The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) is a multi-state organization created under the Clean Air Act. They are responsible for developing and implementing regional solutions to the ground-level ozone problem in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The OTC covers the I-95 Corridor from Virginia and north thru Maine. (www.otcair.org).
In June 2023, the OTC issued a statement calling for stronger federal measures to reduce ozone-forming air pollution, namely, VOC and NOx. The OTC noted that more needs to be done to reduce VOCs and NOx from mobile sources. Further, the OTC noted that the importance of ensuring durability of aftermarket catalysts.
In Sept. 2022, the OTC Modeling team presented results which showed that if the ambient NOx could be reduced by about 30%, most of the Mid-Atlantic region would finally achieve the federal ozone targets. The modeling also showed that non-diesel mobile sources account for more ozone than diesel mobile sources.
Installing Cat-A-Pass™ on commuter vehicles along the I-95 corridor would reduce NOx emissions and thus reduce ozone.
Installing Cat-A-Pass™ on commuters’ vehicles is a low-cost, durable tool to reduce ozone-producing air pollution.The EPA has reviewed and accepted Cat-A-Pass™ performance testing data which shows that for the first 70,000 miles, Cat-A-Pass™ achieves average reductions of 45% each of CO and VOC and 75% of NOx.
OTC Modeling released in June, 2022 shows that Connecticut has 5 of the 7 highest-ozone areas.
The state’s Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) has stated that mobile sources are now the biggest contributor of NOx (Source Contribution to Connecticut Ozone)
Their modeling shows that mobile sources account for 43% of ozone, and that non-diesel mobile sources account for more NOx than diesel mobile sources. Installing Cat-A-Pass™ on commuters’ vehicles is a low-cost, durable tool to reduce ozone-producing air pollution.
In early 2023, the EPA told New Jersey and 22 other states that they need to do more to reduce NOx and ozone pollution that crosses their borders into other states. NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection has said that 79% of NOx emissions are from vehicles, and we should not expect more NOx reductions from other sources. Light-duty vehicles account for 44% of all NOx from vehicles; long-haul trucks account for 24%.
New Jersey can use their existing federal funds to implement Cat-A-Pass on light duty vehicles to reduce NOx from vehicles, which will reduce NOx and ozone pollution in New Jersey.
The greater Philadelphia region, which includes parts of New Jersey, does not meet the federal regulations for ozone.
OTC Modeling released in June 2022 shows that Bristol, PA registers as one of the seven highest ozone sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. The PA DEP data shows that for the five counties around Philadelphia, light-duty gasoline vehicles account for over 70% of VOCs and 50% of NOx.
Installing Cat-A-Pass™ on commuters’ vehicles is a low-cost, durable tool to reduce ozone-producing air pollution.