The National Air Pollution Technical Information Center: Its Operation and Services

This report describes the operations of the National Air Pollution Technical Information Center of the Division of Air Pollution, Public Health Service, U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; and discusses the Center’s expanding coverage of the world’s journal literature and the report literature from four major clearinghouses. Also reported are efforts to complete the development of an effective information storage and retrieval system, including vocabulary control and hardware testing. A brief analysis is made of the relationships between the Air Pollution Control Association (APCA) ana the Air Pollution Technical Information Center (APTIC) and the benefits to be derived from an effective technical literature program.     

The Clean Air Act and its Implications for Training Requisite Personnel

The Clean Air Act, Public Law 88-206, was signed into law on December 17, 1963. Among the new provisions was the authorization given to the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to award grants for the support of State and local air pollution control programs. The Chief, Division of Air Pollution, then requested the Surgeon General’s Air Pollution Training Committee to make recommendations for the most effective way to train the required numbers of people. The Committee called a special three-day meeting at Airlie House with about 30 consultants. Recommendations for training stemming from the meeting included: (1) University-based programs combined with practical experience in control program. (2) Criteria for the selection of trainees. (3) The outline of a model program. These recommendations were submitted to the Chief, Division of Air Pollution and are currently reflected in the activation of one program and a request to the Congress for funds to initiate two more such programs during Fiscal Year 1966.     

Inventory of Emission for the City of Chicago

A review of the methodology used in the development and implementation of a comprehensive emission inventory survey with emphasis on manufacturing plants. This inventory, a major goal in the Dynamic Air Resource Management Program for the City of Chicago, is a principal objective of a Five-Year Technical Assistance Agreement with the United States Public Health Service, Division of Air Pollution and Chicago’s Department of Air Pollution Control. Information obtained through a 75 percent response from a questionnaire mailed to 7312 manufacturing firms provided the basis for this inventory. Data on the delinquent firms was obtained from on-site evaluation by department engineers. This report will also cover computer processing and tabulation of survey data.     

acid rain and environmental policy

Editor’s note: This paper by Dr. Jacobson was presented at the 74th annual meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association as part of a panel discussion entitled “Acid Rain–1981: An International Issue.” The session was held on June 22, 1981, and was arranged by APCA’s TT-6 Energy-Environmental Interactions Committee.     

Notes From The National Air Quality Conference

The National Air Quality Conference, which was held during January 14-16 in San Francisco, promised to “provide decision-makers in government, business, and labor with information on the possible economic and employment impacts of the federal Clean Air Act along with strategies for change.” The meeting appeared to be important from the standpoint of who was speaking, who was attending, and who was reacting. JAPCA asked Francis J. O’Donnell, editor of Air/Water Pollution Report, to provide this special report.     

Air Quality Technical Information Exchange To the People’s Republic of China

Editor’s note: Donald F. Adams was Past President of the Air Pollution Control Association in 1983 when he led a delegation of air quality experts to the People’s Republic of China for a technical information exchange. Professor Adams has provided an informative (and humorous) report of this technical exchange and we are pleased to share it with the readers of JAPCA.     

The Bag Filterhouse for Oil-Fired Power Plants

This Report, published as Informative Report No. 7 of the Air Pollution Control Association’s TI-5 Public Utilities Committee, began to move through the 14 step approval procedure of APCA’s Technical Council in February 1964 Comments made by members of the Technical Council were considered in the preparation of the final report. It is now published as representing the best thinking of the Association. It is an extremely timely and informative report.     

An Air Pollution Index Based on Sulfur Dioxide and Smoke Shade

First-prize winner in the student paper competition conducted by the Mid-Atlantic States Section of the Air Pollution Control Association was Marvin H. Green, a graduate student at Drexel Institute of Technology and assistant chief of Philadelphia’s Air Pollution Control Section. A condensation of his paper follows.     

The Determination of Gravimetric Pollution Concentrations by Means of Filter Papers

This report, published as Informative Report No. 1 of the Air Pollution Control Association’s TA-8 Meteorological Committee, began to move through the fourteen step approval procedure in March 1964. Comments made by members of the Technical Council were used in the preparation of the final report. It is now being published as representing the "best thinking of the Association." It is an extremely timely and informative report.     

Removal of Exhaust Odors from Solvent Extraction Operation by Activated Charcoal Adsorption

This report, published as Technical Data Sheet No. 1 of the Air Pollution Control Association’s TA-7 Odor and Gas Treatment Committee, has been in the 14 step approval procedure of APCA’s Technical Council and Board of Directors for over two years. The Committee is attempting a new departure in this report which would be reflected in future reports. It has attempted to write a brief summary of a typical case history in a concise fashion on one sheet. Comments made by members of the Technical Council and Board of Directors were considered in the preparation of the final report. It is now published as representing the “best thinking of the Association.”     

