A Method for Determining Source Reduction Required to Meet Air Quality Standards

Governmental boundaries which divide our states frequently do not coincide with the natural geographic and atmospheric conditions affecting regional air pollution problems. Moreover, the control regulations of one state may vary from those of its neighbors. Such areal synthesis of air pollution control measures might only minimally curb the difficulties.

Continuity of control will require cooperation among contiguous states. In this study the attitudes of incumbent elected officials and air pollution experts (both from within the Philadelphia metropolitan area) toward governmental responsiveness have been investigated. It was hypothesized that politicians would want to demonstrate a status quo approach while experts would advocate the creation of an environmental agency for the Philadelphia region’s pollution problems. However, both sample groups responded to the questionnaire survey affirming that they want government to establish an environmental regional control agency, based upon an interstate compact, that has authority strong enough to be a strict enforcing agent. This regional agency should meet all federal conditions and thus receive maximum federal financial assistance. The policy level officials of this agency should be appointed experts—so as to avoid partisan politics, and to acquire the most qualified personnel.     

State and Local Manpower Resources and Requirements for Air Pollution Control

A recent survey discloses that the total number of professional and technical personnel currently employed in state and local air pollution control agencies is small relative to the total employment of scientists, engineers, and technicians in state and local government generally. The data also indicate that very few positions in control agencies require specialized formal training in air pollution control prior to employment. In general, the future demand for qualified personnel to staff state and local programs depends fundamentally upon our national air quality objectives and the abatement strategy for achieving these objectives. Not until air quality objectives have been made operational and a comprehensive control strategy has been adopted will it be possible to make meaningful forecasts of future state and local manpower requirements. State and local control agencies could probably meet their present requirements by attracting qualified scientists, engineers, and technicians from other fields, if they had salary structures which were competitive with those of industry and the federal government.     

Unsolved Problems with Flue-FED Incinerators

At the beginning of the federal program in 1955, air pollution was viewed as a technical challenge. While technical problems remain, emphasis is shifting toward the social challenge. The degree of federal assistance now available to states and municipalities, under the Clean Air Act, is of broadened scope and higher order of magnitude; it is not confined to technical considerations, but has been expanded to take cognizance of political and economic obstacles that often block the path toward better air pollution control.     

Tax-free Financing of Pollution Control Facilities

Recent proposed Internal Revenue Service regulations, published on June 5, 1971 and implementing Section 103 (c) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, provide additional methods for financing pollution control equipment in unlimited amounts through the use of tax-exempt industrial development revenue bonds. Interest income on the bonds is exempt to the recipient from federal income tax under existing statutes and court decisions, except that such exemption is not generally available with respect to any bonds for any period during which the bond is held by a person who is a substantial user of a project financed with the proceeds of the bonds or a related person within the meaning of Section 103 (c) (7) of the Code. These proposed regulations implement the 1968 amendments to the Internal Revenue Code which authorize the issuance of tax-exempt bonds by local governmental agencies for pollution control improvements. The Legislature of Florida has recently enacted the Florida Industrial Development Financing Act, which creates the local governmental agencies contemplated by the federal legislation and significantly enlarges the power of local governmental agencies to issue industrial development bonds for pollution control.     

Progress Toward a Uniform Air Pollution Index

Recently, various authors^1–4 have indicated that a need exists to establish a uniform air pollution index for communities throughout the nation.Although the literature reveals several attempts to develop air pollution indices,^5–7 none of these indices has received widespread acceptance by state and local air pollution control agencies, probably because none has received the active support or endorsement of the federal government. We now wish to report that significant progress has been made at the federal level toward the goal of a recommended national air pollution index.     

Comparison between Two Outdoor Smog Chamber Facilities: Matched Experiments

Solid growth is seen for the air pollution control industry for the rest of the century. Over the next twelve years purchases of particulate control equipment in the U.S. will grow at a rate considerably better than the GNP; growth rates in developing countries will be even higher. The portion of air pollution control expenditures represented by FGD systems is predicted to rise from its current level of 12 percent to 62 percent in 1991 if acid rain legislation is passed as predicted. A significant market is seen also for municipal, industrial and agricultural waste incinerators. Geography plays an important role in the strength of the industry; in the future, industrialized countries will be the sites of new designs and applications, while developing countries will be the life extension of the tried and proven designs. Industrywide, new product development is seen as an underused route to success.     

