Developing a Local HAP Inventory and Reduction Strategy in New Haven, CT

The New Haven Community Clean Air Initiative is a pilot project for EPA’s Integrated Urban Air Toxics Strategy. 1999 National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) data reflected that New Haven County had the second highest quantity of air toxic emissions of any county in New England. In response, EPA and the City of New Haven developed a plan to inventory hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from point, area and mobile sources. New Haven has now completed the final inventory report and initiated work on Phase II of the project, reducing risk associated with air toxic emissions. The risk reduction strategy was devised with input from a focus group comprised of diverse community stakeholders. Because the strategy is a) premised on a reliable local inventory and b) community driven, it has been recognized as a model for community-based projects. This paper addresses New Haven’s experience in developing a local HAP emissions inventory and provides guidance intended to facilitate future community inventory initiatives. The project has demonstrated the potential for refining inventories through targeted data collection at the local level and methodological innovation. The paper also addresses some of the challenges and advantages of local inventory projects and provides insight concerning the resources and partnerships needed to achieve desired results. Finally, this paper reflects on the value of a local inventory to the effort of developing and implementing a comprehensive risk reduction strategy.