AIR QUALITY REGULATIONS Part 1

OBJECTIVES

Air Quality Regulations in U.S. What are Air Quality Standards?

What is a PSD program?

Discuss various Clean Air Act amendments. How is emission trading used to manage air quality? What is ISO14000?

AIR POLLUTION
o

A threat to the ecosystem in recent years. Global problem affecting human beings, trees, lakes, crops, and animals. Damages ozone layer. Creates acid rain. The effects are diverse and numerous.

WATER POLLUTION

Contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and ground water. Problems are more noticeable and immediate in their effect. Often recognized before it reaches crisis proportions.

Public complaints are immediate.

Why Air Pollution Laws Were Not Developed?

Serious health related problems take a long time to show up as a result of exposure to air pollutants. Therefore, public may not appreciate the importance of air pollution laws.

Often disregarded as a health and safety issue.

GOALS OF AIR QUALITY REGULATIONS

Protect and enhance air quality. Protect and promote human health and public welfare.

Air pollution control at state and local level.

Reduce the most significant risks to human health or the environment. Determine risk-based priorities.

Essential Items

Human Effort

Money

Technical Knowledge

HISTORY OF AIR QUALITY REGULATIONS

Prior to 1940: Very little by way of formal regulations. Air Pollution Control Ordinance (around 1815) 1940 - 1955: Initiation of practical efforts in the US as a result of LA type fog

1955 -1990: Development, Implementation, and Modification of Regulations

2001 onwards: New approaches to apply standards, Review of standards

Note : Before passage of 1970 Clean Air Amendments, Air Pollution Laws were sometimes similar to Water Pollution Laws

HISTORY OF AIR QUALITY REGULATIONS

1955 : Research for scope and sources of air pollution 1963: Research for techniques to minimize air pollution

1970: Regulated emissions from stationary and mobile sources

1977: Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) of air quality for non-attainment areas 1990: Control of Acid Deposition

HISTORY OF AIR QUALITY REGULATIONS

2003: Modern pollution-control equipment for power plants built before 1977 2004: Reducing pollutants emitted by diesel-powered equipment

2005: NOx emission standard for aircraft engines

2007: Benzene control technologies for refineries 2009: Reporting of GHG emissions from all the sectors

Role of Business Cycle in Regulations

The US is moving from a manufacturing industry to a service industry with an emphasis on recreational type of activities. Conventional pollutants during early phase (visible emissions) Toxic pollutants (invisible pollutants) after Bhopal accident Small sources, non-point sources (area sources, fugitive emissions) Global problems (GHGs, Climate change)

FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON AIR POLLUTION

TYPES OF LAWS

Common:
The body of law that has grown out of common tradition and usage, as stated in court decisions - usually concerns private rights.

Statute:
The body of law that has been passed by legislators (e.g: US Congress) and stated in formal documents - usually concerns rights of general public. Statute laws usually do not take away a citizen's right to sue

OTHER LEGAL TERMS

Tort : A willful or negligent injury to a person, property, or reputation Nuisance : Unlawful invasion of a possessor's interest in the reasonable use and enjoyment of property

Private Nuisance:

Only the plaintiff or a small, well defined class of plaintiffs are affected Plaintiff(s) could take action

Public Nuisance

Many people in the community are affected Only government could take action

MANAGEMENT OF AIR QUALITY

Emission Standards Air Quality Standards

Pollution Taxes
Cost-Benefit Analysis Risk Standards Based on Pollution

EMISSION STANDARDS

Emission Standards: limit the amount or concentration of a contaminant that may be emitted from a source.

Visible emission standards. Particulate emission standards.

Particulate process weight (or mass) standards.

Gas concentration standards. Prohibition of emissions.

Regulation of fuel.
Zoning restrictions. Dispersion based standards.