Investigating Inhalation Hazard Using Synthetic Radioactive Fallout

Air pollution control efforts by federal, State, regional, and municipal agencies and by industry have expanded tremendously within the past few years. That this increased effort is a reflection of elevated public understanding of the problem and rising public insistence upon action is inescapable. Through all media of mass communication, through the efforts of public service organizations, and through the actions and pronouncements of public officials at all levels of government, the popular desire for better control of air pollution is being expressed with mounting frequency and increasing impact. This fact, in addition to generating an unprecedented expansion in control activity, requires that communication between the individuals and agencies responsible for air pollution control and the citizen, to whom this responsibility is owed, be open, comprehensive, and forthright. Any other response to the need for public information and education concerning the problem of air pollution must in the long run seriously jeopardize the air pollution control effort.     

The Law of Federal Air Pollution Control

The Clean Air Act, while recognizing the primary responsibility of states and local governments for the prevention and control of air pollution, provides authority for federal initiative and action to prevent and to abate air pollution which “endangers the health or welfare of any persons.” The applicable statutory procedures and the scope of federal authority are analyzed and discussed.     

Air Pollution Equipment for Foundry Cupolas

The choice of air pollution equipment best suited for a specific foundry cupola involves the consideration of a number of factors.—They are: (1) The design of the cupola, including openings, door enclosures, height of stack, etc. These features greatly affect the size, cost, and efficiency of control systems. (2) The constituents of the effluent gas and the other properties, such as temperature and volume, are extremely important because corrosion, warpage, and low efficiency can result from these variables. (3) Four distinctly different types of air pollution control equipment are available for cupolas. They vary widely in initial cost, operating cost, and maintenance, but also vary widely in efficiency. (4) Local air pollution regulations and community considerations dictate the choice of air pollution equipment. Those regulations now in force are quite stringent in some localities, but quite lenient in others. An incremental approach to installation of systems would make one economically feasible for the small foundry.     

A Practical Relationship Between Government and Industry

The science of air pollution control is making significant advances and a practical working arrangement between all levels of government and industry must be achieved. Lawmakers, scientists, and industry must work side by side in combatting air pollution; there is no other approach that will give the problem the attention it deserves. How this might be accomplished is the subject of this article.     

Impact of three interactive Texas state regulatory programs to decrease ambient air toxic levels

The Federal Clean Air Act (FCAA) framework envisions a federal-state partnership whereby the development of regulations may be at the federal level or state level with federal oversight. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards to describe “safe” ambient levels of criteria pollutants. For air toxics, the EPA establishes control technology standards for the 187 listed hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) but does not establish ambient standards for HAPs or other air toxics. Thus, states must ensure that ambient concentrations are not at harmful levels. The Texas Clean Air Act authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Texas state environmental agency, to control air pollution and protect public health and welfare. The TCEQ employs three interactive programs to ensure that concentrations of air toxics do not exceed levels of potential health concern (LOCs): air permitting, ambient air monitoring, and the Air Pollutant Watch List (APWL). Comprehensive air permit reviews involve the application of best available control technology for new and modified equipment and ensure that permits protect public health and welfare. Protectiveness may be demonstrated by a number of means, including a demonstration that the predicted ground-level concentrations for the permitted emissions, evaluated on a case-by-case and chemical-by-chemical basis, do not cause or contribute to a LOC. The TCEQ's ambient air monitoring program is extensive and provides data to help assess the potential for adverse effects from all operational equipment in an area. If air toxics are persistently monitored at a LOC, an APWL area is established. The purpose of the APWL is to reduce ambient air toxic concentrations below LOCs by focusing TCEQ resources and heightening awareness. This paper will discuss examples of decreases in air toxic levels in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, resulting from the interactive nature of these programs.

Implications: Texas recognized through the collection of ambient monitoring data that additional measures beyond federal regulations must be taken to ensure that public health is protected. Texas integrates comprehensive air permitting, extensive ambient air monitoring, and the Air Pollutant Watch List (APWL) to protect the public from hazardous air toxics. Texas issues air permits that are protective of public health and also assesses ambient air to verify that concentrations remain below levels of concern in heavily industrialized areas. Texas developed the APWL to improve air quality in those areas where monitoring indicates a potential concern. This paper illustrates how Texas engaged its three interactive programs to successfully address elevated air toxic levels in Houston and Corpus Christi.     

