REGIONAL HAZE STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
CAUTION: SOME FILES MAY BE IN EXCESS OF 5 MB
Wyoming has been developing federally-required Regional Haze Plans over the past decade. These plans were completed and submitted to EPA in 2003, revised, and submitted again in 2008 and 2011.
309 State Implementation Plan (SIP)
309 Wyoming Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (January 7, 2011)
309 Wyoming Regional Haze SIP Technical Support Document (includes response to comments)
309 Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) Technical Support Document
309(g) State Implementation Plan (SIP)
309(g) Wyoming Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (January 7, 2011)
309(g) Wyoming Regional Haze SIP Technical Support Document (includes response to comments)
What is Regional Haze?
Regional Haze is defined as visibility impairment that is caused by the emission of air pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area. In 1977, the Federal Clean Air Act set a goal to remedy any existing visibility impairment, and prevent any future impairment, from manmade pollution at 156 national parks and wilderness areas across the United States.
Learn more about the broad science of Regional Haze
Learn more about visibility monitoring in the
State of Wyoming
What is a State Implementation Plan (SIP)?
As required by the Federal Clean Air Act, states must submit a plan to the Environmental Protection Agency to outline how the state and the regulated community will address a particular air quality problem.
Why Are There Two Regional Haze SIPs?
The Regional Haze Rule allows the State to participate in an optional program under 40 CFR 51.309. This program primarily addresses sulfur dioxide (SO2) impacts on visibility in the 16 Colorado Plateau Wilderness areas, and also allows the State to take full credit for SO2 reductions at all Wyoming Class I areas. The program establishes SO2 milestones that cap SO2 emissions for the participating states. If these regional milestones are exceeded, then a Backstop Trading Program is triggered.
The 309(g) SIP focuses primarily on nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions which are not covered by the 309 program. This program addresses visibility up until the year 2064. Emissions are addressed through controls known as Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART). Facilities are BART-eligible if they meet the following criteria:
● Were built
or reconstructed between August 7, 1962 and August 7, 1977
● Have the potential to emit more than 250 tons per year of
visibility-impairing pollutants
● Fall into one of 26 categories, including utility and industrial
boilers, large industrial plants such as pulp mills, refineries, and
smelters
Learn More About Federal Regional Haze Rules
40 CFR 51.308
40 CFR 51.309
Appendix Y to Part 51 - Guidelines for
BART Determinations Under the Regional Haze Rule
Learn More About Grand Canyon Visibility
Transport Commission (GCVTC) Recommendations
What is the Status of the Wyoming Regional Haze SIP?
The State of Wyoming submitted the first 309 Regional Haze SIP to the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, in 2003. Judicial challenges to the federal rule made it necessary for the State to submit SIP revisions in 2008. In response to public involvement and EPA comment, the State made further revisions to the 309 SIP and completed a SIP under 309(g). Final revisions to both plans were submitted on January 12, 2011. The State is now awaiting EPA review and approval of the Regional Haze SIPs.
Tracking regional SO2 emissions and filing a Milestone Report is one of the requirements of the 309 SIP. Reports are submitted each year and are listed below. The reports determine whether or not sulfur dioxide emissions (SO2) emitted by large industrial sources exceed the SO2 emission milestones set in the Regional Haze State Implementation Plans for New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. These states submitted Regional Haze Plans and cooperated in the development of these reports.
Regional SO2 Emissions & Milestone Reports
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
SO2 Milestone Tracking Process Audit Completed 10/02/07
2008
2009
2010 (DRAFT 1/19/12)
Two additional analyses are included as part of the draft 2010 milestone report. The projected 2018 inventory that was used to develop the milestones in the §309 SIPs is still current and will be used in the 2013 SIP review to determine the likelihood of meeting the 2018 milestone. The 2006 audit of the tracking system has been determined to meet the requirement for a 5-year audit of the program in 2011.
Projected 2018 Emission Inventory
Draft 2011
SO2 Milestone Tracking Process Audit
Related Links
Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP)
WRAP Regional Modeling Center -
provides modeling assistance to State and Tribal agencies in conducting
regional haze analyses over the western United States
IMPROVE - monitoring network for
visibility
Western
Governors' Association