Maryland’s Innovative Measures SIP: Enhancing Air Quality with Smart Solutions

1. Maryland’s Innovative Measures State Implementation Plan 2004 EPA Air Innovations Conference Brian J. Hug – Chief, Air Quality Policy and Planning Division 410-537-4125 bhug@mde.state.md.us

2. Maryland’s Air Quality • Ozone levels in Maryland are very high • Fine particulate levels are high • Air pollution contributes significantly to Bay pollution • Regional haze and air toxics are also significant air pollution problems in Maryland

3. Maryland’s Innovative Measures SIP • A very flexible SIP that: • Bundles together several land use projects and other innovations that generate air quality benefits • Establishes conservative emission reductions targets for the short term and a larger and more aggressive target in the long term (these projects take time to develop) • No pressure on individual programs – pressure only on the bundle itself • Builds off of EPA’s land-use and voluntary measures guidance • Also incorporates trading concepts to address uncertainty and to create incentives

4. The “Bundle” • Land Use Initiatives • Infill development in Baltimore City • TOD • Mixed Use Development • Transportation Measures • Maryland Commuter Tax Credit Initiative • Alternatively Fueled Vehicle Program • Incident Management Program • Episodic Controls (Ozone Action Days)

5. “The Can Company” • Brownfield site • Portion of revitalized waterfront • Variety of mixed use commercial tenants • Redeveloped housing nearby

6. “Montgomery Park” • MDE’s new offices • Former Montgomery Wards warehouse • Now undergoing “green building” restoration

7. Benefits of Smart Infill Development • Expected reduction of 340,000 – 700,000 VMT per day • Increased emphasis on transit • NOx and VOC benefits should exceed .5 tpd in 2005 (higher in 2025) • Significant reduction on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (especially CO2 – could be over 100 tons per day !)

8. Transit Oriented Development • Multi-use development at the end of the Baltimore Metro Line • Pedestrian bridge to link offices/retail with metro station • Improved bike and pedestrian access

9. Mixed Use Development • Just outside of Annapolis in Anne Arundel County • Redevelopment of central business district • Mixed use • Proposed bus and trolley station • Still in planning stage – lots of controversy

10. Transportation Initiatives • Commuter Tax Credit Program • Incident Management (CHART Program) • Alternative Fuel Vehicle Program

11. Episodic Reductions: Ozone Action Days • Clean Air Partners coordinates a regional ozone education & voluntary action program for Baltimore and Washington • Effort focuses voluntary reductions from: • Vehicle use • Paint and consumer product use • Lawn and garden equipment • Annual and episodic surveys to track progress

12. Land Use Credit Tools • Current tools are relatively new and will be refined with time • SIP is using a multiple tool/ model approach • During future analysis new tools and models will be used to further refine the expected emission benefits

13. Multi-Pollutant Benefits • Original initiatives focus on reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) • SIP approach could be used for other initiatives or pollutants in the future • Reducing VMT lowers mobile source emissions across the board • Particulate Matter • Volatile organic compounds (VOC) • Nitrogen oxides (NOx) • Greenhouse Gases • Toxics

14. Challenges • Coordination with other agencies and interested parties • Connections with transportation planning • Analysis tools/Quantification • Multi-purpose SIP (policy driven) • Changes in Overarching Policy and Timing • 1hr vs 8hr Ozone Standards – where does this concept fit best? - does this work best to maintain the NAAQ standards as real benefits (to combat continued sprawl) are decades and not years away?