Section 15 vid 6

Overview of Air Pollution Legislation

• Clean Air Act (1970)

  • Established to reduce air pollution levels in the US.

  • Provides standards for air quality management across states and major cities.

  • Regulations establish primary and secondary air quality standards.

Air Quality Standards

• National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

  • Regulates permissible levels of outdoor air pollutants.

  • Primary Standards:

    • Protect human health with lower allowable levels.

  • Secondary Standards:

    • Aims to prevent damage to property and the environment.

  • Each standard specifies maximum allowable levels over set time frames for pollutants.

Achievements and Deficiencies of the Clean Air Act

• Significant reduction in pollutants:

  • Atmospheric Lead Levels:

    • 98% drop between 1970 and 2020 attributed to the ban on leaded gasoline sales.

• Deficiencies:

  • Heavy reliance on mitigation over prevention methods.

  • Slow pollution cleanup processes versus potential impacts of preventative measures.

  • Unimpressive fuel efficiency requirements for vehicles. Though technology exists for improvement, it is not mandated universally.

Impact of Vehicle Emissions

• Inefficient Fuel Standards:

  • Inclusion of top-performing engines in new vehicles could significantly improve air quality.

  • Could lower CO2 emissions, conserve energy, and reduce costs for consumers.

• Two-Stroke Engines Emissions:

  • Examples include lawnmowers and jet skis, which produce excessive pollution.

  • One hour of operation on a jet ski produces more pollution than an average car in a year.

Emission Trading Policies

• 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment:

  • Introduced emissions trading for sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution rights.

  • Facilities receive credits that allow for a specific amount of pollution.

  • Can trade credits or face fines for exceeding limits.

• Criticism of Emission Trading:

  • Environmentalists argue about potential exploitation of the system due to imprecise monitoring.

  • Concerns that older, high-emission facilities are able to operate as they can afford credits instead of making necessary updates.

Effective Strategies for Reducing Outdoor Air Pollution

• Common strategies include:

  • Pollution Control Techniques:

    • Equipment installation to remove pollutants post-combustion.

  • Taxing Emissions:

    • Incentives to reduce emissions.

  • Tall Smokestacks:

    • Designed to disperse pollutants above thermal inversion layers, but these are seen as short-term solutions.

Long-Term Prevention Methods

• Methods for reducing pollutants include:

  • Burning low sulfur coal.

  • Removing sulfur before coal combustion.

  • Converting coal into cleaner fuel types.

  • Transitioning to alternative, less polluting fuels.

Air Cleaning Devices

Types of Air Pollution Control Devices

1. Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP):

   • Uses high voltage to charge particles and attract them to plates for collection.

   • Effective in removing particulate matter from power plant emissions.

2. Baghouse Filter:

   • Filters out almost all particulate matter (99% efficiency).

   • Dust accumulates until the air can't pass through, triggering a cleaning process.

3. Cyclone Separator:

   • Uses inertia to separate larger particulate matter (10 micrometers and above).

   • Cost-effective and requires no additional media.

4. Wet Scrubber:

   • Introduces dirty gas into a liquid medium, capturing pollutants.

   • Must dispose of the scrubbing medium post-collection.

Limitations and Global Context

• Advanced air cleaning devices are commonly utilized in developed countries, leading to significant pollution reduction.

• However, significant quantities of SO2 and NOx continue to present challenges, particularly in less regulated areas.

Addressing Vehicle Contributions to Pollution

• Promoting alternative fuel use and public transportation is key.

• Government incentives can encourage upgrades to cleaner vehicles.

• Addressing disparities in emission requirements through stricter standards for all vehicles, including older models.

Conclusion

• To improve air quality effectively, a combination of prevention strategies and enforcement of existing regulations is required.

• Discussion Points:

  • Consider the strengths and weaknesses of the Clean Air Act and suggest improvements.