In June, the Department of Environmental Protection corrected what it said was a technical coding error in compiling its 2013 inventory of air pollution emissions in Pennsylvania.  The result was there was no big leap in air pollution emissions as previously thought and the overall trend in air emissions since 2011 is still down.

The error was brought to the attention of DEP as a result of a question by Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee member Kevin Stewart from the American Lung Association.

For example, emissions of nitrogen oxides in 2013 fell from a previously reported 256,875 tons to 169,440 tons, sulfur dioxide fell from 321,000 tons to 278,287, volatile organic compound emissions were reduced from 25,675 tons to 19,753, particulate emissions from 24,166 tons to 17,713.  (These numbers exclude natural gas-related emissions.)

The net result in the difference between 2012 and 2013 reported emissions is particulates and carbon monoxide continue their downward trend and nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides and volatile organic compounds show a much smaller increase, not the big leap previously reported from 2012 levels.

The overall trend in air pollution emissions between 2011 and 2013 continues downward. 

Nitrogen oxides were reduced by 22,835 tons between 2011 and 2013, sulfur dioxide by 75,193 tons, volatile organic compounds by 610 tons, particulates by 4,875 tons and carbon monoxide by 11,494 tons.

Air pollution emission figures related to natural gas are not included in these numbers and did not change from the previously reported numbers.  Those number were-

 A copy of the email to AQTAC members correcting the error is available online.

DEP should be commended for making the correction.

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8/10/2015