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DNREC
Begins Providing Air Quality Impacts of Development to Land
Developers and Local Governments
The
Department
of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)
has started informing developers and local governments of
the impacts of proposed development on Delaware’s air
quality. The
Department began offering these comments at the July 28 Preliminary
Land Use Service (PLUS) meeting.
DNREC
has traditionally commented on a development’s impacts
on natural resources such as wetlands and forests, drainage
and stormwater management, and water supply and water quality. The
decision to add air quality impacts to its advisory role is
fueled in part by Delaware’s status of nonattainment
for ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) under the Clean
Air Act.
DNREC
plans to comment on potential increases of air pollutants including
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur
dioxide (SO2), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and carbon
dioxide (CO2). VOCs and NOx both contribute to the formation
of ozone; sulfur dioxide is a component of acid rain, and carbon
dioxide contributes to global warming and climate change.
There
are three components to the residential household emissions:
- Direct
residential emissions from a typical residence in Delaware
which includes such things as fuel combustion, wood combustion,
architectural coatings, consumer products that contain VOCs,
lawn and garden equipment (engine emissions and evaporation),
and portable fuel containers.
- Electricity
demand emissions which take place at various electricity
generating units throughout our region due to residential
electricity usage and demand.
- Mobile
emissions are generated as a result of the trips that residents
take from home to work, shopping, and other activities.
In
a letter to the Delaware
League of Local Governments and the three counties, Secretary
John A. Hughes stated that comments on air quality impacts
resulting from residential development “were long overdue.” Secretary
Hughes also noted that, “Air
quality impacts from residential development are significant,
in many areas far exceeding the impacts from the more traditional
industrial sources we often associate with air pollution.”
For
example, if a manufacturing facility were to emit 25 tons
per year of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to the pollutant
ozone, the facility would be required to obtain a permit
and would be subject to regulations, enforcement and other actions. In
contrast, a recently reviewed 389-unit residential subdivision,
when fully built out, will contribute an estimated 30 tons
of NOx per year from vehicle emissions alone.
Secretary
Hughes further states in his letter that “local governments
should be anticipating air (quality) impacts (from development)
and planning for (its) mitigation.” This might
involve limiting large new developments to pre-approved growth
areas, concentrating development in areas capable of providing
mass transit services, requiring more energy efficient homes
which would lessen air quality impacts, and promoting walking
and biking within and between developments and town centers. These
and other techniques are further described in “Better
Models for Development in Delaware,” a recently
released publication that supports and promotes Governor
Minner’s Livable
Delaware initiative.
For
further information, contact Kevin Coyle, Planning and Compliance
Assistance, (302) 739-3091
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