Construction and the Clean Air Act

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• Construction and the Clean Air Act

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Air Pollution

• Damages the environment.
• Some chemicals found in polluted air cause
  cancer, birth defects, nerve damage and long term
  injury to lungs and breathing passages.
• Lung disease
• Kills 335,000 lives yearly.
• The third-leading cause of death in the United
  States.

• National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

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History of Clean Air Act

• 1306 Edward the I banned the use of sea coal in
  London due to the foul smell that was created.
• 1880s industrial revolution generated noticeable
  problems with air quality.
• 1940s, smog killed 20 people and sent 7,000 more
  to local hospitals in Donora, Pennsylvania.
• 1955, Air Pollution Control Act passed by
  Congress due to problems of air quality in
  Southern California and recent deaths in
  Pennsylvania.

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History of Clean Air Act continued

• 1963, Congress updates legislation by passing
  Clean Air Act to set emission standards.
• 1970, EPA formed to enforce air pollution laws.
  First major revision to Clean Air.
• 1984, Gas leak in Bhopal, India kills over 20,000
  citizens.
• 1990, concerns of potential accidents such as in
  Bhopal, prompted major revisions to the Clean Air
  Act.

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Features of the 1990 Clean Air Act

• Establish roles of the federal government and of
  the states
• Local states establish permits and enforce the
  laws.
• EPA sets limits on pollutants in the air.
• States can have stronger pollution controls than
  EPA.
• Establish clearinghouses on information
  concerning pollutants, effects, and corrective
  actions.
• States implementation plans (SIPs) required to
  explain how each state will enact and enforce the
  Clean Air Act.
• Provides for interstate commissions on air
  pollution control
• The law covers pollution that crosses the borders
  with Mexico and Canada

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Permits

• Includes information on which pollutants are
  being released,
• How much may be released, and
• What kinds of steps the source's owner or
  operator is taking to reduce pollution,
• Include plans to monitor (measure) the pollution.
  
• Permit applications and permits are available to
  the public
• through state or regional air pollution control
  agency
• or EPA
• Businesses seeking permits have to pay permit
  fees much like car owners paying for car
  registrations.
• The money from the fees will help pay for state
  air pollution control activities.

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Incentives

• The 1990 Clean Air Act designed to clean up air
  pollution as efficiently and inexpensively as
  possible.
• Let businesses make choices on the best way to
  reach pollution cleanup goals.
• New flexible programs are called market or
  market-based approaches.
• i.e. the acid rain clean-up program offers
  businesses choices as to how they reach their
  pollution reduction goals
• includes pollution allowances that can be traded,
  bought, and sold.
• Offer economic incentives for cleaning up
  pollution.
• i.e. 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.

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Criteria" Air Pollutants

• These pollutants can injure health, harm the
  environment and cause property damage.
• EPA regulates them by first developing
  health-based criteria (science-based guidelines)
• One set of limits (primary standard) protects
  health
• another set of limits (secondary standard) is
  intended to prevent environmental and property
  damage.
• Geographic areas
• that meets or does better than the primary
  standard is called an attainment area
• areas that don't meet the primary standard are
  called non-attainment areas.
• EPA and state governors cooperated to identify
  non-attainment areas for each criteria air
  pollutant.

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Criteria Air Pollutants continued

• EPA classified the non-attainment areas according
  to how badly polluted the areas are.
• Include
• Ozone (O3)
• formed by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
  nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• Particulate Matter (PM)
• formed by SO2, NOx, ammonia, VOCs, and direct
  particle emissions
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
• Lead (Pb)
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

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Ozone (good)

• In stratosphere created as a result of the
  breakdown of the oxygen molecule (O2) by
  ultraviolet radiation. 
• Forms a layer that protects life from harmful
  ultraviolet radiation. 
• The most common ozone depleting substances (ODS)
  are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
• Montreal Protocol in 1987 phased out the
  production of ODS.
• Equipment with ODS must be serviced by qualified
  technicians
• Typical equipment includes refrigerating units,
  Air Conditioning, and fire suppression systems.
• One chlorine molecule can destroy 100,000 ozone
  molecules.
• Thinning ozone layer causes higher ultraviolet-b
  (UV-b) radiation 
• Can lead to skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired
  immune systems. 
• Damage to sensitive crops, such as soybeans, can
  reduce yield. 
• Ocean phytoplankton could decrease. 
• Forming more ground-level ozone.

