Canada, U.S. Launch Air Quality Pilot Projects
Canada and the United States will join together to reduce air pollution by undertaking three major pilot projects that enable greater opportunities for coordinated air quality management between both countries.
Identification of the pilot projects fulfills a pledge made by the two countries under the Border Air Quality Strategy in January 2003.
Canada and the United States have cooperated on clean air initiatives for more than 20 years. In 1980, the two governments signed a memorandum of intent on air pollution along the border that eventually led to the signing of the Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement in 1991.
In that agreement, Canada and the United States committed to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide to address acid rain and began working together on acid rain research and monitoring in order to report to the public on progress every two years. In 2000, the Agreement was amended to address ground level ozone, an important component of smog.
The joint projects will be completed in cooperation with provincial, state and other stakeholders.
The three pilot projects will be:
— In southwestern British Columbia and northwestern Washington State, the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy will identify measures to reduce air emissions and address transboundary pollution.
— For southeastern Michigan and southwestern Ontario, the Great Lakes Basin Airshed Management Framework will explore the development of a coordinated airshed management approach.
— A joint study will explore the feasibility of emissions trading for nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. These emissions are key contributors in smog, fine particle and acid rain problems, in the Transboundary region.
Provided by theEnvironmental News Service.