EMISSION STANDARDS FOR ON-ROAD DIESEL ENGINES

[Source: Diesel.net (http://www.dieselnet.com)]

EMISSION STANDARDS FOR ON-ROAD DIESEL ENGINES

California Emission Standards for Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines
Year NMHC (g/bhp-hr) THC (g/bhp-hr) CO (g/bhp-hr) NOx (g/bhp-hr) PM (g/bhp-hr)

Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Engines 1987 1991 1994 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 15.5 15.5 15.5 6.0 5.0 5.0 0.60 0.25 0.10

Urban Bus Engines 1991 1994 1996 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 15.5 15.5 15.5 5.0 5.0 4.0 0.10 0.07 0.05

[Source: Diesel.net (http://www.dieselnet.com)]

EMISSION STANDARDS FOR NON-ROAD DIESEL ENGINES

Engine Power
kW < 8 (hp < 11) 8 kW < 19 (11 hp < 25) 19 kW < 37 (25 hp < 50) 37 kW < 75 (50 hp < 100) 75 kW < 130 (100 hp < 175) 130 kW < 225 (175 hp < 300) 225 kW < 450 (300 hp < 600) 450 kW < 560 (600 hp < 750) kW 560 (hp 750)

Tier
Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 1 Tier 2

Year
2000 2005 2000 2005 1999 2004 1998 2004 2008 1997 2003 2007 1996 2003 2006 1996 2001 2006 1996 2002 2006 2000 2006

CO (g/bhp-hr)
8.0 (6.0) 8.0 (6.0) 6.6 (4.9) 6.6 (4.9) 5.5 (4.1) 5.5 (4.1) 5.0 (3.7) 5.0 (3.7) 5.0 (3.7) 5.0 (3.7) 11.4 (8.5) 3.5 (2.6) 3.5 (2.6) 11.4 (8.5) 3.5 (2.6) 3.5 (2.6) 11.4 (8.5) 3.5 (2.6) 3.5 (2.6) 11.4 (8.5) 3.5 (2.6)

HC (g/bhp-hr)
1.3 (1.0) 1.3 (1.0) 1.3 (1.0) 1.3 (1.0) -

NMHC+NOX (g/bhp-hr)
10.5 (7.8) 7.5 (5.6) 9.5 (7.1) 7.5 (5.6) 9.5 (7.1) 7.5 (5.6) 7.5 (5.6) 4.7 (3.5) 6.6 (4.9) 4.0 (3.0) 6.6 (4.9) 4.0 (3.0) 6.4 (4.8) 4.0 (3.0) 6.4 (4.8) 4.0 (3.0) 6.4 (4.8)

NOX (g/bhp- PM hr) (g/bhp-hr)

9.2 (6.9) 9.2 (6.9) 9.2 (6.9) 9.2 (6.9) 9.2 (6.9) 9.2 (6.9) 1.0 (0.75) 0.8 (0.6) 0.8 (0.6) 0.8 (0.6) 0.8 (0.6) 0.6 (0.45) 0.4 (0.3) - 0.3 (0.22) - 0.54 (0.4) 0.2 (0.15) - 0.54 (0.4) 0.2 (0.15) - 0.54 (0.4) 0.2 (0.15) - 0.54 (0.4) 0.2 (0.15)

STANDARDS FOR STATIONARY SOURCES

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR FOSSIL FUELS

STANDARDS FOR MUNICIPAL WASTE COMBUSTORS

STANDARDS FOR PARTICULATE EMISSIONS

EMISSION FACTORS FOR COAL COMBUSTION

AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

Air Quality Standards: Prescribe the pollutant levels that cannot be legally exceeded during a specific time period in a specific geographic region 1970 :

Primary Standards

Protection of public health (to be achieved regardless of cost and within the specified time limit)

Secondary Standards

To protect public from known and anticipated adverse effects Time schedule to be determined by state and local governments

NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

EPA

(Source: USEPA)

NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

POLLUTION TAXES

Used in the US on a limited scale Home energy efficiency improvement tax credits

Windows and Doors Insulation Roofs Heating and cooling equipments

Residential renewable energy tax credits

Solar energy systems (solar water heating and solar electric systems) Small wind systems Geothermal heat pumps Residential fuel cell and Microturbine systems

Automobile tax credits

Hybrid Gas-Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicles Plug-In Electric Vehicles Plug-In Hybrid Conversion Kits Low Speed & 2-3 Wheeled Vehicles

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Economic evaluation of health and environmental interventions is important Quantification of impacts for health, crops, materials, social and economic factors Compare the effectiveness of one intervention against another Help policy makers allocate limited budget Demonstrates economic return of investments

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Direct impacts
Tropospheric ozone formation that effects: Public health Crops Materials Ecosystems Health impacts from primary and secondary pollutants Ecosystem acidification Damage to building and other materials

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Indirect impacts

Changes in GHG emissions with controlled pollutant levels Social and economic effects from impacts and measures recommended for their control

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Source: Lewis J. Perl and Frederick C. Dunbar Cost Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Air Quality Regulations, Papers and Proceedings of the Ninety-Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association1982, Vol. 72, No. 2.