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Ozone (bad)

• Source - chemical reaction of pollutants VOCs
  and NOx, accelerated by sunlight
• Health Effects breathing problems, reduced
  lung function, asthma, irritates eyes, stuffy
  nose, reduced resistance to colds and other
  infections, may speed up aging of lung tissue.
• Environmental Effects - ozone can damage plants
  and trees.
• Property Damage - Damages rubber, fabrics, etc.
• An estimated 117 million people are at risk from
  the health effects of elevated ozone levels.
• Commonly seen as part of Smog

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VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

• Smog-formers
• Source
• Released from burning fuel (gasoline, oil, wood
  coal, natural gas, etc.), solvents, paints glues
  and other products used at work or at home.
• Cars are a primary source
• Include chemicals such as benzene, toluene,
  methylene chloride and methyl chloroform
• Health Effects - In addition to ozone (smog)
  effects, VOCs cause serious health problems such
  as cancer and other effects
• Environmental Effects - some VOCs such as
  formaldehyde and ethylene may harm plants

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Particulate Matter (PM-10)

• Includes acids, organic chemicals, metals, soil
  or dust particles and allergens (such as
  fragments of pollen or mold spores).
• PM10 refers to all particles less than or equal
  to 10 micrometers in diameter.
• Ten micrometers are about one-seventh the
  diameter of human hair.
• Source - burning of wood, diesel and other fuels
  industrial plants agriculture (plowing, burning
  off fields) unpaved roads crushing and grinding
  operations.
• Health Effects - nose and throat irritation, lung
  damage, bronchitis, early death.
• Environmental Effects - main source of haze that
  reduces visibility.
• Property Damage - can dirty and discolor
  structures and other property, including clothes
  and furniture.

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Carbon Monoxide (CO)

• Source - burning of gasoline, natural gas, coal,
  oil etc.
• Health Effects
• Reduces ability of blood to bring oxygen to body
  cells and tissues.
• Can kill a person in minutes when high levels of
  concentration
• 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.
• Odorless and Colorless
• Ensure proper ventilation for all combusting
  machines or burning substances.

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Sulfur Dioxide

• Source - burning of coal and oil, especially
  high-sulfur coal from the Eastern United States
  industrial processes (paper, metals)
• Health Effects - include effects on breathing,
  respiratory illness, alterations in pulmonary
  defenses, and aggravation of existing
  cardiovascular disease.
• Environmental Effects - SO2 is an ingredient in
  acid rain (acid aerosols), which can damage trees
  and lakes. Acid aerosols can also reduce
  visibility.
• Property Damage - acid aerosols can eat away
  stone used in buildings, statues, monuments, etc.
  
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is formed when fuel
  containing sulfur (mainly coal and oil) is
  burned, and during metal smelting and other
  industrial processes.
• Major sources of SO2 are electric utilities (67)
  and industrial fuel combustion (17).

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Lead

• Source - leaded gasoline (being phased out),
  paint (houses, cars), smelters (metal
  refineries) manufacture of lead storage
  batteries
• Health Effects
• Brain and other nervous system damage
• Children are at special risk.
• Cancer causing potential
• Digestive and other health problems.
• Environmental Effects - Lead can harm wildlife.
• Between 1987 and 1996, the amount of lead
  emissions decreased 50 percent, due primarily to
  the switch to unleaded gasoline.
• During rehab of facilities, removal of lead
  should be treated similar to removal of asbestos
  ensure trained technicians oversee the work

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Nitrogen Dioxide

• Smog-forming chemical
• Source - burning of gasoline, natural gas, coal,
  oil etc. Cars are an important source of NO2.
• Health Effects - lung damage, illnesses of
  breathing passages and lungs (respiratory system)
  
• Environmental Effects - nitrogen dioxide is an
  ingredient of acid rain (acid aerosols), which
  can damage trees and lakes. Acid aerosols can
  reduce visibility.
• Property Damage - acid aerosols can eat away
  stone used on buildings, statues, monuments, etc.
• Nitrogen dioxide (NOx), which forms when fuel is
  burned at high temperatures, can irritate the
  lungs and lower resistance to respiratory
  infections such as influenza.
• Frequent or continued exposure may cause
  increased incidence of acute respiratory illness
  in children.
• Principal sources of NOx are on-road vehicles
  (30) and fuel combustion/ electric utilities
  (28).

