA failed to meet its own schedule, delaying all SIP action to later this summer, thereby failing to take the first step to help States to deal with ozone transport;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the OTC expresses its concern and disappointment in EPA actions to date, and calls on EPA to promptly and effectively address interstate transport of ozone and its precursors; and

FURTHERMORE that EPA should issue its proposed calls for SIP revisions as soon as possible; and

FURTHERMORE that the States of the OTC will continue to work with OTAG to attempt to reach consensus through the completion date of June 30, 1997.