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### Viewing cable 04OTTAWA3305, MEETING OF U.S./CANADA AIR QUALITY COMMITTEE

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
04OTTAWA3305 | 2004-12-09 15:26 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Ottawa

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 OTTAWA 003305

    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR OES/E: CLAUDIA MCMURRAY
    STATE ALSO FOR OES/ENV: DENNIS AND WHA/CAN: NELSON
    EPA FOR OAR/OAP: BRIAN MCLEAN

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: SENV ENRG EWWT CA
    SUBJECT: MEETING OF U.S./CANADA AIR QUALITY COMMITTEE

    ¶1.  Summary: The U.S./Canada Air Quality Committee met
    December 2 in Ottawa to review air quality issues affecting
    the two countries.  The meeting included discussions of acid
    rain, ozone, scientific cooperation and research,
    consultations and notifications, particulate matter, marine
    vessel emissions, border air quality projects, and health
    science initiatives.  The United States was represented by
    officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the
    Department of State, and Embassy ESTOFFs.  Representing
    Canada were officials from the ministries of Environment,
    Health, Natural Resources and Foreign Affairs, as well as
    provincial officials from British Columbia, Ontario, and
    Quebec.  Bilateral meetings on air quality have taken place
    regularly since 1991, when the two countries signed the
    U.S./Canada Air Quality Agreement.  An Ozone Annex was added
    to the Agreement in 2000, and negotiation of a Particulate
    Matter Annex is under consideration.  End summary.

    Acid Rain
    ---------

    ¶2.  Both countries reported considerable progress in reducing
    emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx),
    the precursors of acid rain.  The U.S. SO2 and NOx emissions
    reduction programs were cited as major successes, with the
    United States achieving emissions reductions well beyond
    targets.  There was a slight increase in SO2 emissions in
    2003, as industry used "banked" allowances, but the overall
    emissions trend will continue to be downward.  U.S. SO2
    emissions in 2003 were 38 percent below 1980 levels, and NOx
    emissions in 2003 were 37 percent below 1990 levels.

    ¶3.  Canada has also reduced SO2 and NOx emissions beyond the
    national targets, although Canada's strategy is to pursue an
    effects-based approach rather than the U.S. tradable
    allowance system.  SO2 emissions in Canada are down by 50
    percent from 1980 levels.  Environment Canada officials said
    they are concerned, however, about tests showing increased
    soil acidification in forests in Eastern Canada.  The two
    countries have prepared a joint proposal for an Acid Rain
    Symposium at the meeting of the Ecological Society of America
    (ESA) in October 2005 in Montreal, a venue which would
    provide a broader forum for discussion and publication of
    data.

    Ozone Annex Compliance
    ----------------------

    ¶4.  The United States and Canada signed the Ozone Annex to
    the Air Quality Agreement in December 2000 to reduce NOx and
    volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, the precursor
    pollutants to ground-level ozone.  The affected areas, a
    transboundary region known as the Pollution Emission
    Management Area, or PEMA, includes most of the U.S. midwest
    and northeast and large portions of Ontario and Quebec.  In
    the United States, the NOx SIP (State Implementation Program)
    Call requires affected states to ensure that NOx emissions do
    not exceed specified seasonal levels.  Reduction strategies
    include implementing a cap and trade program for power plants
    and large industrial boilers, motor vehicle standards and low
    sulfur standards for fuels, as well as measures to address
    VOC controls on smaller sources.

    ¶5.  Canada reported that it will meet its commitment to cap
    NOx emissions from power plants in Ontario and Quebec.
    Representatives from Ontario said that fulfilling the
    provincial government's pledge to close coal plants will
    enable the province to achieve targeted NOx emissions
    reductions, and that any new power plants in the province
    must be at least as clean as natural gas facilities.  The
    government of Ontario is also considering a Renewable
    Portfolio Standard, a requirement that a set percentage of
    electricity come from renewable sources, for any power
    imported into the province.

    Scientific Cooperation and Research
    -----------------------------------

    ¶6.  In the last several years, joint air quality science
    efforts have focused on particulate matter (PM).  The United
    States and Canada recently completed a joint transboundary
    assessment report on PM, which may serve to guide future
    discussions regarding a possible PM Annex to the Air Quality
    Agreement (see paragraph 10).  The two countries have also
    made progress on developing emission inventories, as well as
    coordination of research and development of protocols and
    formats for sharing of data.

