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NARSTO Workshop on Innovative Methods for Emission Inventory Development and Evaluation University of Texas, Austin October 14-17, 2003 |
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The Importance of Emission Inventories from a Policy and Political Perspective
David Schanbacher, P.E.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Emission inventories are one of the keystones of the air quality management process. The policy and political communities often take for granted the technical and scientific foundation of emission inventories when determining the economic and societal impacts of regulations. Inaccurate emission inventories make the policy maker´s job much more difficult. Regulations based on faulty inventories can be less effective than anticipated. Unfortunately, we have found ourselves in the difficult situation in Texas of dealing with an air quality attainment strategy for Houston without the technical certainty of an accurate emissions inventory. So, this presentation will emphasize the importance of the technical and scientific efforts of emission inventory developers and evaluators in devising a effective air quality management strategy. In addition, the research efforts to improve the accuracy, quality, timeliness, and cost of emission inventories will be endorsed. Finally, a note of appreciation will be acknowledged for the dedicated efforts of the emission inventory community in attempting to provide the necessary data and information for the policy maker while enduring the general criticism of not delivering it better and faster.