LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY | Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto
A DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
The main goal of the Baton Rouge 8-Hour Ozone Attainment Demonstration Study is to develop the photochemical modeling data bases and associated analysis tools needed to reliably simulate the processes responsible for 8-hour ozone exceedances in the Baton Rouge region and the evaluation of realistic emissions reduction strategies for inclusion in the Baton Rouge 8-hour ozone SIP. This project will also provide other areas of the state with enough information that they can make additional senditivity runs to evaluate their own emission reduction strategies to keep them in attainment.
Based on measured ozone data from 2008-2010, the EPA designated the Baton Rouge 5-Parish area as a Marginal 8-hour ozone non-attainment area under the 2008 ozone standard. Although EPA does not require a modeled attainment demonstration for Marginal non-attainment areas, the Baton Rouge area occasionally experiences monitored air quality values that are higher than EPA ozone standards. The results of this project will assist Baton Rouge and other metropolitan areas of the state with data that they can use to develop emission reduction plans to help them reach or maintain attainment with the standard.
On November 14, 2012, DEQ organized a presentation that highlighted the current status of the modeling effort and gave participants an opportunity to ask questions and provide input as the project moves into its final stages. Presentations by DEQ's contractor - ENVIRON and by Alpine Geophysics were well received by the participants. Below are copies of the presentation materials:
Baton Rouge WRF Model Presentation - Dennis McNally, Alpine Geophysics
Emissions Inventory Presentation - Cyndee Loomis, Alpine Geophysics
The project concluded on August 31, 2013 with the preparation of a Technical Support Document. Additional work to further refine the modeling inputs is expected to occur over the next several years. LDEQ will not be required to submit a modeled attainment demonstration until after EPA would finalize a new, lowered standard which is not expected until late 2015.