Environmental protection agency Air Rules

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Environmental protection agency Air Rules

Cars remain the primary source of air pollution.

The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the federal legislation that gives the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to establish regulations and policies to protect air quality. As of 2010, the EPA makes air quality regulations based on the latest amended version of the 1990 CAA, which modified and extended federal legal authority provided by the earlier Clean Air Acts of 1963 and 1970. Major areas of policy as legislated under the CAA include regulations to reduce vehicle exhaust, toxic air pollutants and other environmental pollutants.

Particle Pollution Regulations

Particle pollution, also known as particulate matter, includes fine dust, soot, smoke and droplets produced when fuels such as coal, wood or oil are burned. Motor vehicles, electric power generation and industrial facilities are the main sources for these particles, which create smog and pose harm to the human respiratory system. The EPA regulates both the size and amount of this particulate matter in the air. Before the 1990 Clean Air Act went into effect, the EPA set limits on airborne particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter, called PM10. In 1997, after research showed that even smaller particles (a quarter of the size of a PM10 particle) are more likely to harm human health, the EPA published limits for fine particles, called PM2.5. To reduce fine particulate levels in the air, the EPA placed additional controls on a variety of sources, including power plants and diesel trucks.

Ground-Level Ozone Regulations

The EPA also regulates air pollutants that create ground-level ozone, which include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). VOCs and NOx are produced when fuel is burned, mainly by vehicles or industrial plants. VOCs are also in some consumer and industrial products. Ozone pollution is damaging to the human respiratory system as well as plant life, and is the main component of smog. In 1998, the EPA issued a rule limiting VOC emissions from consumer products, which required manufacturers, importers, and distributors to limit the VOC content of their products. The EPA also works with state governors and tribal government leaders to identify areas where the air does not meet allowable limits for ozone pollution. A permit system is used to make sure power plants, factories and other pollution sources meet local goals to clean the air.

Vehicle Emissions Regulations

The EPA says that motor vehicles are the primary source of ground-level ozone pollution, toxic air pollutants known to cause cancer and carbon monoxide emissions. EPA air regulations have resulted in a 90 percent reduction in vehicle emissions when comparing a new car sold in 2010 with a new car in 1970; however, the number of cars on the road has also increased during this period. The CAA regulates air pollution from motor vehicles by requiring manufacturers to build cleaner engines. In addition, refiners must produce cleaner fuels, and regions with air pollution problems must implement vehicle inspection and maintenance programs.

Other

In addition to heavy industry and motor vehicles, the EPA, under the CAA, also regulates air pollution from other sources, including dry cleaners, printing shops and other commercial sources. Besides particle pollution and ground-level ozone pollution, other types of air pollution regulated by the EPA include acid rain, pollution by toxic contaminants like lead and mercury, stratospheric ozone-depleting substances such as aerosols and air conditioning units, and others. In 2010, the EPA approved an amendment to begin regulating greenhouse gases (GHG) under the CAA. As a result of this ruling, large emitters of carbon dioxide and other GHGs must report their GHG emissions to the EPA. From this data, the EPA plans to create more stringent GHG emissions guidelines starting in 2011.

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013