LAWS, REGULATIONS AND PERMITS

The EPA established the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which included allowable ceilings for specific pollutants. However, the states have the option to make any or all parts of the Clean Air Act requirements more stringent than the minimums set by EPA. The EPA is required to regularly evaluate the compliance status of all geographic areas with respect to pollutants, that is, whether the NAAQS is being met for each criteria pollutant. An area where NAAQS is not met is designated as a nonattainment area (N. A.) for that pollutant. 

Areas where the Federal Ambient Air Quality Standards are being met are designated attainment and are subject to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) requirements and are required to identify those areas that are attaining or not attaining the standards. 

Compliance and noncompliance can be costly. It has been estimated that the installed cost of equipment and systems to control emissions could range from 20 to 50 billion or higher. The technologies expected to be used include wet scrubbing, thermal incineration, catalytic incineration, carbon absorption, and solvent recovery. New sources and modifications of existing sources of air pollution in an attainment area are regulated under the 

Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program (PSD). PSD review is required if the new source or modifications result in a net emission increase above specified levels. 

The specific pollutants referred to include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, ozone, inhalable particulates, and sulfur dioxide. 

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The legislature should amend or create other state laws, regulations, and permits, as needed, to accommodate the use of fuel cells. 

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