Cost Benefit Analysis of Washington-Richmond High-Speed Rail

Cost Benefit Analysis of Washington-Richmond High-Speed Rail Spring 2010
3.4 Environmental Conditions
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Figure 3-7: On Road Emissions
The National Emissions Inventory (NEI) is developed
every three years by EPA. The NEI is a national
emissions inventory that includes both stationary
and mobile sources that emit hazardous air
pollutants (HAPs). Section 112(b) of the Clean Air Act
identifies 188 pollutants as HAPs, which are
generally defined as pollutants that are known or
suspected to cause serious health problems. The NEI
contains emission estimates for major sources,
nonpoint sources, mobile sources, and other sources
which do not fall into these categories.
Onroad mobile sources include “licensed motor
vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, buses, and
motorcycles.”
The orange and red shading on the onroad emissions map indicates levels that are higher than 691,028
pounds of emissions per year. Counties and cities in the corridor service area that fall into the high
emissions category, ranging from highest to lowest are Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties,
Washington D.C., and Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico counties.
The middle categories are defined as counties and cities that have moderate levels of onroad emissions,
ranging from 127,104 to 691,027. Jurisdictions located in the service area and included in this range
from highest to lowest are Richmond City, Arlington and Stafford counties, Alexandria City, Spotsylvania,
Fauquier, Westmoreland, Louisa, New Kent counties, Charles City, Essex, Goochland, Culpeper, and King
and Queen counties, and Fairfax City.
The jurisdictions showing the lowest amount of onroad emissions located in the corridor study area are
Caroline, King William, Powhatan, and King George counties, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park,
Fredericksburg, and Colonial Heights cities. These areas have onroad emissions that fall into the range of
zero to 127,103 pounds per year.
Looking more closely at the data, onroad emissions as a percent of total emissions tells a different story.
While Charles City falls into the moderate category for total onroad emissions, onroad emissions makes
up 58% of the county’s total emissions. The counties of Middlesex, Westmoreland, Kind and Queen, and
Loudoun range from 45% - 48% onroad emissions as a percent of the total. For jurisdictions that show
more than half or nearly half of their onroad emissions as making up total emissions, this could indicate
they simply have less nonpoint emissions sources and should not be used as a gauge in obtaining
emissions reductions until it is fully understood.