[DEGREASER

Repairing
the ozone layer

‘Some uses of ozone-
dastroying chemicals

ova>

INDUSTRY

CAR AIR CONDITIONERS

cientists have found “holes”? in the ozone

layer high above the Earth. The 1990 Clean

Air Act has provisions for fixing the holes,
but repairs will take a long time.

Ozone in the stratosphere, a layer of the atmo-
sphere nine to 31 miles above the Earth, serves as
a protective shield, filtering out harmful sun rays,
including a type of sunlight called ultraviolet B.

Exposure to ultraviolet B has been linked to devel--

opment of cataracts (eye damage) and skin cancer.
In the mid-1970s, scientists suggested that chlo-
rofluorocarbohs (CFCs) could destroy strato-
spheric ozone. CFCs were widely used then as
aerosol propellants in consumer products such as
hairsprays and deodorants, and for many uses in
industry. Because of concern about the possible

Ozone-destroying chemicals
Name When U.S. production ends*
Soa ‘aerosol sprays (most January 1, 1996

(ehforoMtuoro- Gan uses banned th 13705) foarnng

carbons) agents in plastic manufacture

Halons ture extinguishers January 1, 1994

Carbon solvents, chemical manufacture; carbon January 1, 1996,

tetrachloride tetrachloride causes cancer in animals”

Methy! chiorof very widely-used solvent; in m: January 1, 1996

a tae erotormWlgloca onl concueycoeatd a
chloroethane) including auto repr and rnaintenance

HCFCs crea Substitutes; chemicals slightly January 1, 2003**

(hydro CFCs) dilferont from CF

hs 10 Gan i Acide» ela eng Unie Sats poo of cone destin ceils
pansons fr speeding up the phase-out schedule thats necessary. The dates inthis abe are

“speeded up” incor he

“ severe orone destroying effects wil end by Januar 1, 2008, eduction

citrate be tetCsvoendby ous 0h

How Ozone Holes are Formed...

Ozone-destroying chemicals escape into the air and reach
the stratosphere. The chemicals destroy dzone, damaging
the stratosphere's ozone layer and causing ozone holes.

effects of CFCs on the ozone layer, in 1978 the U.S.
government banned CFCs as propellants in aerosol
cans. :

Since the aerosol ban, scientists have been mea-
suring the ozone layer. A few years ago, an ozone
hole was found above Antarctica, including the
area of the South Pole. This hole, which has been
appearing each year during the Antarctic winter
(our summer), is bigger than the-continental United
States. More recently, ozone thinning has been
found in the stratosphere above the northern half
of the United States; the hole extends over Canada
and up into the Arctic regions (the area of the ©
North Pole). The hole wasfirst found only in win-
ter and spring, but more recently has continued
into summer. Between 1978 and 1991, there was a
4-5 percent loss of ozone in the stratosphere over
the United States; this is a significant loss of ozone.
Ozone holes have also been found over northern
Europe.

What could a thinned-out ozone layer do to
people’s lives? There could be more skin cancers
and cataracts. Scientists are looking into possible
harm to agriculture, and there is already some evi-
dence of damage to plant life in Antarctic seas.

Evidence that the ozone layer is dwindling led 93

. nations, including the major industrialized nations,

to agree to cooperate in reducing production and
use of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. As it
became clear that the ozone layer was thinning
even more quickly than first thought, the agree-
ment was revised to speed up the phase-out of
ozone-destroying chemicals.

16

3 Ozone holes aren’t like doughnut holes; they're not empty
spaces in the sky. Ozone holes are much like the worn-
out places in an old sock or sweater: there are still threads
covering the worn-out area, but the fabric can be so thin
you can see right through it.



Detail of New Jersey
Monument, Valley

Forge National Historic [_

Park

Detail of "Fame", by
Isaac Bloom

Marble above-ground
burial crypt

Trinity Church (id
on Wall Street in

Manhattan). The cl
appears black in the
photo, due to many

NEW YORK

VALLEY FORGE

iv ’SEWICKLEY

BALTIMORE
WASHINGTON D.C.

Detail of Von Steuben.
Monument in Lafayette

White House)


you belong to one or more of these groups, their
bulletins or newsletters will keep you informed.

Newspapers, radio and television will report on
how the Act is being carried out, both nationally
and in your local area.

You can also contact EPA and your state, re-
gional or local air pollution control agencies to
receive information directly on Clean Air Act ac-
tivities.

The United States Congress monitors how fed-
eral agencies are carrying out the laws. Contact
your Congressional representative or your Senator
to get more information on Congressional hear-
ings and reports on how EPA is carrying out the
Clean Air Act. You can also request reports from
the United States General Accounting Office (GAO),
the Congressional investigative agency which re-
views how EPA carries out the Clean Air Act.

State legislatures review how state agencies
carry out air pollution control laws. Ask your
state representative for more information.

Over time, the Clean Air Act will reduce air
pollution. How will you know this is happening?

Sometimes reduced pollution causes changes so
great you can literally see the difference: the air is
much cleaner and clearer than it was! But you can
only be sure there has been a permanent change
for the better if the good air continues for a long
time—weeks, months or years, during different
weather conditions.

Monitoring air quality is the best way to know
if the air is getting cleaner, because monitoring
produces numbers that tell how much of a pollut-
ant is in the air. You can request EPA, state or
local monitoring reports that show changes over
time. For example, sulfur dioxide levels will drop
as power plants and other sources are cleaned up.
This clean-up will happen in stages through the
year 2000, so monitoring reports will tell you how

20

the cleanup is going. Your eyes, nose and throat
may also detect the change as smoggy areas clean
up, but monitoring data remain the best way to
check on overall improvement in air quality over
time.

Monitoring will be carried out by EPA, state and
regional air pollution control agencies, and by the
owners of individual sources. Air pollution moni-
toring stations are set up all over the country, col-
lecting information on various pollutants.

Contact EPA, your state, regional or local air pol-
lution control agency, for information on monitor-
ing programs and monitoring reports.

How will you know the Clean Air Act is im-
proving the environment?

Some environmental improvements will be rela-
tively easy to detect. People who live in the east-
ern United States should see much less
summertime haze. Also, we'll know the ozone
level is increasing in the stratosphere because sci-
entists measure ozone content. What about lakes
and streams harmed by acid rain and acid aero-
sols? We should see improvement as sulfur diox-
ide and nitrogen oxide levels decline, resulting in
decreased acid rain and acid aerosols, but we
don’t know exactly how long it will take to restore
lakes and streams and we don’t know exactly
what the lakes and streams and their inhabitants,
including fish, will be like when air pollution is
reduced.

What will be the benefits for human health of
reductions in air pollution?

People who now live in smoggy areas will have
less eye, nose and throat irritation as smog levels
are reduced. Reductions in air pollution will also
lead to declines in cancer and other serious health
problems.

Keep an eye on the Clean Air Act; it could
change your life!



Why should you be
concerned about
air pollution?

ir pollution can make you sick. It can
cause burning eyes and nose and an itchy,
irritated throat, as well as trouble in
breathing. Some chemicals found in polluted air
cause cancer, birth defects, brain and nerve dam-

age and long-term injury to the lungs and breath-

ing passages. Some air pollutants are so tion, please contact your regional office of the
dangerous that accidental releases can cause seri- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or your
ous injury or even death. state, city, regional or local air pollution control
Air pollution can damage the environment. agency. You'll find a list of addresses and tele-
Trees, lakes and animals have been harmed by air phone numbers of EPA regional offices and state
pollution. Air pollutants have thinned the protec- and other air pollution control agencies at the end

tive ozone layer above the Earth; this loss of ozone of this summary.

__ could cause changes in the environment as well as .
more skin cancer and cataracts (eye damage) in
people.

_ Air pollution can damage property. It can dirty
buildings and other structures. Some common
pollutants eat away stone, damaging buildings,
monuments and statues.

Air pollution can cause haze, reducing visibility
in national parks and sometimes interfering with
aviation.

The Clean Air Act will improve air quality in the
United States, a good thing for your health, your
property and the environment. The 1990 Act!
could change the way you work or do business,
and it could, in some ways, change the way you
live. The 1990 Clean Air Act is lengthy—about 800
pages—because it tackles many difficult and com-
plicated air pollution problems.

We have prepared this summary of the 1990
version of the Clean Air Act because we think
everyone should understand what is in the law
and how it may affect them.

This summary is only a brief introduction to the
1990 Clean Air Act. If you want more informa-

+ The 1990 Clean Air Act is the most recent version of alaw .
first passed in 1970. The 1990 ammendments made major TM .
changes in the Clean Air Act. This summary covers some of Grand Canyon National Park. Top: A clear day. Bottom: Haze.
- the important provisions of the 1990 Clean Air Act.



The Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act

A project of the Office of Policy Analysis and Review
Office of Air and Radiation
Rob Brenner, Director
Author and project director: Myra Karstadt, Office of Solid Waste
Editor: Brian Callaghan, Office of the Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation

Photography consultant: S.C. Delaney, Office of Communication,
Education and Public Affairs

Project coordination: Jeff Clark, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
Office of Air and Radiation



Ozone Hole
{thin spot in ozone layer)

When the ozone layer is damaged, there is an increase in
harmful rays from the sunreaching the Earth. These rays can
harm both human health and the environment.

Unfortunately, it will be a long time before we
see the ozone layer repaired. Because of the
ozone-destroying chemicals already in the strato-
sphere and those that will arrive within the next
few years, ozone destruction will likely continue
for another twenty years.

The 1990 Clean Air Act sets a schedule for end-
ing production of chemicals that destroy strato-
spheric ozone. Chemicals that cause the most
damage will be phased out first. The phase-out
schedule can be speeded up if an earlier end to
production of ozone-destroying substances is
needed to protect the ozone layer. The table on
this page on Ozone-destroying chemicals includes
“speeded-up” phase-out dates which were pro-
posed by EPA in early 1993.

CFCs, Halons, HCFCs (hydrochlorofluoro-
carbons)‘ and other ozone-destroying chemicals
were listed by Congress in the 1990 Clean Air Act
and must be phased out. The Act also lets EPA list
other chemicals that destroy ozone.

4 HCFCs and Halons are chemicals much like CFCs.
HCFCs may be somewhat less harmful to the ozone layer
than are CFCs.

EPA issues allowances to control manufacture
of chemicals being phased out. Companies can
also sell unused allowances to companies still
making the chemicals or can use the allowances,
within certain limits, to make a different, less
ozone-destroying chemical on the phase-out list.

In addition to requiring the phasing out of pro-
duction of ozone-destroying chemicals, the Clean
Air Act takes other steps to protect the ozone
layer. The law requires recycling of CFCs and
labeling of products containing ozone-destroying
chemicals. The 1990 Clean Air Act also encour-
ages the development of “ozone-friendly” substi-
tutes for ozone-destroying chemicals.

