State asks EPA to rescind area non-attainment

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Tuesday (1/27) said a new 3-year average of fine particulate pollution doesn't support the non-attainment designation of Scott and Muscatine counties by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The DNR accelerated its 2008 data collection and analysis in order to submit the information before Feb. 20, the deadline set by the EPA for any change to its non-attainment designation order issued December 22.

In the December order, the EPA used 2005-2007 PM 2.5 (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 micrometers) data which showed pollution levels were exceeded at monitors near Blackhawk Foundry in Davenport and at Garfield School near Grain Processing Corp. in Muscatine.

Using monitoring data for the three-year period 2006-2008, the DNR says particulate pollution at the Muscatine monitor dropped from 36 to 35 micrograms per cubic meter and from 37 to 34 micrograms at the Blackhawk Foundry monitor in Davenport. The air standard is violated when levels "exceed" 35 micrograms per cubic meters.

According to the DNR, using the more recent three-year average at the other two air monitors in Davenport also showed decreases of three micrograms.

Local and state economic development officials have lobbied against the non-attainment designation fearing it would make it more difficult to attract new industry and more costly for existing plants to expand.

If the non-attainment designation isn't rescinded, the state would have to development a State Implementation Plan for bringing the area into compliance with EPA standards.

The regional EPA office in Kansas City will review the new state data and is expected to make a recommendation on whether to remove the "non-attainment" designation to the U.S. EPA in Washington. A final ruling on the non-attainment designation for Scott and Muscatine counties is expected in March.

While the new 2008 PM 2.5 data may have reduced the overall three-year averages at some monitoring sites, the number of days PM 2.5 pollution exceeded EPA health standards in the state was the third highest in the past 10 years.

In 2008, there were 25 exceedances reported, including five at Garfield Elementary monitor near Grain Processing in Muscatine, four at the monitor near Blackhawk Foundry in Davenport, and two at the Jefferson School monitor in Davenport.

Fireworks display blamed for record PM 2.5 reading in Davenport

In fact, the worst air quality index for the entire state in 2008 was at the Jefferson School monitor in Davenport with a 144 reading and a PM 2.5 concentration of more than 62 micrograms per cubic meter.

The state DNR, after a detailed analysis of the "exceptional event," concluded the sky high readings on the evening of July 4 were the result of fireworks from both Davenport (near Modern Woodmen Park) and Bettendorf (near Middle Park).

"The available data suggests that there would not have been an exceedance measured at the site 'but for' the fireworks event," according to the DNR report. "Metals commonly associated with fireworks displays were identified on the exceedance filter."

The DNR plans to develop and publicize a web page to alert the public to the potential adverse health affects from exposure to smoke from fireworks displays, and intends to "recommend that communities with a history of elevated fine particulate levels during fireworks displays take measures to limit fireworks emissions and limit the exposure of sensitive individuals."