Previously, air pollution in Charlotte, North Carolina, was severe enough to obscure the 871-foot Bank of America Corporate Center in smog. Over the years, North Carolina’s stricter regulations have improved air quality in Charlotte, though challenges persist.
This progress faces jeopardy due to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to repeal greenhouse gas emission regulations, crucial contributors to global climate change.
In July, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding. This ruling identified greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane as harmful to health and the environment. Repealing it would also remove vehicle emissions standards.
An analysis by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality indicates that criteria air pollutants from vehicles would significantly rise in Mecklenburg County. These pollutants include ozone, lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and PM 2.5, which can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream.
Mike Abraczinskas, director of the N.C. Division of Air Quality, reported that eliminating greenhouse gas standards could increase Mecklenburg County’s emissions of nitrogen oxide, PM 2.5, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds by 470 tons by 2035 and 940 tons by 2050.
The region is already near federal limits for ozone and PM 2.5, linked to health issues like heart disease, respiratory illness, and premature birth. Abraczinskas expressed concerns about maintaining compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards while fostering economic growth.
The EPA claims repealing these regulations won’t alter existing standards for criteria pollutants but admits it “could marginally impact emissions of criteria pollutants and air toxics.” The EPA’s full proposal can be explored in the proposed rule.
During the public comment period, DEQ submitted a letter urging the EPA to withdraw the repeal, citing North Carolina’s vulnerability to intensified hurricanes and wildfires due to climate change.
Jeffrey Robbins, executive director of CleanAIRE NC, criticized the EPA’s timing. Mecklenburg County plans to expand Interstate 77, increasing traffic through historically Black neighborhoods, which could exacerbate pollution. Robbins called this a significant environmental injustice.
Mecklenburg County recently reported zero days exceeding federal ozone standards, aided by wet weather. However, with an average of 68 parts per billion, the county remains close to the 70 parts per billion standard.
Megan Green, the county’s program manager for mobile sources, stated that local and state governments would need alternative emission reduction strategies if EPA standards are repealed. Robbins suggested individuals could mitigate exposure by combining errands, using public transit, and reducing idling time in vehicles.
The EPA has yet to finalize a repeal date and will review 27,000 public comments prior to any decision.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org