CFCs from car air conditioners are the biggest
single source of ozone-destroying chemicals. By
the end of 1993, all car air conditioner systems
must be serviced using equipment that recycles _
CFCs and prevents their release into the air.
Larger auto service shops were required to start
using this special equipment in January 1992.
Only specially-trained and certified repair persons
will be allowed to buy the small cans of CFCs used
in servicing auto air conditioners.

As CFCs and related chemicals are phased out,
appliances and industrial processes that now-use
the chemicals will change. For example, industrial
and home refrigerators will be changed to use
refrigerants that don’t destroy ozone. In the
meantime, refrigerator servicing and disposal will
havé to be done in ways that don’t release CFCs.
Methyl chloroform, algo called 1,1,1-trichloro-
ethane, which will be phased out by-1996, is a very
widely-used solvent found in products such as
automobile brake cleaners (often sold as aerosol
sprays) and spot removers used to take greasy
stains off fabrics. Replacing methyl chloroform in
workplace and consumer products will lead to
changes in many products and processes.

As substitutes are developed for ozone-destroy-
ing substances, before the chemicals can be pro-
duced and sold, EPA must determine that the
replacements will be safe for health and the envi-
ronment.

Consumer products containing CFCs and other
ozone-destroying chemicals will have to be refor-
mulated; these are discussed in the following sec-
tion on Consumer products.



state and EPA reviews of permit applica-
tions. Permits will have, in one place,
information on all the regulated pollut-
ants at a source. Permits include informa-
tion on which pollutants are being
released, how much the source is allowed
to release, and the program that will be
used to meet pollutant release require-
ments. Permits are required both for the
operation of plants (operating permits)
and for the construction of new plants.
‘The 1990 Clean Air Act introduced a na-
tionwide permit system for air pollution
control,

Permit fees — fees paid by businesses
required to have a permit. Permit fees are
like the fees drivers pay to register their
cars. The money from permit fees will
help pay for state air pollution control
activities.

Pollutants (pollution) — unwanted
chemicals or other materials found in the
air. Pollutants can harm health, the envi-
ronment and property. Many air pollut-
ants occur as gases or vapors, but some
are very tiny solid particles: dust, smoke
or soot.

Primary standard — a pollution limit
based on health effects. Primary stan-
dards are set for criteria air pollutants.

Reformulated gasoline — specially-
refined gasoline with low levels of smog-
forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
and low levels of hazardous air pollutants.
The 1990 Clean Air Act requires sale of
reformulated gasoline in the nine smoggi-
est areas. Reformulated gasolines were
sold in several smoggy areas even before
the 1990 Clean Air Act was passed.

Secondary standard — a pollution limit
based on environmental effects such as
damage to property, plants, visibility, etc.
Secondary standards are set for criteria air
pollutants,

Smog — a mixture of pollutants, princi-
pally ground-level ozone, produced by
chemical reactions in the air involving
smog-forming chemicals. A major por-
tion of smog-formers come from burning
of petroleum-based fuels such as gasoline.
Other smog-formers, volatile organic com-
pounds, are found in products such as
paints and solvents. Smog can harm
health, damage the environment and
cause poor visibility. Major smog occur

rences are often linked to heavy motor
vehicle traffic, sunshine, high tempera-
tures and calm winds or temperature
inversion (weather condition in which
warm air is trapped close to the ground
instead of rising). Smog is often worse
away from the source of the smog-form-
ing chemicals, since the chemical reac-
tions that result in smog occur in the sky
while the reacting chemicals are being
blown away from their sources by winds.

Source — any place or object from which
pollutants are released. A source can be a
power plant, factory, dry cleaning busi-
ness, gas station or farm. Cars, trucks and
other motor vehicles are sources, and
consumer products and machines used in
industry can be sources too. Sources that
stay in one place are referred to as station~
ary sources; sources that move around,
such as cars or planes, are called mobile
sources.

State implementation plan (SIP) —
detailed description of the programs a
state will use to carry out its responsibili-
ties under the Clean Air Act. State imple-
mentation plans are collections of the
regulations used by a state to reduce air
pollution. The Clean Air Act requires that
EPA approve each state implementation
plan. Members of the public are given
opportunities to participate in review and
approval of state implementation plans.

Stationary source —a place or object
from which pollutants are released and
which does not move around. Stationary
sources include power plants, gas sta-
tions, incinerators, houses etc.

Stratosphere — part of the atmosphere,
the gases that encircle the Earth. The
stratosphere is a layer of the atmosphere
9-31 miles above the Earth. Ozone in the
stratosphere filters out harmful sun rays,
including a type of sunlight called ultra-
violet B, which has been linked to health
and environmental damage.

Sulfur dioxide — a criteria air pollutant.
Sulfur dioxide is a gas produced by burn-
ing coal, most notably in power plants.
Some industrial processes, such as pro-
duction of paper and smelting of metals,
produce sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is
closely related to sulfuric acid, a strong
acid. Sulfur dioxide plays an important
role in the production of acid rain.

Temperature inversion — weather condi-
tion that as often associated with serious
smog. Ina temperature inversion, warm
air doesn’t rise because it is trapped near
the ground by a layer of heavy colder air
above it. Pollutants in the warm air,
especially smog and smog-forming
chemicals, including volatile organic com-
pounds, are trapped close to the ground.
As people continue driving, and sources
other than motor vehicles continue to
release smog-forming pollutants into the
air, the smog level keeps getting worse.

Ultraviolet B (UVB) —a type of sunlight.
The ozone in the stratosphere, high above
the Earth, filters out ultraviolet B rays and
keeps them from reaching the Earth.
Ultraviolet B exposure has been associ-
ated with skin cancer, eye cataracts and
damage to the environment. Thinning of
the ozone layer in the stratosphere results
in increased amounts of ultraviolet B
reaching the Earth.

Vapor recovery nozzles — special gas
pump nozzles that will reduce release of
gasoline vapor into the air when people
put gas in their cars. There are several
types of vapor recovery nozzles, so
nozzles may look different at different gas
stations. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires
installation of vapor recovery nozzles at
gas stations in smoggy areas.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) —
Organic chemicals all contain the element
carbon (C); organic chemicals are the
basic chemicals found in living things and
in products derived from ving things,
such as coal, petroleum and refined petro-
Jeum products. Many of the organic
chemicals we use do not occur in Nature,
but were synthesized by chemists in
laboratories. Volatile chemicals produce
vapors readily; at room temperature and
normal atmospheric pressure, vapors
escape easily from volatile liquid chemi-
cals. Volatile organic chemicals include
gasoline, industrial chemicals such as
benzene, solvents such as toluene and
xylene, and tetrachloroethylene (perchlo-
roethylene, the principal dry cleani
solvent). Many volatile organic chemicals
are also hazardous air pollutants; for ex-
ample, benzene causes cancer.



How do you know

the Clean Air Act is working?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Top: Clear day (photo taken at 7 p.m.). Bottom: haze (photo

taken at 3 p.m.).

veryone in the United States has a role to

play to make the Clean Air Act a success.

One of the most important things Ameri-
cans can do is to keep track of how the law is
working.

There are several ways you'll be able to tell how
well the Clean Air Act is working.

EPA, state, regional and local air pollution con-
trol agencies have to issue regulations (rules), give
out permits, enforce the Act against violators and
do other things described in the Clean Air Act.

Many groups with an interest in how the Clean
Air Act works are watching EPA and the other air
pollution control agencies. These groups include
Jocal and national business and trade organiza-
tions (from state associations of dry cleaners to the
United States Chamber of Commerce), local com-
munity organizations (such as neighborhood asso-
ciations), and local and national environmental
and public health organizations (such as the Clean
Air Network of the Natural Resources Defense
Council and the American Lung Association). If



ISBN 0-16-036283-0

90000 For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office
‘Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328
ISBN 0-16-036283-0
9"780

362835


Acid rain

‘ou've probably heard of “acid rain”. But
you may not have heard of acid snow, acid
fog or mist, acid gas and acid dust. All of

these “acids” are related air pollutants, and can
harm your health, cause hazy skies and damage
the environment and your property. The 1990
Clean Air Act includes an innovative program to
reduce acid air pollutants (all referred to here as
“acid rain”).

The acid rain that has received the most atten-
tion is caused mainly by pollutants from big coal-
burning power plants in the Midwest. These
plants burn Midwestern and Appalachian coal,
some of which contains a lot of sulfur compared to
Western coal. Sulfur in coal becomes sulfur diox-
ide (SO2) when coal is burned. Big power plants
burn large quantities of coal, so they release large
amounts of sulfur dioxide, as well as NOx (nitro-
gen oxides). These are acid chemicals, related to
two strong acids: sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

The sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released
from the Midwestern power plants rise high into
the air and are carried by winds toward the East
Coast of the U.S. and Canada. When winds blow
the acid chemicals into areas where there is wet
weather, the acids become part of the rain, snow
or fog. In areas where the weather is dry, the acid
chemicals may fall to Earth in gases or dusts.

Lakes and streams are normally slightly acid,
but acid rain can make them very acid. Very acid
conditions can damage plant and animal life.

Acid lakes and streams have been found all over
the country. For instance, lakes in Acadia Na-
tional Park on Maine’s Mt. Desert Island have
been very acidic, due to pollution from the Mid-
west and the East Coast. Streams in Maryland and
West Virginia, lakes in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan, and lakes and streams in Florida have
also been affected by acid rain. Heavy rainstorms
and melting snow can cause temporary increases
in acidity in lakes and streams in the eastern and

western United States. These temporary increases
may last for days or even weeks.

Acid rain has damaged trees in the mountains
of Vermont and other states. Red spruce trees at
high altitudes appear to be especially sensitive to
acid rain. The pollutants that cause acid rain can
make the air hazy or foggy; this-has occurred in
the eastern United States, including some moun-
tain areas popular with vacationers, such as the
Great Smokies.

Acid rain does more than environmental dam-
age; it can damage health and property as well.
Acid air pollution has been linked to breathing
and lung problems in children and in people who
have asthma. Even healthy people can have their
lungs damaged by acid air pollutants. Acid air
pollution can eat away stone buildings and stat-
ues.

Health, environmental and property damage
can also occur when sulfur dioxide pollutes areas
close to its source. Sulfur dioxide pollution has
been found in towns where paper and wood pulp
are processed and in areas close to some power
plants. The 1990 Clean Air Act’s sulfur dioxide
reduction program will complement health-based
sulfur dioxide pollution limits already in place to
protect the public and the environment from both
nearby and distant sources of sulfur dioxide.



Smog in the San Gorgonio Wilderness east of Los. Angeles. All photos were taken
at 3 p.nt. Top: Good visibility. Center: Haze. Bottom: Intense haze.