Phase II Allowances Allocations and an Assessment of the Allowance Market in the West

Title IV of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 establishes a unique “market-based“ approach to reduce national electric utility sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions during the next century by about 10 million tons/year below the corresponding level in 1980. This program is designed to provide utility operators with the flexibility to achieve the applicable SO₂ emissions limitations (total tons) using the most cost-effective approach. However, in reality, it is unlikely that many utility operators would have such operational flexibility, especially in the case of plants located in the Western United States. This is due to the fact that these sources may also be subject to other more stringent provisions of the Act, such as to protect public health and visibility, which override the Title IV provisions.

This paper examines the Phase II allowance allocations for the utility units located in the 11 western states and assesses the potential impacts of the current federal/state air quality regulatory programs on the allowance market in the West. This analysis shows that, even after accounting for the projected population growth and the accompanying growth in electric power demand during the next decade, the West should have a surplus of allowances, especially if new regulations are initiated to further reduce SO₂ emissions, mainly for the purpose of improving visibility in Western Class I areas.     

Acid Rain Emission Allowances and Future Capacity Growth in the Electric Utility Industry

While the new source emission offset provision contained in recent acid rain proposals would result in increasing utility costs over time, the demand for emission offsets from new powerplant units should be satisfied even under conditions of high future growth in electrical generating capacity. This is because the amount of emissions from new generating units will be small relative to the quantity of offsets that could be made available in the emission “allowance” market.

Under the President’s July 1989 proposal, most utilities would be able to reduce their emissions well below their allowance levels via fuel switching, the installation of control technology, or the use of other emission reduction techniques, in order to create more “headroom” for the construction of new generating units. Retirements and decreasing utilization of existing power plants over time would liberate other emission allowances for use by new units. Industrial sources could “opt in” to the acid rain program and provide allowances for new generating units as well. A number of provisions in the recently passed Senate and House bills would make still further sources of allowances available to offset emissions from new generating capacity.

Hoarding of allowances by utilities is unlikely to be a problem since allowances would be distributed to at least 88 utilities in 34 states, and many of these utilities would have the ability to cost-effectively free up more allowances through “overcontrol” than they would need to cover their own future growth. Even a relatively small number of utilities in a limited number of states would have the ability to supply all of the allowances needed to cover new capacity growth from those entities that could not otherwise provide their own offsets. At projected prices of up to $800/ton, the incentives for utilities to sell allowances would be considerable. Moreover, if hoarding did begin to occur, the price of allowances would respond by rising to higher levels and the incentives for utilities to sell allowances would become even more compelling, as greater opportunities would develop for reducing costs (and electricity rates).     

Current Trends in Federal Interagency Relations Concerning Air Pollution

Under the first Federal Air Pollution Act of 1955, which assigned the responsibility for developing a national program to the Public Health Service, a significant phase of the program involved other federal agencies through a series of contractual relationships. These interdepartmental relationships were limited however, to the objective of capitalizing on the diverse research facilities and specialized competencies within the federal establishment, as a means of accelerating the research and technical assistance program authorized under the act. With the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1963, a major new emphasis has been added to the federal air pollution control program—application of technical knowledge, through broadly accelerated control programs. This emphasis is reflected in current trends in the nature and type of the Public Health Service’s developing relationships with other federal agencies. The emerging PHS programs to prevent and control air pollution from federal facilities, the PHS role in preventing pollution arising from transportation systems aided under the new Urban Mass Transportation Act, and other developing interagency relationships and problem areas are discussed in this context.     

The Air Pollution Control Contractorand SMACNA

Over the years JAPCA has directed its attention primarily to the scientist and engineer in their roles as industrial air quality managers, consultants, control officials, educators, researchers, and manufacturers of emission control equipment and air pollution instrumentation. Largely overlooked has been the air pollution control contractor who evolved from the sheet metal industry to become a key figure in the environmental marketplace. Let's look "beyond the flange", as it were, at this contractor, his work, his association, and the professional development opportunities being offered to him.     

