Clean Air Act, The

CAAA90 is a technology-based program rather than the health-based program used in the original Clean Air Act. The standards and emission limits are based on maximum achievable control technology. The final emission lirnits will be set forth in permits issued by the individual states. 

Other Titles - The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 continue the federal acid rain research program and contain several provisions relating to research, development and air monitoring. They also contain provisions to provide additional unemployment benefits through the Job Training Partnership Act to workers laid off as a consequence of compliance with the Clean Air Act. The Act also contains provisions to improve visibility near National Parks and other parts of the country. Strict enforcement of the Clean Air Act Amendments is the driving force behind pollution abatement. Non-compliance is simply not an option, since there are both financial and criminal liabilities that outweigh any benefits derived from a business. 

Class I Area as defined in the Clean Air Act, the following areas that were in existence as of August 7, 1977 national parks over 6,000 acres, national wilderness areas and national memorial parks over 5,000 acres, and international parks. 

Measurement or estimation of health impacts under TSCA would be premature, since relatively little has been done to regulate new or existing chemicals that could result in health benefits. The principal exception to this generalization is the ban on aerosol uses of CFCs, whose chronic effects on human health derive from their environmental impact rather than direct biological toxicity. Compared with other environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act, the regulatory accomplishments of TSCA are somewhat insubstantial. 

USEPA issued the NESHAP for benzene waste operations March 7, 1990, under the Clean Air Act. The compliance date was May 1992. It affects not only equipment leaks but also emissions of benzene in wastewater streams. Eacilities with greater than 10 tonnes/year benzene in wastewater streams are affected. They must identify wastewater streams containing greater than 10 mg/L benzene and divert them to units that will reduce benzene to acceptable levels, that is, below 10 mg/L or by 98%. This rule affected most major refineries and olefins plants. Mobil Corp. spent 10 million on a benzene recovery project at its Chalmette, LA, refinery. The refinery uses vacuum steam stripping to decrease benzene emissions by about 10 tonnes/year. One Gulf Coast petrochemical plant has also spent 10 million on a wastewater stripping facility, which reduced benzene levels from several thousand mg/L to less than 5 mg/L [70]. 

Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act is administered by the EPA. Although the principal enforcement provisions are the responsibility of local governments, overall administrative responsibility rests with EPA. This act requires criteria documents for air pollutants and sets both national air quality standards and standards for sources that create air pollutants, such as motor vehicles, power plants, and so on. Important actions already taken under this law include standards for the now complete phased-out elimination of lead in gasoline, and the setting of sulfuric acid air emission guidelines for existing industrial plants. 

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Enacted in 1976, the TSCA provides the EPA with the authority to require testing and to regulate chemicals, both old and new, entering the environment. It was intended to supplement sections of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act that already provide for regulation of chemicals. Manufacturers are required to submit information to allow the EPA to identify and evaluate the potential hazards of a chemical prior to its introduction into commerce. The act also provides for the regulation of production, use, distribution and disposal of chemicals, toxicant See poison, toxicokinetics See pharmacokinetics. 

In contrast to the industrial lobbies, the courts seem to be "catching up" with the interests of the general public and have already played a positive role. In April 2007, the Supreme Court in a 5 4 decision rejected the administration s contention that C02 is not a pollutant and decided that under the Clean Air Act, the EPA has the power to regulate greenhouse emissions. It took eight years for the lawsuit filed by the EPA and eight states against the American Electric Power Company to force a reduction in its carbon emissions. 

Hundreds of chemicals are regulated under CERCLA they are classified as (i) hazardous substances and (ii) pollutants or contaminants. The definition of a hazardous substance under CERCLA is broad and is based on other environmental regulations. A CERCLA hazardous substance does not need to be a waste or waste material. It can be a commercial chemical, formulation, or product. A CERCLA hazardous substance is defined as any chemical regulated under the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). However, two materials that are excluded from the hazardous substances list are petroleum and natural gas. A CERCLA pollutant or contaminant is defined as any other chemical or substance that will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause harmful effects to human or... 

The U.S. EPA is charged with addressing air pollution under the Clean Air Act. The poor air quality found in California has led the state of California to establish the California Air Resources Board (ARB), which also addresses this subject. EPA has established a list of hazardous air pollutants anci ARB has established a Toxic Air Contaminant (TAC) Identification List. 4 Numerous other literature references identify still other known air pollutants. Table 7.1, toxic chemicals in the air, which was compiled from these sources, shows the range of pervasive toxic chemicals that are found in the air we breathe. 

As a result of the Clean Air Act, the Water Pollution Control Act, and other federal and state laws respecting public health and the environment, greater amounts of solid waste, in the form of sludge and other pollution treatment residues, have been created. Similarly, inadequate and environmentally unsound practices for the disposal or use of solid waste have created increased amounts of air and water pollution and other problems for the environment and health. 

Historically, four generations of de-pollution catalysts/converters can be distinguished (Heck and Farrauto 1995). The first generation was developed to meet the limits imposed for 1976 by the Clean Air Act. The first car to meet these American emission standards... 

Other pertinent legislation includes the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 

H. 5201, passed in 2003, urges the federal government to block the implementation of ERA rules which will weaken the New Source Review provision of the Clean Air Act the bill also takes action to further restrict emissions from power plants. ... 

This chapter focuses on RAP for waste management, primarily that required under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) but also, to a lesser extent, that conducted under the authority of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Many of the principles discussed herein are also applicable to RAP under other environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, and state-specific environmental legislation. 

Maintenance leaders must maintain the technical knowledge and experience to support compliance with all state and federal regulations under OSHA, USEPA (Clean Air Act), the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The issue of indoor air quality must receive constant attention to eliminate potential problems. Maintenance must work closely with other staff groups in the organization, such as quality and safety, to provide a totally integrated and mutually supportive approach to regiflatory compliance. 

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