The smog-forming pollutants literally cook in
the sky, and if it’s hot and sunny, smog forms
more easily. Just as it takes time to bake a cake, it
takes time to cook up smog—several hours from
the time pollutants get into the air until the smog
gets really bad.

Weather and geography determine where smog
goes and how bad it is. When temperature inver-
sions occur (warm air stays near the ground in-
stead of rising) and winds are calm, smog may
stay in place for days at a time. As traffic and
other sources add more pollutants to the air, the
smog gets worse.

Since smog travels across county and state lines,
when a metropolitan area covers more than one state
(for instance, the New York metropolitan area in-
cludes parts of New Jersey and Connecticut), their
governments and air pollution control agencies must
cooperate to solve their problem. Governments on
the East Coast from Maine to Washington, D.C., will
have to work together in a multistate effort to re-
duce the area’s smog problem.

Here’s how the 1990 Clean Air Act reduces pol-
lution from criteria air pollutants, including smog.

First, EPA and state governors cooperated to
identify nonattainment areas for each criteria air
pollutant. Then, EPA classified the
nonattainment areas according to how badly pol-
luted the areas are. There are five classes of
nonattainment areas for smog, ranging from mar-
ginal (relatively easy to clean up quickly) to ex-
treme (will take a lot of work and a long time to
clean up).

The 1990 Clean Air Act uses this new classifica-
tion system to tailor clean-up requirements to the
severity of the pollution and set realistic deadlines
for reaching clean-up goals. If deadlines are
missed, the law allows more time to clean up, but
usually a nonattainment area that has missed a
clean-up deadline will have to meet the stricter
clean-up requirements set for more polluted areas.

Not only must nonattainment areas meet dead-
lines, states with nonattainment areas must show
EPA that they are moving on clean-up before the
deadline—making reasonable further progress.

States will usually do most of the planning for
cleaning up criteria air pollutants, using the per-
mit system to make sure power plants, factories
and other pollution sources meet their clean-up
goals.

The comprehensive approach to reducing crite-
ria air pollutants taken by the 1990 Act covers
many different sources and a variety of clean-up
methods. Many of the smog clean-up require-
ments involve motor vehicles (cars, trucks, buses).
Also, as the pollution gets worse, pollution con-
trols are required for smaller sources.



Photo Credits

Inside front cover-S.C. Delaney, United States
Environmental Protection Agency

page 1-IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of
Protected Visual Environments); National Park
Service, United States Department of the Interior.
page 2-Ozone Transport Commission, 444 North
Capitol Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

page 3- S.C. Delaney, United States Environmental
Protection Agency

page 6-IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of
Protected Visual Environments); National Park
Service, United States Department of the Interior.
page 7- Colorado Department of Health.

page 7- United States Department of Agriculture;
photo by Tim McCabe (1985).

page 8- Photos A and C: Texaco, Inc.; B. Phillips
Petroleum.

page 10- Washington, D.C.- Dénnis Montagna,
National Park Service

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania- Nick Veloz, National
Park Service

New Orleans, Louisiana- Susan Sherwood, Na-
tional Park Service

New York City, New York- The Parish of Trinity
Church, New York City

Baltimore, Maryland- Save Outdoor Sculpture!,
Washington, D.C.; (800) 421-1381

Sewickley, Pennsylvania- Save Outdoor Sculp-
ture!, Washington, D.C.; (800) 421-1381

page 11- Germany- from: E. Winkler. Stone: Prop-
erties and Durability in Man's Environment, New
York, Springer-Verlag (1975); reprinted with per-
mission.

Greece-Susan Sherwood, National Park Service
France-Thomann-Hanry France; Jean Delaporte/
Thomann-Hanry, Paris.

Italy-Photo by Carlo Chinellato; Archives of the
Rome Archeology Administration

page 12- Amoco Corp.

page 13- S.C. Delaney, United States Environmen-
tal Protection Agency

page 18- Vermont Castings Defiant Encore wood
stove; photo courtesy of Hearth Products Associa-
tion, Washington, D.C.; Model woodstove label
from: The Wood Burning Tradition. Wood Heat-
ing Safety. A Consumer Guide presented by the
Wood Heating Alliance, Washington, D.C. (un-
dated).

page 19-IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of
Protected Visual Environments); National Park
Service, United States Department of the Interior.

+U,S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1995-0-620-640



Carbon Monoxide
Nonattinment Areas

State City/area

Alaska Anchorage area
Fairbanks North Star
Arizona Phoenix
‘California Chico

resno

Lake Tahoe-South Shore

Los Angeles South Coast Air Basin*
Modesto

Sacramento

San Diego
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
Stockton
Colorado Colorado Springs
Denver-Boulder
Fort Collins
Longmont
Connecticut —_Hartford-New Britain-Middletown
District of Washington, D.C.
Columbia D.C. Area, Maryland, Virginia
Massachusetts Boston

Maryland Baltimore
1 Washington, D.C. area-Maryland, DC, Virginia

Minnesota Duluth
Minneapolis-St.Paul

Montana Missoula

North Raleigh-Durham

Carolina Winston-Salem

New Jersey New York Metropolitan area - Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey

Camden-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
: New Mexico — Albuquerque

Nevada Las Vegas

Reno
+ New York New York metropolitan area-New York, Long

Island, New Jersey, Connecticut
Syracuse

Ohio Cleveland

Oregon Grant's Pass
Klamath Falls

Medford
1 Portland -Vancouver Washington
Pennsylvania Philadelphia-Camden, New Jersey

Tennesee Memphis

Texas El Paso

Uteh Ogden
Provo-Orem

Virginia Washington, D.C. metropolitan area-
Virginia, D.C, Maryland

Washington Vancouver, Washington-Portland, Oregon
Seattle-Tacoma
Spokane

“Los Angeles- South Coast Air Basin isthe only carbon monoxide nonattainment area
dassiSed as “serous”; all others are classified as “moderate”. AN areas isted as
“¢madeate” must meet the CO standard by December, 1995, The “serious” area must
meet the CO standard by December, 2000.

Particulate (PIM-10)
Nonattainment Areas

MODERATE

‘Afeas must meet PM-10 standards by December 31, 1994

Alaska Anchorage, Juneau

Arizona Santa Cruz, Pima, Maricopa; Pinal and Gila counties; Yuma
Paul's Spur, Nogales

California Inyo, San Bernadino, Kem, Mono, Stanislaus, Madera,
Riverside (eastern part), San Bernardino (part) counties

Colorado Archuleta, Adams, Denver, Boulder, San Miguel, Prowers,
Pitkin, Fremont counties

Idaho ‘Ada (Boise), Shoshone, Bannock, Power (Pocatello), Bonner counties

Minois Cook (Chicago), LaSalle, Oglesby, Madison counties

Indiana Lake (Gary, Hammond, East Chicago) county

Maine Arostook (Presque Isle) county

Michigan Wayne (Detroit} county

Minnesota Ramsey, Olmstead counties

Montana Flathead, Lincoln, Lake Missoula. Libbey, Rosebud, Silver Bow,
Butte counties

Nevada Washoe (Reno) county

New Mexico Dona Ana county

Ohio Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Jefferson (Steubenville) counties

Oregon Jackson (Ashland-Medford), Josephine (Grants Pass), Klamath Falls

Lane (Eugene), Union (LaGrande) counties
Pennsylvania Allegheny (includes Clairton) county
Liberty-Lincoln-Portview-Glassport boroughs-Clairton
Texas El Paso county
Utah Salt Lake (Salt Lake City), Utah County

Washington King (Seattle), Pierce (Tacoma), Spokane, Yakima,
thurston (Olympia, Tumwater), Walla Walla counties

West Virginia Brooke (near WV border at Steubenville) county

Wyoming ‘Sheridan county

SERIOUS

‘Areas must meet PM-10 standards by December 31, 2001

California San Joaquin Valley, Owens Valley, South Coast Air Basin,
Coachella Valley

Nevada Las Vegas

26



The 1990 Clean Air Act includes novel approaches for dealing with pollution released by large sources such as big factories.

Permits

One of the major breakthroughs in the 1990 Clean
Air Act is a permit program for larger sources that
release pollutants into the air. *

Requiring polluters to apply for a permit is not a
new idea. Approximately 35 states have had state-
wide permit programs for air pollution. The
Clean Water Act requires permits to release pollut-
ants into lakes, rivers or other waterways. Now
air pollution is also going to be managed by a
national permit system. Under the new program,
permits are issued by states or, when a state fails
to carry out the Clean Air Act satisfactorily, by
EPA. The permit includes information on which

2 A source can be a power plant, factory or anything that
releases pollutants into the air. Cars, trucks and other
motor vehicles are sources, and consumer products and
machines used in industry can be sources too. Sources
that stay in one place are referred to as stationary sources;
sources that move around, like cars or planes, are called
mobile sources.

pollutants are being released, how much may be
teleased, and what kinds of steps the source’s
owner or operator is taking to reduce pollution,
including plans to monitor (measure) the pollu-
tion. The permit system is especially useful for
businesses covered by more than one part of the
Jaw, since information about all of a source’s air
pollution will now be in one place. The permit
system simplifies and clarifies businesses’ obliga-
tions for cleaning up air pollution and, over time,
can reduce paperwork. For instance, an electric
power plant may be covered by the acid rain, haz-
ardous air pollutant and non-attainment (smog)
parts of the Clean Air Act; the detailed informa-
tion required by all these separate sections will be
in one place—on the permit.

Permit applications and permits are available to
the public; contact your state or regional air pollu-
tion control agency or EPA for information on
access to these documents.

Businesses seeking permits have to pay permit
fees much like car owners paying for car registra-
tions. The money from the fees will help pay for
state air pollution control activities.



Features of the 1990 Clean Air Act

The role of the
federal government
and the role of the states

Although the 1990 Clean Air Act is a federal law
covering the entire country, the states do much of
the work to carry out the Act. For example, a state
air pollution agency holds a hearing on a permit
application by a power or chemical plant or fines a
company for violating air pollution limits.

Under this law, EPA sets limits on how much of
a pollutant can be in the air anywhere in the
United States. This ensures that all Americans
have the same basic health and environmental
protections. The law allows individual states to
have stronger pollution controls, but states are not
allowed to have weaker pollution controls than
those set for the whole country.

The law recognizes that it makes sense for states
to take the lead in carrying out the Clean Air Act,
because pollution control problems often require
special understanding of local industries, geogra-
phy, housing patterns, etc.

States have to develop state implementation
plans (SIPs) that explain how each state will do its
job under the Clean Air Act. A state implementa-
tion plan is a collection of the regulations a state
will use to clean up polluted areas. The states
must involve the public, through hearings and
opportunities to comment, in the development of
each state implementation plan.

EPA must approve each SIP, and if a SIP isn’t
acceptable, EPA can take over enforcing the Clean
Air Act in that state.

