Revisions to Toxic Air Pollution Plan Released

Louisville, KY (January 13, 2005) – Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District today released proposed revisions to its new toxic air pollution plan – the Strategic Toxic Air Reduction (STAR) Program. Introduced by Mayor Jerry Abramson in early September 2004, the proposed new regulations remain focused on protecting public health by reducing Louisville Metro’s dangerous levels of toxic air pollution.

The program’s cornerstone of establishing the federal health-risk goal – a cancer risk of 1 in 1 million – as the community’s goal remains unchanged. Since the program’s release nearly four months ago, District staff has spent hundreds of hours listening to community stakeholders and reviewing extensive written public comments. Also released today, is the District’s Preliminary Regulatory Impact Assessment detailing the reason for the new regulation and estimated cost to companies.

Revisions to the program are based on public forums, expert review, and technical working sessions with industry representatives and environmental advocates. The Comment Response document released today provides a side-by-side response to stakeholders’ questions with the District’s answers to the hundreds of comments submitted by citizens, industry groups, and public health and environmental advocacy organizations. A diverse range of local and national interest groups, including the Environmental Protection Agency Region IV office, contributed to the nearly 600 specific and often highly-technical written questions, comments and recommendations.

District Director Art Williams, stated, “I am especially appreciative of the time and energy that our Board members and so many individuals, businesses and organizations have spent reviewing and commenting on the STAR Program. I believe these revisions will strengthen and further enable the District to implement a highly focused and reasonable plan better protecting our community’s public health and quality of life while encouraging continued economic growth.”

The next step for the Air Pollution Control District Board to advance the STAR program is to continue to review the proposed revision, schedule and begin the formal public comment period and setting a future date for a public hearing.

All public comments, the District’s Public Comment Response document, and Preliminary Regulatory Impact Assessment are available on-line at the District’s website: http://www.apcd.org/star

STAR Program Refinements

Retains the key components of a reasonable, responsible approach to reducing levels of toxic chemicals from our air.

Standard – 1 in 1 million risk of developing cancer from lifetime exposure
Chemicals – 37 toxic chemicals including 18 chemical proven by monitoring to exceed the health standard and 19 chemicals that may exceed the standard (antimony deleted because of EPA changes)
Sources of chemicals – 171 companies that are the largest producers of toxic emissions
Timeline – phased in over five years with initial requirements to meet lower emissions beginning in 2007

Incorporates suggested changes from citizens, industry and neighborhood groups to clarify requirements and make the program more workable.

More precise definitions and guidelines to help and ensure companies are able to comply
Reduces companies paperwork by consolidating some reports
Exempts trace or insignificant levels of targeted chemicals (for example, natural gas heaters at GE, initial fueling of manufactured vehicles at Ford plants, laser printers widely used in offices)
Changes some initial reporting requirements to allow companies time to collect more accurate data
Requires APCD to report to its Board on progress of the Program and recommend additional steps to reduce air toxic emissions

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