Federal Air Pollution Prevention and Abatement Responsibilities and Operations

The direct federal role in air pollution control was expanded and intensified by the 89th Congress to include authority for: (1) abatement of international pollution; (2) promulgation and enforcement of regulations regarding emissions from new motor vehicles and engines; and (8) the conduct cf conferences and formulation of advisory recommendations concerning potential air pollution of substantial significance. Experiences under interstate abatement authorities of the Clean Air Act and plans for future activities under the new authorities are discussed.     

Public Awareness and Concern with Air Pollution in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area

The public attitudes survey involving St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Madison and St. Clair Counties, Illinois, was completed and published in the fall of 1964. A total of 1002 respondents gave needed information for the development of an acceptable abatement program. Substantial proportions from the study area expressed the view that they have had some negative reaction to the quality of the air. These respondents indicated that air pollution meant, primarily, odor and smoke with residents of some localities indicating other significant elements. The interviewed persons felt that factories and businesses were the prime causal agents in the existence of air pollution. Over 90 percent of all respondents felt that some governmental agency should do something about air pollution in the St. Louis area, with some bi-state metropolitan agency being the principal choice. The residents also expressed a willingness to pay minimal tax support for such a program. Indications as to the significance of air pollution in a general problems context, difference in attitudes between sub-sections of the study area, and more detailed analysis of the problem, its causes, and possible cures are contained in the study r     

A High Volume Stack Sampler

This paper deals with the development design, and trial application of a sampling train to gather a relatively large amount of particulate sample in a short period of time. With air pollution sources installing control equipment to reduce emissions to the required low levels, it becomes necessary to use a sampling device which can collect a representative sample in a reasonable period of time. Some of the sampling trains currently being specified are expensive, awkward, and nearly impossible to use under field conditions. The high-volume train overcomes ail of these shortcomings and has some additional advantages. It uses the same glass fiber filter that is specified for ambient air particulate sampling so the emission test results are directly comparable to ambient air sampling data. The laboratories currently weighing and analyzing the glass filters need no additional equipment for the emission sampling analysis. The sample collected by the high-volume probe may be analyzed microscopically for size and characteristics of the particles. This is very important if control equipment is to be specified for the process or source. The high-volume sampler was evaluated on field tests of wood fired boilers, incinerators, wigwam burners, asphalt batching plants, seed cleaning plants, and wood fiber filtration systems. The results of several typical tests using the sampler on these sources are included in the paper.     

Controlling Metropolitan Pollution Through Regional Airsheds: Administrative Requirements and Political Problems

This is an evaluation of the regional approach to controlling air pollution, in the light of the New York metropolitan experience, and recent federal and state legislative developments. Regional airsheds are defined and their administrative advantages delineated. The political difficulties involved in establishing and managing regional control districts, such as jurisdictional and regulatory problems, are also discussed. This paper touches upon the extent and adequacy of present day coordination and cooperation between agencies in the New York metropolitan area, as illustrated by the failure of the alert system during the Thanksgiving 1966 air pollution “episode.” The conflicting approaches of regional air quality commissions and the Mid-Atlantic States Air Pollution Control Compact are stressed. The desirability of such federal and state legislative proposals, and the advantages and drawbacks of special districts and other institutional arrangements to solve regional problems are also evaluated.     

An Analysis of State Air Pollution Conrol Expenditures

Air pollution control, a significant problem facing state governments, receives a varying amount of fiscal resources in each state. The purpose of this paper is to examine social, economic, and political factors that may be related to state air pollution control expenditures. The indicators of the social-economic factors are urbanization, industrial pollution potential, income, and industrialization. The indicators of the political system are interparty competition, malapportionment, voter participation, local control effort, and general state expenditure efforts. The findings show that the few states expending for air pollution control in 1963 were, for the most part, characterized by a high level of economic development. In 1967, states at all levels of economic development allocated revenues for air pollution, although the more developed continued to hold an edge. In neither year did the political variables differentiate between levels of expenditure. The reasons advanced for the expenditure behavior in 1963 are the historical predominance of local control and the structural limitations of state governments. The wider, and increased, expenditures in 1967 are assessed to be the result of federal grants, the vigorous effort put forth by state control officials, and the increased public concern for the problem.