‘The United States government, through EPA,
assists the states by providing scientific research,
expert studies, engineering designs and money to
support clean air programs.

State governments from Maine to Virginia, the government of the
District of Columbia, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
are working together through the Ozone Transport Commission to
reduce smog on the East Coast.

Interstate
air pollution

Air pollution often travels from its source in one
state to another state. In many metropolitan areas,
people live in one state and work or shop in an-
other; air pollution from cars and trucks may
spread throughout the interstate area. The 1990
Clean Air Act provides for interstate commis-
sions on air pollution control, which are to develop
regional strategies for cleaning up air pollution.
The 1990 Clean Air Act includes other provi-
sions to reduce interstate air pollution.

International
air pollution

Air pollution moves across national borders. The
1990 law covers pollution that originates in
Mexico and Canada and drifts into the United
States and pollution from the United States that
reaches Canada and Mexico.



The Act takes a new nationwide approach to
the acid rain problem. The law sets up a market-
based system designed to lower sulfur dioxide
pollution levels. Beginning in the year 2000, an-
nual releases of sulfur dioxide will be about 40
percent lower than the 1980 levels. Reducing sul-
fur dioxide releases should cause a major reduc-
tion in acid rain.

Phase I of the acid rain reduction program goes
into effect in 1995. Big coal-burning boilers in 110
power plants in 21 Midwest, Appalachian, South-
eastern and Northeastern states will have to re-
duce releases of sulfur dioxide. In 2000, Phase II
of the acid rain program goes into effect, further
reducing the sulfur dioxide releases from the big
coal-burning power plants and covering other
smaller polluters. Total sulfur dioxide releases for
the country’s power plants will be permanently
limited to the level set by the Clean Air Act for the
year 2000.

Reductions in sulfur dioxide releases will be
obtained through a program of emission (release)
allowances. EPA will issue allowances to power
plants covered by the acid rain program; each
allowance is worth one ton of sulfur dioxide re-
leased from the smokestack. To obtain reductions
in sulfur dioxide pollution, allowances are set
below the current level of sulfur dioxide releases.
Plants may only release as much sulfur dioxide as
they have allowances. If a plant expects to release
more sulfur dioxide than it has allowances, it has
to get more allowances, perhaps by buying them
from another power plant that has reduced its
sulfur dioxide releases below its number of allow-
ances and therefore has allowances to sell or trade.
Allowances can also be bought and sold by
“middlemen”, such as brokers, or by anyone who
wants to take part in the allowances market. Al-
lowances can be traded and sold nationwide.
There are stiff penalties for plants which release
more pollutants than their allowances cover.

The acid rain program provides bonus allow-
ances to power plants for (among other things)
installing clean coal technology that reduces sul-

How Acid Rain is Formed...

Burning fuels release acid pollutants. These pollutants are
carried far from their sources by wind. Depending on the
weather, the acid pollutants fall to Earth in wet form (acid
rain, snow, mist or fog) or dry form (acid gases or dusts).

fur dioxide releases, using renewable energy
sources (solar, wind etc.) or encouraging energy-
conservation by customers so that less power
needs to be produced.

All power plants under the acid rain program
will have to install continuous emission monitor-
ing systems (CEMS), machines that keep track of
how much sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides the
plant is releasing. A power plant's program for
meeting its sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide limit
will appear on the plant’s permit, which will be
filed with the state and EPA.

To cut down on nitrogen oxide pollution, EPA
will require power plants to reduce their nitrogen
oxide releases, and will require reductions in ni-
trogen oxide releases from new cars. Reducing
nitrogen oxide releases will reduce both acid rain
and smog formation.

The flexible market-based acid rain reduction pro-
gtam is expected to be a model for pollution control
efforts in the United States and other countries.



Cleaning up air pollution:

the programs in the 1990 Clean Air Act

Smog and other
“criteria” air pollutants

A few common air pollutants are found all over
the United States. These pollutants can injure
health, harm the environment and cause property
damage.

EPA calls these pollutants criteria air pollutants
because the agency has regulated them by first
developing health-based criteria (science-based.
guidelines) as the basis for setting permissible
levels. One set of limits (primary standard) pro-
tects health; another set of limits (secondary stan-
dard) is intended to prevent environmental and
property damage. A geographic area that meets
or does better than the primary standard is called
an attainment area; areas that don’t meet the pri-
mary standard are called nonattainment areas.

Although EPA has been regulating criteria air
pollutants since the 1970 CAA was passed, many
urban areas are classified as nonattainment for at
least one criteria air pollutant. It has been esti-
mated that about 90 million Americans live in
nonattainment areas.

Smog

What we typically call smog is primarily made up
of ground-level ozone. Ozone can be good or bad
depending on where it is located. Ozone in the
stratosphere high above the Earth protects human
health and the environment, but ground-level
ozone is the main harmful ingredient in smog.

Ground-level ozone is produced by the combi-
nation of pollutants from many sources, including
smokestacks, cars, paints and solvents. Whena
car burns gasoline, releasing exhaust fumes, or a
painter paints a house, smog-forming pollutants
tise into the sky.

Often, wind blows smog-forming pollutants
away from their sources. The smog-forming reac-
tions take place while the pollutants are being
blown through the air by the wind. This explains
why smog is often more severe miles away from.
the source of smog-forming pollutants than it is at
the source.



Glossary

This glossary has definitions for technical
words used in the Clean Air Act sum-
mary. For the most part, the glossary
provides fuller definitions than those
given in the summary itself. When a
word or group of words is printed in
italics within a definition, that tells you
that you'll find a definition of the word or
group of words elsewhere in the glossary.

Acid rain — Air pollution produced when
acid chemicals are incorporated into rain;
snow, fog or mist. The “acid” in acid rain
comes from sulfur oxides and nitrogen
oxides, products of burning coal and other
fuels and from certain industrial pro-
cesses. The sulfur oxides and nitrogen
oxides are related to two strong acids:
sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released
from power plants and other sources,
winds blow them far from their source.

If the acid chemicals in the air are blown
into areas where the weather is wet, the
acids can fall to Earth in the rain, snow,
fog or mist. In areas where the weather is
dry, the acid chemicals may become
incorporated into dusts or smokes. Acid
rain can damage the environment, human
health and property.

Alternative fuels — Fuels that can replace
ordinary gasoline. Alternative fuels may
have particularly desirable energy effi-
ciency and pollution reduction features.
Alternative fuels include compressed
natural gas, alcohols, liquefied petroleum
gas (LPG), and electricity. The 1990 Clean
‘Air Act encourages development and sale
of alternative fuels.

Attainment area — A geographic area in
which levels of a criteria air pollutant
meet the health-based primary standard
(national ambient air quality standard, or
NAAQS) for the pollutant. An area may
have on acceptable level for one criteria
air pollutant, but may have unacceptable
Jevels for others. Thus, an area could be
both attainment and nonattainment at the
same time. Attainment ateas are defined.
using federal pollutant limits set by EPA.

Carbon monoxide (CO) — A colorless,
odorless, poisonous gas, produced by
incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels,
including gasoline, oil and wood. Carbon
monoxide is also produced from incom-
plete combustion of many natural and
synthetic products. For instance, cigarette
smoke contains carbon monoxide. When
carbon monoxide gets into the body, the
carbon monoxide combines with chemi-
cals in the blood and prevents the blood
from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues and
organs. The body’s parts need oxygen for
energy, so high-level exposures to carbon

monoxide can cause serious health effects,
with death possible from massive expo-
sures. Symptoms of exposure to carbon
monoxide can include vision problems,
reduced alertness, and general reduction
in mental and physical functions. Carbon
monoxide exposures are especially harm-
ful to people with heart, lung and circula-
tory system diseases.

CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)— These
chemicals and some related chemicals
have been used in great quantities in
jndustry, for refrigeration and air condi-
tioning, and in consumer products. CFCs
and their relatives, when released into the
air, rise into the stratosphere, a layer of the
atmosphere high above the Earth. In the
stratosphere, CFCs and their relatives take
part in chemical reactions which result in
reduction of the stratospheric ozone layer,
which protects the Earth’s surface from
harmful effects of radiation from the sun.
The 1990 Clean Air Act includes provisions
for reducing releases (emissions) and
eliminating production and use of these
ozone-destroying chemicals.

Clean Air Act — The original Clean Air
‘Act was passed in 1963, but our national
air pollution control program is actually
based on the 1970 version of the law. The
1990 Clean Air Act Amendments are the
most far-reaching revisions of the 1970
law. In this summary, we refer to the 1990
amendments as the 1990 Clean Air Act.

Clean fuels — Low-pollution fuels that
can replace ordinary gasoline. These are
alternative fuels, including gasohol (gaso-
Tine-alcohol mixtures), natural gas and
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).

Combustion — burning. Many important
pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen
oxides, and particulates (PM-10) are com-
bustion products, often products of the
burning of fuels such as coal, oil, gas and
wood.

Continuous emission monitoring systems
(CEMS)— machines which measure, on a
continuous basis, pollutants released by a
source. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires
continuous emission monitoring systems
for certain large sources.

Control technology; control measures —
equipment, processes or actions used to
reduce air pollution. The extent of pollu-
tion reduction varies among technologies
and measures. In general, control tech-
nologies and measures that do the best job
of reducing pollution will be required in
the areas with the worst pollution. For
example, the best available control technol-
ogy/best available control measures (BACT,

21

BACM) will be required in serious
nonattainment areas for particulates, a
criteria air pollutant. A similar high level
of pollution reduction will be achieved
with maximum achieoable control technology
(MACT) which will be required for sources
releasing hazardous air pollutants.

Criteria air pollutants —a group of very
common air pollutants regulated by EPA
on the basis of criteria (information on
health and/or environmental effects of
pollution). Criteria air pollutants are
‘widely distributed all over the country.

Curtailment programs — restrictions on
operation of fireplaces and woodstoves in
areas where these home heat sources
make major contributions to pollution.

Emission — release of pollutants into the
air from a source. We say sources emit
pollutants. Continuous emission monitoring
systems (CEMS) are machines which some
large sources are required to install, to
make continuous measurements of pollut-
ant release.

Enforcement — the legal methods used to
make polluters obey the Clean Air Act.
Enforcement methods include citations of
polluters for violations of the law (cita-
tions are much like traffic tickets), fines
and even jail terms. EPA and the state
and local governments are responsible for
enforcement of the Clean Air Act, but if
they don’t enforce the law, members of
the public can sue EPA or the states to get
action. Citizens can also sue violating
sources, apart from any action EPA or
state or local governments have taken.
Before the 1990 Clean Air Act, all enforce-
ment actions had to be handled through
the courts. The 1990 Clean Air Act gave
EPA authority so that, in some cases, EPA
can fine violators without going to court
first. The purpose of this new authority is
to speed up violating sources’ compliance
with the law and reduce court time and
cost.

Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) —
chemicals that cause serious health and
environmental effects. Health effects
include cancer, birth defects, nervous
system problems and death due to mas-
sive accidental releases such as occurred
at the pesticide plant in Bhopal, India.
Hazardous air pollutants are released by
sources such as chemical plants, dry clean-
ers, printing plants, and motor vehicles
(cars, trucks, buses, etc.)



United States Air And Radiation ~ EPA400-K-93-001
Eavironmental Protection (ANR-443) April 1993
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SEPA The Plain English Guide
To The Clean Air Act



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EPA refers to chemicals that cause serious health
and environmental hazards as hazardous air pol-
lutants (HAPs) or air toxics.

Air toxics are released from sources throughout
the country and from motor vehicles. For ex-
ample, gasoline contains toxic chemicals. Gases
escape from liquid gasoline and form a vapor ina
process called vaporization or evaporation. When
you put gas in your car, you can often see wavy
lines in the air at the pump nozzle and you can
smell gasoline; that tells you gasoline vapors are in
the air.

When cars and trucks burn gasoline, air toxics
come out of the tailpipes. (These air toxics are
combustion products—chemicals that are pro-
duced when a substance is burned.)

: Petrochemical plants can release hazardous air pollutants. A.A Texaco, Inc., plant
‘at Port Neches, Texas, which manufactures a fuel additive; B. Construction at a

Phillips Petroleum refinery in Sweeny, Texas (1985); C. The Texaco, Inc., refinery
at Convent, Louisiana (1983).

Motor vehicles and small businesses
can release hazardous air pollutants.

Air toxics are released from small stationary
sources, such as dry cleaners and auto paint shops.
Large stationary sources, such as chemical facto-
ries and incinerators, also release hazardous air
pollutants. The 1990 Clean Air Act deals more
strictly with large sources than small ones, but
EPA must regulate small sources of hazardous air
pollutants as well.

To reduce air toxics pollution, EPA must first
identify the toxic pollutants whose release should
be reduced. The 1970 Clean-Air Act gave EPA
authority to list air toxics for regulation and then
to regulate the chemicals. The agency listed and
regulated seven chemicals through 1990. The 1990
Act includes a list of 189 hazardous air pollutants
selected by Congress on the basis of potential
health and/or environmental hazard; EPA must
regulate these listed air toxics. The 1990 Act al-
lows EPA to add new chemicals to the list as nec-
essary.

To regulate hazardous air pollutants, EPA must
identify categories of sources that release the 189
chemicals listed by Congress in the 1990 Clean Air
Act. Categories could be gasoline service stations,
electrical repair shops, coal-burning power plants,
chemical plants, etc. The air toxics producers are
to be identified as major (large) or area (small)
sources.

Once the categories of sources are listed, EPA
will issue regulations. In some cases, EPA may
have to specify exactly how to reduce pollutant
releases, but wherever possible companies will
have flexibility to choose how they meet require-
ments. Sources are to use Maximum Available
Control Technology (MACT) to reduce pollutant
releases; this is a very high level of pollution con-
trol.

EPA must issue regulations for major sources
first, and must then issue regulations to reduce
pollution from small sources, setting priorities for
which small sources to tackle first, based on health
and environmental hazards, production volume, etc.



Other criteria pollutants:
carbon monoxide
and particulates

The carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter
(PM-10) clean-up plans are set up like the plan for
smog, but only two pollution classes are identified
for each (instead of the five for ozone). Getting
rid of particulates (soots, dusts, smoke) will re-
quire pollution controls on power plants and re-
strictions on smaller sources such as wood stoves,
agricultural burning, and dust from fields and
roads. Because so many homes have woodstoves
and fireplaces, this summary of the Clean Air Act
includes a section on Woodstoves and fireplaces,
providing information on how the Clean Air Act
will affect these home heating systems.

Offsets

What if a company wants to expand or change a
production process or otherwise increase its out-
put of a criteria air pollutant? If an owner or op-
erator of a major source wants to release more of a
criteria air pollutant, an offset (a reduction of the
criteria air pollutant by an amount somewhat
greater than the planned increase) must be ob-
tained somewhere else, so that permit require-
ments are met and the nonattainment area keeps
moving toward attainment. The company must
also install tight pollution controls. An increase in
a criteria air pollutant can be offset with a reduc-
tion of the pollutant from some other stack at the
same plant or at another plant owned by the same
or some other company in the nonattainment area.
Since total pollution will continue to go down,
trading offsets among companies is allowed. This
is one of the market approaches to cleaning up air
pollution in the Clean Air Act.

Dusty farm operations, such as soil tillage and pesticide application,
can pollute the air.

Air pollution in Denver, Colorado, sometimes causes hazy "brown
cloud”. Denver has also had problems with carbon monoxide
pollution.

Criteria air pollutants
in gasoline and
consumer products

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), important
smog-forming chemicals, are found in gasoline
and many consumer products, from hair spray to
charcoal starter fluid to plastic popcorn packaging.
This summary includes a section on Consumer
Products; see that section for information on how
the Clean Air Act will affect products you use
every day. Information on changes in gasoline
will be found in the section on Mobile Sources.

Hazardous air pollutants

Some air pollutants can cause cancer, problems
with having children and other very serious ill-
nesses as well as environmental damage. Air pol-
lutants have killed people swiftly when large
quantities were released; the 1984 release of me-
thy] isocyanate at a pesticide-manufacturing plant
in Bhopal, India, killed approximately 4,000
people and injured more than 200,000.



EPA Regional Offices

Reglon 1
Alt, Pesticides and Toxics
Divis

‘Management Division

US. EPA - Region 1

ohn F, Kennedy Federal Building
‘One Street

‘Boston MA

(617) 565-3600

(Conection, Male, , Massachusetts,

‘New Harnpshire, Rode Island,
Vermons)

Reglon 2
‘Air and Waste Management Division
Room 1000

US. EPA - Region 2

26 Federal Plaza

New York NY 10278

(12) 264-2301

(New dersey, New York, Puerto Rico,
Vingia Islands)

Region 3
Air, Radiation and Toxics Division

us BAe nea 3
mesh pc 19107

Cees, Disitict of Columbia,
fey as, Pes, gh,

Reglon 4
Al, Pesticides an and To Toxics

Management Divi

Us Ga, Toone 4
‘345 Courland Sic, NE.

‘Alanta GA 30365

(404) 347-3043

(Aatama, Hinied Georgia, Keaucly,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Sc
Carolia, Tennessee)

Reglon 5

Alr and Radiation Division (A-18J)
US. EPA - Region 5

T7 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago IL. 60604

(312) 353-2212

(iltinats, Indiana, Michigan,
‘Minnesola, Ohio, Wisconsin)

Reglon 6

Air, Pesticides and Toxics Division
US. EPA - Region 6

First Inert ‘Bank Tower at

Fountain Pl

145 Rass ‘rene, 12h Floor, Suite
bales ‘TX 75202-2733

(214) 655-7200

(Artansas, Louisiana, New Mexico,
Otiahoma, Texas)

Reglon 7
‘Air and Toxies Division (ARTX)
US. EPA - Region 7

726 Minnesota Avenue

Kansas Cily KS 66101

(@13) 551-7020

(lowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)

Reglon 8
Ar and Toxies Division
US. EPA - Region 8

969 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver CO 80202-2405
(03) 293-1438,

(Colorado, Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakola, Uh, Wyoming

Rogton 9
‘Air And Toxics Division (4-1)

Us. EPA - Region 9

75 Hawthorne Stret

San Francisco CA 94105

(415) 744-1219

(Arizona, California, aval, Nevada,
‘American Samoa, Guam)

Region 10
Ar and Toxies Division (AT-81)
US. EPA - Region 10

(Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)

28



State and Territorial Air Pollution Control Agencies

‘Alabama Department of
Environmental Management
Air Division

4751 Dickenson Drive
Monigomery AL. 36130

(205) 271-7861

Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation
Ait Quality Management Program
3220 Hospital Drive, P.O. Box O
Juneau AL 99811-1800

(907) 465-5100

American Samoa
Environmental Quality
Commission
Govemor's Office

Pago Pago,

‘American Samoa 96799
011-(684) 633-4116

Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality
Office of Air Quality

P.0. Box 600

Phoenix AZ 85001-0600

(602) 257-2308

Arkansas Department of
Pollution Control and
Ecology

Air Division

8001 National Drive,

P.O. Box 9583

Little Rock AR 72209

(601) 562-7444

‘Secretary of Environmental
Affairs
California Air Resources Board

(916) 445-4383
Colorado Department of
Health

Air Pollution Control Division
4210 E 11th Avenue

Denver CO 80220

(303) 331-8500

Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection
Bureau of Air Management
165 Capitol Avenue

Hartford CT 06106

(208) 566-2506

Department of Natural
Resources & Environmental
Control

psi ofA of Air and Waste

89 Kine Highway, P.O. Box 1401
Dover DE 19903
(302) 739-4791

District of Columbia
Air Quality Control and
Monitoring Branch

2100 Martin Luther King Ave, SE
Washington DC 20020,

(202) 404-1120

tment of

fal Regulation
Air Resources Management
2600 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee FL 32399-2400
(904) 488-1344

Georgia Department of
Natural Resources
Environmental Protection
Division

205 Buller Street, SE
Atlafita GA 30344

(404) 656-6900

Guam Environmental
Protection Agency
‘Complex Unit 0-107
130 Rojas Street
Harmon, Guam 96911
011-(671) 646-8863

Hawaii State Department of
Health

Environmental Management
Division

Air Pollution Section

1270 Queen Erma. ute

Honolulu HI 96813
(808) 586-4019

Idaho Division of
Environmental Quality
Air Quality Bureau

1410 North Hilton

Boise 1D 83706

(208) 334-5898

Mlnois Environmental
Protection Agency

Division of Air Pollution Control
2200 Churchill Road

P.O. Box 19276

Springfield IL 62794-9276
(217) 782-7326

Indiana Department of
Environmental Management
Air Pollution Control Board

105 S. Meridian Street

P.O. Box 6015

Indianapolis IN 46206-6015
(317) 232-8384

towa Department of Natural
Resources

Air Quality Section

Henry A. Wallace Building, $00
E Grand St.