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Open Burning/Smoke

• Rules are aimed at
• Reducing the generation of smoke,
• Preventing smoke and ash from impacting people
  and the environment, and
• Preventing wildfires.
• States often have rules covering various aspects
  of open burning, such as
• limits on the types of materials that can be
  burned,
• quantity, and
• hours of the day when burning can be performed
• In many areas it is required to obtain a permit
  for most types of open burning
• Some areas completely prohibit open burning of
  construction debris

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Dust

• May be regulated by regional and local rules.
• Dusts containing lead or asbestos are covered by
  federal and state regulations.
• Typical rules require builders to implement best
  management practices as abatement measures
• establish vegetation,
• watering,
• sequential clearing,
• wheel washing,
• reducing vehicle speed,
• prompt removal of dirt/mud tracked onto highways
• Some localities require contractors/builders to
  obtain a permit from the local air pollution
  control authority before construction begins.

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Mobile Sources (cars, trucks, buses, off-road
vehicles, planes, etc.)

• Motor Vehicles
• Are responsible for up to half of the
  smog-forming VOCs and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
• Release more than 50 percent of the hazardous air
  pollutants.
• Release up to 90 percent of the carbon monoxide
  found in urban air.
• Many people live far from where they work and
  drive to work alone.
• Auto fuel has become more polluting
• As lead was being phased out, gasoline refiners
  changed gasoline formulas to make up for octane
  loss, and the changes made gasoline more likely
  to release smog-forming VOC vapors into the air.
• The 1990 Clean Air Act encourages development and
  sale of alternative fuels such as alcohols,
  liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas.
• Gas stations in smoggy areas will install vapor
  recovery nozzles on gas pumps.

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Cleaner cars

• The 1990 Clean Air Act requires cars to have
  systems and dashboard warning lights that check
  whether pollution control devices are working
  properly.
• Auto makers must build some cars that use clean
  fuels, including alcohol, and that release less
  pollution from the tailpipe through advanced
  engine design.
• Fleet-owners in very smoggy areas must buy the
  new cleaner cars starting in the late 1990s.
• The 1990 law requires inspection and maintenance
  programs in more areas
• forty metropolitan areas are required to start
  emission inspection and maintenance programs.

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Cleaner Cars continued

• Cleaner trucks and buses
• Starting with model year 1994, engines for new
  big diesel trucks will have to be built to reduce
  particulate (dust, soot) releases by 90 percent.
• To reduce pollution, companies and governments
  that own buses or trucks will need to buy new
  clean models.
• Construction equipment and even riding mowers are
  regulated under the 1990 Clean Air Act.

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You can Help Reduce Emissions

• Avoiding unnecessary driving
• Carpool, use public transit, or choose
  alternative transportation such as biking and
  walking.
• Plan your day so you drive less miles
• Maintaining your car properly
• Check your air filter, vacuum lines, belts and
  coolant hoses.
• Oil and oil filter changes are recommended every
  3,000 miles.
• Check tire pressure at least once a month.
• Driving wisely
• Avoid idling and stop-and-go driving.
• Avoid fast or jack-rabbit starts, look ahead and
  coast to a stop as much as possible.
• Substitute fresh air for air conditioning.

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You can Help Reduce Emissions continued

• Avoiding High Speeds
• Gas mileage improves about 15 percent by driving
  at 55 mph rather than at 70 mph.
• Refueling Carefully
• Dont overfill your gas tank. Spilled gas
  pollutes when evaporated.
• Alternative fluids can reduce hydrocarbon
  emissions by at least 15.
• About 50 of the fuel we use in our cars is
  imported. It is extremely important that each of
  us conserve as much fuel as possible.

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Thinking of buying a new car?

• Understand your needs and buy accordingly.
• Get only the options you really need.
• Automatic transmissions generally degrade fuel
  economy.
• Larger engines and higher horsepower typically
  result in lower gas mileage.
• Check the gas mileage ratings of similar
  vehicles.
• Buy a fuel efficient model in the size category
  that meets your needs. Smaller cars are more
  efficient.
• You can obtain The Federal Gas Mileage Guide
  from
• http//www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

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Is it working?

• Recovery of ozone layer
• Reports indicated that the ozone layer is slowly
  recovering and scientist predict it could be
  closed by 2050
• Confirmed reductions or critical pollutants in
  atmosphere