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Source: Lewis J. Perl and Frederick C. Dunbar Cost Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Air Quality Regulations, Papers and Proceedings of the Ninety-Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association1982, Vol. 72, No. 2.

RISK STANDARDS BASED ON POLLUTION

The standards are established based on:

Potential public health impact Health hazard (chronic toxicity) and dose response information of a chemical

Risk Standards of Chemicals

RISK STANDARDS BASED ON POLLUTION

Risk Standards of Chemicals

CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1970

To protect human health and the air environment To establish a national research and development program to prevent and to control air pollution

To provide federal assistance and leadership to state and local governments for air pollution programs

To develop specific standards for hazardous air

pollutants

CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1970

o
o

Important legal event in the US federal air pollution control field Creation of Environmental Protection Agency
Policy

HEW (prior to 1970) Primary emphasis on voluntary control conciliation education persuasion encourage and support state and local action

EPA (post 1970) Enactment and enforcement of effective pollution standards litigation fines injunctions jail terms

PROBLEM

A power plant stack gas (SO2) at 440C contains 2200 ppm. If the volume rate of gas emitted is 15000 m3/min. What is the SO2 emission rate in kg/sec? The stack pressure is 1.0 bar.

SOLUTION

Step1: Calculate density P = RT = {P/RT} Sp. Vol. = {RT/P} = 0.926 m3/kg Step2: Calculate volume Vol. of SO2 emitted = {15000/60}(m3/sec)*2200*10-6
= 0.55 m3/sec

Step3: Mass rate of emission = Density * Volume

=(0.55/) = (vol. of SO2 /) = 0.55/0.926 = 0.594 kg/sec

AIR QUALITY CRITERIA

Expressions of the latest scientific knowledge based on the knowledge of experts. Describe the effects that can be expected to occur beyond "excedence" pollutant level for a specified time period. Miscellaneous

Exposure Combination of pollutants etc

CASE FOR NATIONAL STANDARDS

Unfair economic advantages (by state) Competition for lower standards. Federal Standards for :

automobiles aircraft

industries supplying basic needs

"New Source " performance standards Steam Generators

Initial NSPS issued on December 23, 1971

Portland Cement Plants

Incinerators Nitric acid and H2SO4 plants

Air Quality Control Regions

AQCRs were developed in 1967. Basis: Common meteorology, topography, and climate

Ohio is divided in 14 AQCRs

Toledo: 124 AQCR; Lucas and Wood counties

Air Quality Control Regions in Ohio

Air Quality Control Regions in New Mexico

1973: Sierra Club vs. Ruckelshaus

As a result of the Sierra Club case, the USEPA had to disapprove all implementation plans for not containing provisions for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration of existing air quality.

PREVENTION OF SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION

Applies to new or modified sources constructed after March 19,1979. Potential emissions of 100 tons/year of any single pollutant, or a combined total of 250 tons/year of all pollutants. Best available control technology (BACT) applies to all sources covered. In regions where ambient air quality standards are not being met, a new source is required to provide Emission Offsets.

PREVENTION OF SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION

Class I: This class covers pristine areas of the country and no change from current air quality will be allowed

Class II: Almost all other areas where moderate

change in air quality will be allowed

Class III: Industrialized areas where substantial growth will be allowed, and where the increase in concentration of pollutants up to the federal standards will be insignificant

PSD Increments

APPLICATION OF THE PSD INCREMENT

NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS (NESHAPS)

Beryllium Mercury

Vinyl Chloride
Radio nuclides Benzene Asbestos Others Proposed

HAZARDOUS WASTE INCINERATORS

Incineration was an economic alternative to solve hazardous waste crisis. The NESHAP for hazardous waste combustors was developed in two phases. Phase I, September 30, 1999, addresses hazardous waste burning incinerators, cement kilns, and lightweight aggregate kilns. Phase II, September 14, 2005, Hazardous waste burning industrial boilers, process heaters, and hydrochloric acid production furnaces.

NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS (NESHAPS)

Number of persons living in counties with air quality levels above the primary national ambient air quality standards in 1985 ( based on 1980 population data)