Des Moines 1A 50319

(515) 261-8852

Kansas Department of
Health and Environment
rueay of Air and Waste

fanagement
Forbes Field, Building 740
Topeka KS 66620
(913) 296-1593

Kentucky Department for
Environmental Protection
Division of Air Quality

316 St. Clair Mall

Frankfort KY 40601

(802) 564-3382

Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality
Office of Air Quality and
Radiation Protection

Ait Quality Division, P.0. Box
82135

Baton Rouge LA 70884-2135
(604) 765-0110

Maine Department of
Environmental Protection
Bureau of Air Quality Control
State House, Station 17
Augusta ME 04333

(207) 289-2437

Maryland Department of the
Environment

Ait Management Administration
2500 Broening Highway
Baltimore MD 21224

(301) 631-3255

Massachusetts Department
of Environmental Protection
Division of Air Quality Control
One Winter Stret, 8 Floor
Boston MA 02108

(617) 292-5593

Michigan Department ot
Natural Resources

Air Quality Division

P.O. Box 30028

‘Lansing MI 48909

(617) 373-7023

‘Minnesota Pollution Controt

Agency

‘Ar Quality Division
520 Lafayette Road
Saint Paul MN 55155
(612) 296-7331

Mississippi Department of
imental Quality
aro ision, Office of Pollution
Contra!

P.O. Box 10385

Jackson, MS 39289

(601) 961-5171

‘Missourl Department of
Natural Resources

Division of Environmental Quality
Air Pollution Control

P.O. Box 176

Jefferson City MO 65102
(314) 751-4817

Montana Department of
Health and Environmental
Sclence

Air Quality Bureau

Cogswell Building, Room A116
Helena, MT 59620

(406) 444-3454

Nebraska Department of
Environmental Controt
Ar Quality Division

P.O, Box 98922

Lincoln NE 68509-8922
(402) 471-2189

Nevada Division of
Environmental Protection
Bureau of Air Quality

123 West Nye Lane

Carson City NV 89710
(702) 687-5065

New Hampshire Department
of Environmental Services
Air Resources Division

64 N. Main Street, Box 2033
‘Concord NH 03301

(603) 271-1370

New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
Division of Environmental Quality
Air Program

401 East State Steet

Trenton NJ 08625

(609) 292-6710

27

New Mexico Environmental
Improvement Division

Air Quality Bureau

P.O, Box 26110

Santa Fe NM 87502

(605) 827-0070

New York Department of
Environmental Conservation
Division of Air Resources

50 Wolf Road

Albany NY 12223-3250

(618) 457-7230

North Carolina Division of
Environmental Management
A Quay Seon

P.

Raleigh We 1011-1687

(919) 733-3340

North Dakota State
Department of Health
Environmental Health Section
1200 Missouri Avenue
Bismarck ND 58502-5520
(701) 221-5188

Obio Environmental
Protection Agency

Divison of Air Pollution Control
1800 WatetMark Drive
Columbus, OH 43266-0149
(614) 644-2270

Oklahoma State Dept. of
Health

Air Quality Service

1000 Northeast 10th Street, P.O,
Box 53551

‘Oklahoma City, OK 73152

(405) 271-6220

Gregon Deptartment of
Environmental Quality

‘Ai Quality Control Division
811 SW 6th Avenue, 11th Floor
Portland OR 97204

(603) 209-5287

Pennsylvania Deptartment of
Environmental Resources
Bureau of Air Quality Control
{01 Sout Sean St P.0. Box

fang ¢ ony 17106-2887
(117) 78

Puerto Rico Environmental
Quality Board

Edificio Banco National Plaza
431 Avenue Ponce DeLeon
Hato Rey PR 00917

(09) 767-8071

Bode istand oe, of

oon of ie nd Hazrdus
Materials

291 Promenade Street
Providence RI 02908-5767
(401) 277-2808

South Carolina Department
of Health and Environmental

Bureau ‘of Air r ualy Control
2600 Bull Str

Columbus sca 29201

(803) 734-4750

‘South Dakota Department of
Environment and Natural
Resources

Ait Program

523 East Capitol Avenue

Pierre SD 57501

(605) 773-3153

Tennessee Department of
Environment and
Conservation

Division oa air Pollution Controt
701 Broa

Restle Th TN 57249-1531

(615) 741-3931

State of Texas

Texas Air Control Board
12124 Park 35 Circle
Austin TX 78753

(612) 908-1000

Utah Department of
Environmental Quality
Division of Air Quality

1950 West North Temple

Salt Lake City UT 84114-4820
(801) 536-4000

Vermont Agency of Natural
Resources

Air Pollution Control Division
108 S. Main Street, Building 3
South

Waterbury VT 05676

(802) 244-8731

‘Virgin Istands Deptartment
of Planning & Natural
Resources

Di of Environmental
Protection

1118 C’sted Sbx.

St. Croix VI 00820-5065
(803) 773-0565

State of Virginia
Department of Air Pollution
Control

P.0, Box 10089

Richmond VA 23240

(604) 76-2378

Washington State ~
Department of Ecology

P.O. Box 47600

Olympia WA 98504-7600

(206) 459-6632

‘State of West Virginia
Air Pollution Commission
1558 Washington Street East
Charleston WV 25311

(304) 348-2275

Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources

Bureau of Air Management
Box 7921

Madison WI 53707

(608) 266-718

Wyoming Department of
Environmental Quality
Air Quality Division

122 West 25th Street
Cheyenne WY 82002

(307) 777-7381



Enforcement

The 1990 Clean Air Act gives important new en-
forcement powers to EPA.

It used to be very difficult for EPA to penalize a
company for violating the Clean Air Act. EPA had
to go to court for even minor violations. The 1990
law enables EPA to fine violators, much like a
police officer giving traffic tickets. Other parts of
the 1990 law increase penalties for violating the
Act and bring the Clean Air Act’s enforcement
powers in line with other environmental laws.

Deadlines

The 1990 Clean Air Act sets deadlines for EPA,
states, local governments and businesses to reduce
air pollution. The deadlines in the 1990 Clean Air
Act were designed to be more realistic than dead-
lines in previous versions of the law, so it is more
likely that these deadlines will be met.

Public
participation

Public participation is a very important part of
the 1990 Clean Air Act. Throughout the Act, the
public is given opportunities to take part in deter-
mining how the law will be carried out. For in-
stance, you can take part in hearings on the state
and local plans for cleaning up air pollution. You
can sue the government or a source’s owner or
operator to get action when EPA or your state has
not enforced the Act. You can request action by
the state or EPA against violators.

The reports required by the Act are public docu-
ments. A great deal of information will be col-
Jected on just how much pollution is being
released; these monitoring (measuring) data will
be available to the public. The 1990 Clean Air Act
ordered EPA to set up clearinghouses to collect
and give out technical information. Typically,
these clearinghouses will serve the public as well
as state and other air pollution control agencies.

See the list at the end of this summary for orga-
nizations to contact for additional information
about air pollution and the Clean Air Act.

Market approaches
for reducing air pollution;
economic incentives

The 1990 Clean Air Act has many features de-
signed to clean up air pollution as efficiently and
inexpensively as possible, letting businesses make
choices on the best way to reach pollution clean-
up goals. These new flexible programs are called
market or market-based approaches. For in-
stance, the acid rain clean-up program offers busi-
nesses choices as to how they reach their pollution
reduction goals and includes pollution allowances
that can be traded, bought and sold.

The 1990 Clean Air Act provides economic in-
centives for cleaning up pollution. For instance,
gasoline refiners can get credits if they produce
cleaner gasoline than required, and they can use
those credits when their gasoline doesn’t quite
meet clean-up requirements.

How Smog is Formed...

Next page: Many sources, including cars, factories, and products
used in homes, release smog-forming pollutants. Wind blows
the pollutants away from their sources and, while the pollutants
are being blown along, they undergo chemical reactions. Heat
and sunlightincrease the reactions. These reactions form ground-
level ozone, the principal component of smog.

Hours after the smog-forming pollutants were released from
their sources, smog pollutes the air, often miles away from
where the smog-forming pollutants were released.



Consumer
products

Home
woodstoves

air sprays, paints, foam plastic products

(suchas disposable styrofoam coffee

cups), carburetor and choke sprays—all
are consumer products that may be regulated un-
der the 1990 Clean Air Act. These products will be
regulated to reduce releases of smog-forming
VOCs and ozone-destroying chemicals (CFCs and
related chemicals).

By May 1993, consumer products containing
CFCs and related chemicals identified in the 1990
Clean Air Act as most damaging to the ozone
layer have this label:

WARNING: contains or manufactured with (name of
chemical), a substance which harms public health
and the environment by destroying ozone in the
upper atmosphere.

All products containing less destructive ozone-
destroying chemicals identified in the 1990 Act
must be labeled by 2015.

Consumers should be aware of product changes
and any safety or health problems that may be
caused by the new ozone-safe formulations. Ma-
terial safety data sheets for the products should
be read for health and safety information and in-
formation on how to use and dispose of the prod-
uct

The 1990 Clean Air Act orders EPA to study
VOC releases from consumer products and report
to Congress by 1993 on whether these products
should be regulated. If they are to be regulated,
EPA is to list the consumer products that account
for at least 80 percent of VOC releases, and issue
regulations for product categories, starting with
the worst polluters. Labeling, repackaging, chemi-
cal formula changes, fees or other procedures may
be used to reduce VOC releases.

‘oodstoves and fireplace inserts have
become very popular in the past
twenty years. Although these wood-

burning heat suppliers are relatively cheap to op-
erate, they have some disadvantages, including
polluting the air. In some areas of the country,
wintertime air pollution from wood smoke has
become so bad that governments have had to cur-
tail the use of woodstoves and fireplaces under
certain weather and pollution conditions.

Wood smoke often contains a lot of particulates
(dust, soot) and much higher levels of hazardous
air pollutants, including some cancer-causing
chemicals, than smoke from oil- or gas-fired fur-
naces. Steps to clean up wood smoke pollution
have included redesigning the burning system in
woodstoves; newer woodstoves put out much less
pollution than older models.

Under the 1990 Act, EPA has issued guidelines for
reducing pollution from home wood-burning.
These guidelines, which are not requirements, include
design information for less-polluting stoves and
fireplaces.

5 Material safety data sheets are product safety information
sheets prepared by manufacturers and marketers. These
sheets can be obtained by requesting them from the
manufacturer. Some stores, such as hardware stores, may
have material safety data sheets on hand for products they
sell.

18

meet pollution reduction
requirements issued

by EPA.



The Common Air Pollutants (Criteria Air Pollutants)

Name Source

Health Effects

Environmental Effects Property Damage _

Ozone (ground- chemical reaction of pollutants; VOCs and
x

breathing problems, reduced lung function,

ozone can damage plants and Damages rubber,

level ozone is the asthma, irritates eyes, stuffy nose, reduced —_ trees; smog can cause fabrics, etc,
principal resistance to colds and other infections, may reduced visibility

component of speed up aging of lung tissue

smog)

VOCs* (volatile VOCs are released from burning fuel In addition to ozone (smog) effects, many In addition to ozone (smog)

organic (gasoline, oil, wood, coal, natural gas, etc), VOCs can cause serious health problems effects, some VOCs such as

compounds); solvents, paints glues and other products ‘such as cancer and other effects formaldehyde and ethylene

smog-formers used at work or at home. Cars are an
important source of VOCs. VOCs include
chemicals such as benzene, toluene,
methylene chloride and methy! chloroform

may harm plants

Nitrogen buming of gasoline, natural gas, coal, oil etc.
Dione {one of Cars ate an important souree of No®

smog-formit
chetnical

lung damage, illnesses of breathing passages
and lungs flespiatory system)

nitrogen dioxide is an acid aerosols can eat
ingredient of acid rain (acid + away stone used on
aerosols), which can damage buildings, statues,
trees and lakes. Acid aerosols monuments, etc.
can reduce visibility.