    Consultations and Notifications
    -------------------------------

    ¶7.  Officials from Environment Canada expressed satisfaction
    with notification protocols regarding transboundary issues,
    citing the example of the Algoma Steel Mill Consultation
    Group.  The mill, located on the border in Sault Ste. Marie,
    Ontario, is responsible for depositing pollutants on the U.S.
    side, as well as having an affect on visibility in a National
    Park on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  The consultation group
    provides an opportunity for stakeholders on both sides of the
    border, including tribal governments, to address the problem
    cooperatively.  Similarly, the consultation process has
    provided a framework for the United States to express its
    concerns regarding a proposed petroleum coke gasification
    power plant in Thunder Bay, Ontario, about 50 kilometers from
    the U.S. border.

    Particulate Matter
    ------------------

    ¶8.  According to EPA officials, PM is now one of the highest
    U.S. air quality priorities.  There are significant health
    effects from PM, and EPA expects that many areas of the
    United States will be exceeding the National Ambient Air
    Quality Standards for fine PM in 2004.  The current U.S.
    focus is on inorganic precursors of PM, such as sulfates.
    Analysis of the pending U.S. proposal to further reduce fine
    PM has shown that health benefits far outweigh the cost of
    controlling PM.

    ¶9.  Canadian officials said they are compiling database links
    to track PM sources such as wood burning, cement and steel
    manufacturing, and vehicle emissions.  Canada is also
    studying the contributions of agricultural ammonia to PM, and
    officials said that this year's drastic culling of chickens
    in British Columbia because of the Asian Bird Flu is serving
    as the basis of a study to compare PM concentrations from
    ammonia before and after the cull.

    ¶10.  The two countries agreed to hold an informal meeting
    before September 2005 to identify issues of common interest
    regarding PM, including steps towards consideration of a PM
    Annex to the Air Quality Agreement.

    Marine Vessel Emissions
    -----------------------

    ¶11.  Both the United States and Canada cited the need to
    institute stricter emissions standards for large marine
    vessels.  The problem is evident in the Georgia Basin/Puget
    Sound area, where both Seattle and Vancouver operate
    competitive port facilities as well as large fleets of
    passenger ferries.  According to Canadian officials, a 2000
    study showed marine vessels contributing to 33 percent of SO2
    and 22 percent of NOx emissions in the lower Fraser Valley,
    where Vancouver is located.

    Border Air Quality Strategy Pilot Projects
    ------------------------------------------

    ¶12.  The United States and Canada are currently conducting
    three pilot projects under the Border Air Quality Strategy
    announced in June 2003.  The projects include the U.S.-Canada
    Emissions Trading Feasibility Study, the Georgia Basin-Puget
    Sound International Airshed Strategy, and the Great Lakes
    Basin Airshed Management Framework.  The latter has focused
    on the Detroit-Windsor area, with a U.S./Canada steering
    committee and four subgroups addressing airshed
    characterization, policy needs, voluntary early actions, and
    outreach/communications.  Both the United States and Canada
    are conducting joint air quality modeling, sharing data, and
    looking at the feasibility of transboundary emissions
    trading.  For the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound project,
    activities currently center on conducting airshed
    characterization of ozone, PM, and visibility patterns.

    Health Science Initiatives
    --------------------------

    ¶13.  Officials on both sides acknowledged significant gaps in
    the understanding of health effects of specific types of air
    pollution, especially PM.  Canada is conducting a study in
    Windsor, Ontario, on the effects of PM on children, while the
    United States is conducting a complementary study in Detroit,
    just across the border.

    Next Steps
    ----------

    ¶14.  In addition to preliminary discussions in September 2005
    regarding a PM Annex and the possibility of an Acid Rain
    Symposium in October 2005, the two countries tentatively
    agreed to hold next year's Air Quality Committee meeting the
    week of November 9 in Washington.  The Committee also
    accepted the recently released 2004 Air Quality Agreement
    Progress Report, which may be accessed at
    http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/usca/2004report /html.

    Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
    http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

    CELLUCCI

`