REFERENCE TITLE: ozone concentration standard; reinstatement

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature First Regular Session 2017

SCM 1008

Introduced by Senator Griffin

 

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

 

urging the United States President and Congress to take action to reinstate the previous ozone concentration standard of 75 parts per billion.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the President and Congress of the United States:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, on October 1, 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reduced the national ambient air quality standards for ground‑level ozone from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb; and

Whereas, the State of Arizona will have great difficulty in implementing this new ozone concentration standard due to factors that are outside of this state's control, including its proximity to California, extreme heat and intense summer sunshine; and

Whereas, before the implementation of the new ozone concentration standard, the EPA reported that 358 counties in the nation would violate a standard of 70 ppb based on monitoring data from 2011 through 2013; and

Whereas, nonattainment area designations will limit economic and job growth by restricting new and expanded industrial and manufacturing facilities, imposing emission "offset" requirements on new and modified major sources of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emissions, constraining oil and gas extraction and raising electricity prices for industries and consumers; and

Whereas, low-income and fixed-income citizens will bear the brunt of higher energy costs and utility bills; and

Whereas, air quality continues to improve, and nitrogen oxide emissions are already down to 60% nationwide since 1980, which, after adjusting for economic growth, implies a 90% reduction in emission rates from the relatively uncontrolled 1990 rates for nitrogen oxide-emitting sources; and

Whereas, average ozone concentrations have decreased significantly in both urban and rural areas over the past two decades in response to state and federal emission control programs; and

Whereas, instead of giving states enough time to meet the previous ozone concentration standard of 75 ppb through ongoing emission‑reduction programs, the EPA moved the goalpost by imposing a lower standard; and

Whereas, reinstating the previous ozone concentration standard of 75 ppb would provide for continued air quality improvement throughout the nation as emission‑reduction programs under EPA regulations are implemented.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1.  That the President and Congress of the United States take action to prompt the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reinstate the previous ozone concentration standard of 75 ppb.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.