Carbon Monoxide buming of gasoline, wood, natural gas, coal,
{co} il, etc.

reduces ability of blood to bring oxygen to
body cells and tissues; cells and tissues
need oxygen to work, Carbon monoxide may
be particularly hazardous to people who have
heart or circulatory (blood vessel) problems
and people who have damaged lungs or
breathing passages

Particulate buming of wood, diesel and other fuels;

Matter (PM-10); industrial plants; agriculture (plowing, burning
\ smoke, off fields); unpaved roads

‘soo

nose and throat irritation, lung damage,
bronchitis, early death

particulates are the main ashes, soots, smokes

source of haze that and dusts can dirty

reduces visibility and discolor structures
and other property,
including clothes and
furniture

Sulfur Dioxide burning of coal and oil, especially high-sulfur
coal from the Eastem United States;
industrial processes (paper, metals)

breathing problems, may cause permanent
damage to lungs

$Oz.is an ingredient in acid acid aerosols can eat
tain (acid aerosols), which can away stone used in
damage trees and lakes. Acid buildings, statues,
aerosols can also reduce monuments, etc.
visibility.

Lead leaded gasoline (being phased out), paint
(houses, cars), smelters (metal refineries);
manufacture of lead storage batteries

*ANVOCs contain carbon {C}, the basic chemical element found in living beings. Carbon-containing chemicals are called

brain and other nervous system damage;
children are at special risk. Some
lead-containing chemicals cause cancer in
animals. Lead causes digestive and other
health problems.

Lead can harm wildlife.

janic. Volatile chemicals escape into the air easily. Many VOCs, such as the

chomicals fisted in the table, are also hazardous air pollutants, which can cause very serious illnesses. EPA does not list VOCs as criteria air pollutants, but they are included in this list of pollutants

because efforts to control smog target VOCs for reduction.

24





Lp ef
¢ ES
Sandstone statue from Herten Castle,
near Recklinghausen, Westphalia,
built in 1702. The photo on the right
was taken in 1908, the one on the left
in 1969.

GERMANY

Frieze, east front of the Parthenon, The Acropolis



Inspection and
maintenance (I/M) programs

Under the 1990 Clean Air Act, auto manufacturers
will build cleaner cars, and cars will use cleaner
fuels. However, to get air pollution down and
keep it down, a third program is needed; vehicle
inspection and maintenance (1/M), which makes
sure cars are being maintained adequately to keep
pollution emissions (releases) low. The 1990
Clean Air Act includes very specific requirements
for inspection and maintenance programs.

Before the 1990 Clean Air Act went into effect,
seventy United States cities and several states
already had auto emission inspection programs.
The 1990 law requires inspection and maintenance
programs in more areas: forty metropolitan areas,
including many in the northeastern United States,
are required to start emission inspection and
maintenance programs.

Some areas that already have inspection and
maintenance programs are required to enhance

Pollution from trucks burning diesel fuel can be especially noticeable.
Requirements in the 1990 Clean Air Act will result in much less air
pollution from trucks.

(improve) their emission inspection machines and
procedures. Enhanced inspection and mainte-
nance machines and procedures will give a better
measurement of the pollution a car releases when
it is actually being driven, rather than just sitting
parked at the inspection station. Enhanced inspec-
tion and maintenance programs may result in
changes in where cars are inspected in your local
area. Since the enhanced emission inspection and
maintenance machines are expensive, some of the
private stations now conducting inspection and
maintenance programs may not want to buy the
enhanced machinery. But the added expense for
the new machinery will be more than made up for
by air pollution reductions: emission inspection
and maintenance programs are expected to have
a big payoff in reducing air pollution from cars.

Cleaner trucks
and buses

Starting with model year 1994, engines for new big
diesel trucks will have to be built to reduce par-
ticulate (dust, soot) releases by 90 percent. Buses
will have to reduce particulate releases even more
than trucks. To reduce pollution, companies and.
governments that own buses or trucks will need to
buy new clean models. Small trucks will be
cleaned up by requirements similar to those for
cars.

Non-road
vehicles

Locomotives, construction equipment and even
riding mowers may be regulated under the 1990
Clean Air Act. Air pollution from locomotives
must be reduced. For the other non-road vehicles,
EPA must issue regulations if a study shows that
controls would help cut pollution.

Transportation
policies

The smoggiest metropolitan areas will have to
change their transportation policies to discourage
unnecessary auto use, and to encourage efficient
commuting (van pools, HOV [high-occupancy
vehicle] lanes, etc.). States carrying out the 1990
Clean Air Act may add surcharges to parking fees.



Contents

Why should you be concerned
about air pollution?............. aseueoseeersenenesuensnseusenensenseesenee 1
Features of the 1990 Clean Air ACt......:sssssssssssrensntees 2

The role of the federal government

and the role of the states . 2
Interstate air pollution... 2
International air pollution 2
Permits........ 3
Enforcement 4
Deadlines . 4

A

Public participation
Market approaches for reducing air
pollution; economic incentives .........see

a

Cleaning up air pollution:
the programs in the 1990 Clean Air Act
Smog and other “criteria” air pollutants
Smog
Other criteria pollutants: carbon
monoxide and particulates .

aaa

NN

Criteria air pollutants in gasoline

and consumer products
Hazardous air pollutants ..

Mobile sources...
Cleaner fuels.
Cleaner cars...
Inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs
Cleaner trucks and buses 13
Non-road vehicles ..
Transportation policies

AGI PAIN... .snessseeseesecssesnenesnesenseneneeneeneneesnteneneeneneneneeatans
Repairing the ozone layer
Consumer products
Home woodstoves ..

How do you know
the Clean Air Act iS WOrKiNg? «.....ss-sssseseenenenenmneeee 19

Glossary
The Common
Ozone Nonattainment Areas

Carbon Monoxide and Particulate
(PM-10) Nonattainment Areas ........-sssssssesssereseenentes 26

State and Territorial Air Pollution
Control Agencies ...

EPA Regional Offices ...



Inspection and maintenance program (UM.
Program) — Auto inspection programs
are required for some polluted areas,
‘These periodic inspections, usually done
once a year or once every two years,
check whether a car is being maintained
to keep pollution down and whether
emission control systems are working
properly. Vehicles which do not pass
inspection must be repaired. As of 1992,
111 urban areas in 35 states already had I/
M programs. Under the 1990 Clean Air
Act, some especially polluted areas will
have to have enhanced inspection and main-
tenance programs, using special machines
that can check for such things as how
much pollution a car produces during
actual driving conditions.

International air pollution — Canada
and Mexico, the United States’ neighbors,
share the air at our borders. Pollution
moves across the national borders; this
international pollution can be serious.
‘The 1990 Clean Air Act includes provisions
for cooperative efforts to reduce pollution
that originates in one country and affects
another.

Interstate air pollution —In many areas,
two or more states share the same air. We
say these states are in the same air basin
defined by geography and wind patterns.
Often, air pollution moves out of the state
in which it is produced into another state.
Some pollutants, such as the power plant
combustion products that cause acid rain,
may travel over several states before
affecting health, the environment and
property. The 1990 Clean Air Act includes
many provisions, such as interstate com-
pacts, to help states work together to
protect the air they share. Reducing
interstate air pollution is very important
since many Americans live and work in
areas where more than one state is part of
a single metropolitan area.

Material safety data sheets (MSDS) —
product safety information sheets pre-
pared by manufacturers and marketers of
producis containing toxic chemicals.
‘These sheets can be obtained by request-
ing them from the manufacturer or mar-
keter. Some stores, such as hardware
stores, may have material safety data
sheets on hand for products they sell.

Mobile sources — moving objects that
release pollution; mobile sources include
cars, trucks, buses, planes, trains, motor-
cycles and gasoline-powered lawn mow-
ers. Mobile sources are divided into two
groups: road vehicles, which includes
cars, trucks and buses, and non-toad
vehicles, which includes trains, planes
and lawn mowers.

Monitoring (monitor) — Measurement of
air pollution is referred to as monitoring.
EPA, state and local agencies measure the
types and amounts of pollutants in com-
munity air. The 1990 Clean Air Act re-
quires certain large polluters to perform
enhanced monitoring to provide an accu-
rate picture of their pollutant releases.
Enhanced monitoring programs may
include keeping records on materials used
by the source, periodic inspections, and
installation of continuous emission monitor-
ing systems (CEMS). Continuous emission
monitoring systems will measure, ona
continuous basis, how much pollution is
being released into the air. The 1990 Clean
Air Act requires states to monitor commu-
nity air in polluted areas to check on
whether the areas are being cleaned up
according to schedules set out in the law.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) — a criteria air
pollutant. Nitrogen oxides are produced
from burning fuels, including gasoline
and coal. Nitrogen oxides are smog-
formers, which react with volatile organic
compounds to form smog. Nitrogen
oxides are also major components of acid
rain,

Nonattainment area —a geographic area
in which the level of a criteria air pollutant
is higher than the level allowed by the
federal standards. A single geographic
area may have acceptable levels of one
criteria air pollutant but unacceptable
levels of one or more other criteria air
pollutants; thus, an area can be both
attainment and nonattainment at the same
time. It has been estimated that 60% of
Americans live in nonattainment areas.

Offset — a method used in the 1990 Clean
Air Act to give companies which own or
operate large (major) sources in
nonattainment areas flexibility in meeting
overall pollution reduction requirements
when changing production processes. If
the owner or operator of the source
wishes to increase release of a criteria air
pollutant, an offset (reduction of a some-
what greater amount of the same pollut-
ant) must be obtained either at the same
plant or by purchasing offsets from an-
other company.

Oxygenated fuel (oxyfuel) — special type
of gasoline, which burns more completely
than regular gasoline in cold start condi-
tions; more complete burning results in
reduced production of carbon monoxide, a
criteria air pollutant. In some parts of the
country, carbon monoxide release from
cars starting up in cold weather makes a
major contribution to pollution. In these
areas, gasoline refiners must market
oxygenated fuels, which contain a higher
oxygen content than regular gasoline.

