Howard G. Applegate

Ozone Concentrations in El Paso, Texas

El Paso, Texas may have a problem in meeting ambient air standards due to influx of pollutants from foreign sources. Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, and Fort Bliss abut the city and are areas over which the Texas Air Control Board (TACB) has little or no jurisdiction. The Board maintains two Continuous Air Monitoring Stations (CAM) in El Paso. Ozone, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide data were obtained from these stations. If the EPA Empirical Kinetic Model is used for El Paso, reducing NMHC concentrations may increase rather than decrease O/sub 3/ concentrations. The Texas State Implementation Plan, while not based on Empirical Kinetic Modeling, calls for a reduction of 18% in NMHC. However, 31% of all NMHC in El Paso arise from sources over which Texas had little (a federal military reservation) or no (Cd. Juarez) jurisdiction. It appears the TACB is correct in believing the SIP for O/sub 3/ may not bring El Paso into compliance. (JMT)

Binational Emissions Trading in an International Air Shed: The Case of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez

The quantitative analysis of transfrontier pollution (TFP) relative to aerial pollutants along the United States-Mexico border has been addressed in a series of publications (Applegate and Bath 1974 and 1978; Applegate 1979a, 1979b, 1981a and 1981b; Bath 1983). After defining the problem, a second series of publications were devoted to policy analysis (Applegate 1982a and 1982b; Bath 1981; Applegate and Bath 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986). This article, based on data and policy analysis given in the earlier publications, will explore bilateral emissions trading within an international air shed. We will propose specific approaches to solve aerial TFP within the air shed covering El Paso and Cd. Juarez (EPJAZ). The approaches we suggest, modified to meet the unique requirements of other border sheds, could be used along the entire border with Mexico and possibly elsewhere in the Americas.