Product Guide/1969

The Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association presents its second animal directory of air pollution products. This 11-page guide lists manufacturers of emission control equipment and air pollution instrumentation under product classifications which are shown below. These classifications are derived from McGraw-Hill’s Air Pollution Handbook, chapters 10, 11, and 13. The final portion of this guide contains an alphabetical listing of manufacturers.If any manufacturers or product categories have been inadvertently overlooked, the omission is regretted and should be brought to the attention of the editor. It will result in a more complete and accurate Product Guide/1970 to be published next December.     

Product Guide/1972

The Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association presents its fifth annual directory of air pollution products. This 14-page guide lists manufacturers of emission control equipment and air pollution instrumentation under product classifications which are shown below. These classifications are derived from McGraw-Hill’s Air Pollution Handbook, chapters 10, 11, and 13 . The final portion of this guide contains an alphabetical listing of manufacturers.

If any manufacturers or product categories have been inadvertently overlooked, the omission is regretted and should be brought to the attention of the editor. It will result in a more complete and accurate Product Guide/1973 to be published next December.     

Introduction

Position papers presented at a panel discussion, held June 25, 1973 in Chicago during the 66th annual meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association     

APCA’s Role in a Cleaner Environment

David M. Benforado, retiring president of the Air Pollution Control Association, presented his farewell address at the President’s Luncheon on Tuesday, June 26. Mr. Benforado is a specialist in the Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control Department of the 3M Company, St. Paul.     

ESP Performance Capability and Utilization: Past and Future

The following paper was presented by Alan B. Walker at the International Conference on Electrostatic Precipitation held in Monterey, California, October 14–16, 1981. Mr. Walker’s candid remarks were part of the opening session on “Electrostatic Precipitation Today.” The proceedings of this outstanding conference will be published by the Air Pollution Control Association.     

Growth and Clean Air

The keynote address to the 72nd annual meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association was presented by R.W. Baldwin. His remarks follow:     

Questioning the Cost

The keynote address to the 71st annual meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association was presented by The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen. Excerpts from his address follow:     

Apca Honors Four Individuals In 1975 Awards Program;First Minasian Award To Local Section Also Presented

The Air Pollution Control Association presented its 1975 Honors and Awards program at the President’s Luncheon on June 17. The four awards for individual achievement were:     

Air Quality: Status,Management and Direction

The Tenth Government Affairs Seminar conducted by the Air Pollution Control Association was held in Washington, D.C. on March 17–18, 1982. The APCA Government Affairs Committee of which John S. Lagarias is Chairman, sponsored this meeting. Dr. Jerry Pell was General Chairman of the Seminar Steering Committee which included in its membership: Gordon M. Rapier, Vice-chairman, William K. Bonta, Facilities Chairman, Barbara Bankoff, David Benforado, D. Kent Berry, Samuel Booras, William Chapman, Stanley Coloff, Philip T. Cummings, Roy S. Denham, Gerald P. Dodson, Daniel Dreyfus, Raymond W. Durante, Victor S. Engleman, Richard Grundy, W. G. Hamlin, Glenn Hanson, G. Steve Hart, Terrence Li Puma, Michael Lukey, John E. Maroney, William Megonnell, Curtis A. Moore, Russell Mosher, Joseph Mullan, Sidney R. Orem, Dennis G. Seipp, Martin L. Smith, Roger Strelow, Michael Tinkleman, Neal Troy.

This meeting served as a forum for discussion of the issues of: the Clean Air Act amendments, regulatory reform, international perspectives on acid rain, and new directions pursued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Representative Henry A. Waxman, Chairman, Subcomittee on Health and the Environment, Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives, was the keynote speaker. The Honorable C. Boyden Gray, Counsel to the Vice President of the United States was the luncheon speaker on Wednesday. Daniel J. Goodwin, President, State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators, was the luncheon speaker on Thursday.

Session 1. entitled “The Clean Air Act: Legislative Status,” was moderated by G. Steve Hart, President of APCA. Session 2. “Regulatory Reform,” was chaired by Richard N. Holwill, Vice President for Government Information, The Heritage Foundation. The Honorable A. Alan Hill, and Gordon Snow, from the President’s Council on Environmental Quality were co-moderators for Session 3. which was entitled, “Acid Rain: International Perspectives.” Session 4. “Critical Issues,” was moderated by Walter C. Barber, Jr., Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Condensed versions of the remarks of the participants are presented here. A more extensive summary of the meeting which includes floor discussion is available in the Proceedings of the Tenth APCA Government Seminar which can be obtained from APCA headquarters.