22

Some gasoline companies started selling
oxyfuels in cities with carbon monoxide
problems before the 1990 Clean Air Act
was passed. °

Ozone —a gas which is a variety of
oxygen. The oxygen gas found in the air
consists of two oxygen atoms stuck to-
gether; this is molecular oxygen. Ozone
consists of three oxygen atoms stuck
together into an ozone molecule. Ozone
occurs in nature; it produces the sharp
smell you notice near a lightning strike.
High concentrations of ozone gas are
found in a layer of the atmosphere—the
stratosphere—high above the Earth.
Stratospheric ozone shields the Earth
against harmful rays from the sun, par-
ticularly ultraviolet B. Smog’s main com-
ponent is ozone; this ground-level ozone
is a product of reactions among chemicals
produced by burning coal, gasoline and
other fuels, and chemicals found in prod-
ucts including solvents, paints,

hairsprays, etc.

Ozone hole — thin place in the ozone
layer located in the stratosphere high above
the Earth. Stratospheric ozone thinning
has been linked to destruction of strato-
spheric ozone by CFCs and related chemi-
cals, The 1990 Clean Air Act has
provisions to reduce and eliminate ozone-
destroying chemicals’ production and
use. Ozone holes have been found above
Antarctica and above Canada and north-
em parts of the United States, as well as
above northern Europe.

Particulates; particulate matter (PM-10)
—a criteria air pollutant. Particulate mat-
ter includes dust, soot and other tiny bits
of solid materials that are released into
and move around in the air. Particulates
are produced by many sources, including
burning of diesel fuels by trucks and
buses, incineration of garbage, mixing
and application of fertilizers and pesti-
cides, road construction, industrial pro-
cesses such as steelmaking, minin,
operations, agricultural burning (field and
Slash uring), and operation of fireplaces
and woodstoves. Particulate pollution
can cause eye, nose and throat irritation
and other health problems.

Permit — a document that resembles a
license, required by the Clean Air Act for
big (major) sources of air pollution, such
as power plants, chemical factories and, in
some cases, smaller polluters. Usually
permits will be given out by states, but if
EPA has disapproved part or all of a state
permit program, EPA will give out the
permits in that state. The 1990 Clean Air
‘Act includes requirements for permit
applications, including provisions for
members of the public to participate in



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2 Sw 226 XO SID: Rae
OF a0 CF -A0 EAD Oe eae:
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‘The Clean Air Act: The promise
of cleaner air for all Americans.





Ozone Nonattainment Areas

EXTREME
Ozone standard must be met by 2010
—<—_—_______

Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin, CA

SEVERE
Ozone standard must be met by 2007

Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX

Milwaukee-Racine, Wi

New York-N New Jer-Long Is, NY-NJ-CT

Southeast Desert Modified-Air Quality Maintenance Area, CA

SEVERE
Ozone standard must be met by 2005
—_————_

Baltimore, MD
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD
San Diego, CA
Ventura Co, CA

SERIOUS
Ozone standard must be met by 1999

Atlanta, GA Portsmouth-Dover-Rochester, NH
Baton Rouge, LA Providence {All Rl), Ri
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Sacramento Metro, CA
Boston-Lawrence-Worcester (EMS), MA-NH San Joaquin Valley, CA

EI Paso, TX ‘Springfield (Western MA), MA

Greater Connecticut Washington, DC-MD-VA
MODERATE

Ozone standard must be met by November 1996

Atlantic City, NJ Kewaunee Co, WI
Charleston, WV Knox & Lincoln Cos, ME

Lewiston-Aubum, ME
Louisville, KY-IN
Manitowoc Co, WI

Charlotte-Gastonia, NC
Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY
Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-W.Palm Beach, FL.

Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA
Portland, ME
Raleigh-Durham, NC
Reading, PA

Richmond, VA

Salt Lake City, UT

Dayton-Springfield, OH Monterey Bay, CA ‘San Francisco-Bay Area, CA

Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI Muskegon, MI Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA

Grand Rapids, MI Nashville, TN Sheboygan, WI

Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC Parkersburg, WV St. Louis, MOAL.

Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY Phoenix, AZ Toledo, OH

MARGINAL

Ozone standard must be met by 1993

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Essex Co (Whiteface Mtn), NY Knoxville, TN Reno, NV
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PANJ Evansville, IN Lake Charles, LA Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA
Altoona, PA Greenbrier Co, WW Lancaster, PA Seattle-Tacoma, WA

Birmingham, AL Hancock & Waldo Cos, ME
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA
Canton, OH Indianapolis, IN

Columbus, OH Jefferson Co, NY

Door Co, WI Jersey Co, IL.

Edmonson Co, KY Johnstown, PA

Erie, PA Kent and Queen Anne's Cos, MD

{Table currentas of April 1999)

Lexington-Fayette, KY
Manchester, NH

Smyth Co, VA (White Top Mtn)
South Bend-Elkhart, IN

Memphis, TN Sussex Co, DE

Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA. ‘Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Owensboro, KY Walworth Co,WI

Paducah, KY York, PA
Portland-Vancouver,OR-WA Youngstown-Warren-Sharon, OH-PA.

Poughkeepsie, NY


Mobile sources

(cars, trucks, buses, off-road

vehicles, planes, etc.)

If a company wishes to increase the amount of
air toxics coming out of an operating plant, the
company may choose to offset the increases so
that total hazardous air pollutant releases from the
plant do not go up. Otherwise, they may choose
to install pollution controls to keep pollutants at
the required level.

Ifa company reduces its releases of a hazardous
air pollutant by about 90 percent before EPA regu-
lates the chemical, the company will get extra time
to finish cleaning up the remaining 10 percent.
This early reduction program is expected to result
in a speedy reduction of the levels of several im-
portant hazardous air pollutants.

Under the 1990 Clean Air Act, EPA is required
to study whether and how to reduce hazardous air
pollutants from small neighborhood polluters
such as auto paint shops, print shops, etc. The
agency will also have to Icok at air toxics pollution
after the first round of regulations to see whether
the remaining health hazards require further regu-
latory action.

Cars, trucks, buses and other mobile sources
release large amounts of hazardous air pollutants
like formaldehyde and benzene. Cleaner fuels and
engines and making sure that pollution control
devices work should reduce hazardous air pollut-
ants from mobile sources.

The Bhopal tragedy inspired the 1990 Clean Air
Act requirement that factories and other busi-
nesses develop plans to prevent accidental re-
leases of highly toxic chemicals. The Act
establishes the Chemical Safety Board to investi-
gate and report on accidental releases of hazard-
ous air pollutants from industrial plants. The
Chemical Safety Board will operate like the Na-
tional Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which
investigates plane and train crashes.

less pollution than cars in the 1960s. More

people are using mass transit. Leaded gas
is being phased out, resulting in dramatic declines
in air levels of lead, a very toxic chemical.

Despite this progress, most types of air pollution
from mobile sources have not improved signifi-
cantly.

At present in the United States:

* Motor vehicles are responsible for up to half of
the smog-forming VOCs and nitrogen oxides
(NOx).

¢ Motor vehicles release more than 50 percent of
the hazardous air pollutants.

| Vi of today’s cars produces 60 to 80 percent

* Motor vehicles release up to 90 percent of the
carbon monoxide found in urban air.

What went wrong?

* More people are driving more cars more miles
on more trips. In 1970, Americans traveled 1
trillion miles in motor vehicles, and we are ex-
pected to drive 4 trillion miles each year by
2000.

* Many people live far from where they work; in
many areas, buses, subways and commuter
trains are not available. Also, most people still
drive to work alone, even when van pools,
HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes and other
alternatives to one-person-per-car commuting
are available.

¢ Buses and trucks, which produce a lot of pollu-
tion, haven’t had to clean up their engines and
exhaust systems as much as cars.

* Auto fuel has become more polluting. As lead
was being phased out, gasoline refiners
changed gasoline formulas to make up for oc-
tane loss, and the changes made gasoline more
likely to release smog-forming VOC vapors into
the air.

More cars driving more miles! This is why air pollution from cars has
gotten worse even though individual cars produce less pollution than
they used to.



° Although cars have had pollution con-
trol devices since the 1970s, the devices
only had to work for 50,000 miles,
while a car in the United States is
usually driveri for 100,000 miles.
The 1990 Clean Air Act takes a comprehensive
approach to reducing pollution from motor ve-
hicles. The Act provides for cleaning up fuels,
cars, trucks, buses and other motor vehicles. Auto
inspection provisions were included in the
law to make sure cars are well main-
tained. The 1990 law also includes .
transportation policy changes that
can help reduce air pollution.

Cleaner
fuels

It will be very difficult to obtain a significant re-
duction in pollution from motor vehicles unless
fuels are cleaned up. The 1990 Clean Air Act will
clean up fuels. The phaseout of lead from gasoline
will be completed by January 1, 1996. Diesel fuel
refining must be changed so that the fuels contain
Jess sulfur, which contributes to acid rain and
smog.

Gasoline refiners will have to reformulate gaso-
line sold in the smoggiest areas; this gasoline will
contain less volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
such as benzene (which is also a hazardous air

_ Thereare several kinds of vapor recovery nozzles. The two nozzles in the left side of
the photograph are both vapor recovery nozzles; the nozzle on. the right is not.

12

pollutant that causes cancer and aplastic anemia, a
potentially fatal blood disease). Other polluted
areas can ask EPA to include them in the reformu-
lated gasoline marketing program. In some areas,
wintertime carbon monoxide (CO) pollution is
caused by people starting their cars. In these
areas, refiners will have to sell oxyfuel, gasoline
with oxygen added to make the fuel burn more .
efficiently, thereby reducing carbon monoxide
release.

All gasolines will have to contain deter-
gents, which, by preventing build-up of engine
deposits, keep engines working smoothly and
burning fuel cleanly. Low VOC, oxyfuel and de-
tergent gasolines are already sold in several parts
of the country.

The 1990 Clean Air Act encourages development,
and sale of alternative fuels such as alcohols, lig-
uefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas.

Gas stations in smoggy areas will install vapor
recovery nozzles on gas pumps. These
nozzles cut down on vapor release when
you put gas in your car.

Cleaner
cars

The 1990 Clean Air Act requires cars to have un-
der-the-hood systems and dashboard warning’ _ -
lights that check whether pollution control devices
are working properly. Pollution control devices
must work for 100,000 miles, rather than the cur-
rent 50,000 miles. Auto makers must build some
cars that use clean fuels, including alcohol, and
that release less pollution from the tailpipe
through advanced engine design. Electric cars,
which are low-pollution vehicles, will also be
built. Since California, especially southern Cali-
fornia, has the worst smog problems, manufactur-
ers will first sell clean fuel cars in a pilot project
in California. By 1999, at least 500,000 of these
clean fuel cars are to be manufactured for sale in
California each year. Other states can require that
cars meeting the California standards be sold in
their states.

Many companies and government agencies have
fleets of cars. Fleet-owners in very smoggy areas
must buy the new cleaner cars starting in the late
1990s.