Mount Rainier National Park

Mt. Rainier National Park

Established in 1899, celebrating its 100th Anniversary

Less than 100 miles from downtown Seattle The summit is at 14,410 feet, and is reached by

approximately 6,000 climbers/year Most glaciated mountain in lower 48 states is still

an active volcano, last erupting in mid 1800s

Air Quality Problems

Proximity to Seattle-Tacoma urban center

Vehicular traffic within park boundaries

Centralia power plant, 50 miles southwest of park is direct source of air pollution due to prevailing wind patterns

Market Failures External sources creating air quality problems

within park

Relatively low park entrance fees do not accurately reflect market conditions

Source of much of the wilderness pollution unclear.

Policy Options Within the Park Comprehensive ban on

automobiles

Increase in entrance fees

Expansion of public transportation options

Policy for External Sources Specific emissions limits on Centralia Power Plant

Transferable permits for Seattle-Tacoma industries

Stricter emissions controls on Washington State automobiles

Investment in state-wide infrastructure

Target Solution For the Centralia Power PlantCentralia Air Quality Collaborative Decision Making Group

Limit annual emission to less than 10,000 tons of SO2 per

year beginning in 2003. Installation of two 700 megawatt capacity SO2 scrubbers

at the plant which will be online by Dec 31, 2001 and 2002 respectively.

Installation of low nitrogen burners on both boilers by the end of 2002.

Maintain viability (operation) of the plant and the mine.

Target Solution For the Centralia Power PlantCentralia Air Quality Collaborative Decision Making Group

Expedition of the schedule for the review of NOx emissions.

To take voluntary early election for NOx compliance with federal Clean Air Act amendments.

Installation of low NOx burner modifications will meet the proposed EPA Acid Rain Regulation Program Phase two emission limit of .38 lbs./million Btu annual average.

Preliminary engineering studies indicate that the cost of low NOx burner modification for both burners is approximately nine million dollars.

Target Solution For the Centralia Power PlantCentralia Air Quality Collaborative Decision Making Group

The plant owners will submit NOx control plans to SWAPCA in mid 1997 for a reasonably available control technology review.

Emissions limits for NOx emissions from the Centralia Plant will be established by SWAPCA after the RACT review is completed in 1997 through a regulatory and public review process.

All of the above mentioned emission controls are conditional upon tax exemption from sales tax placed on new control equipment, sales and use tax applied to local coal and any increased property tax due to the installation of new control equipment.

Mount Rainier National Park