![]() ![]() Learn more about EPA's regulation of air toxics from industrial sources and EPA's area source program. The NATA is a tool that state/tribal and local agencies, as well as communities can use as a component of a local air toxics evaluation to determine potential pollutants and areas for further review. The EPA's area source program also includes a community support component because communities with disproportionate risks may be able to reduce some toxic sources more quickly and effectively through local initiatives rather than through national regulations. We project that all of the regulated area sources will be in compliance no later than 2014. Measured from the 1990 baseline inventory, we have subjected between 90 and 100 percent of the area sources of urban air toxic pollutants to standards and have subjected 90 percent of the sources of seven potentially bio-accumulative toxic pollutants to standards. Examples of area sources are gas stations and dry cleaners. In some urban areas, the sum of area source emissions for a category can be much greater than emissions from major sources. Individual area source facilities typically have much lower emissions, but these sources can be numerous and widespread, including in locations that are heavily populated. The EPA has also completed all of the required emissions standards for smaller sources known as area sources. When fully implemented, these standards are projected to reduce annual air toxics emissions by about 1.7 million tons. The requirements in a number of these regulations took effect between 19. Since 1990, EPA has issued regulations limiting emissions of air toxics from more than 174 categories of major industrial sources including chemical plants, oil refineries, aerospace manufacturers, and steel mills. Here, the EPA must determine whether more health-protective standards are necessary.Īlso, every 8 years after setting the MACT standards, the Clean Air Act requires that the EPA review and revise the MACT standards, if necessary, to account for improvements in air pollution controls and/or prevention. This second phase is a “risk-based” approach called residual risk. Within 8 years of setting the MACT standards, the Clean Air Act directs the EPA to assess the remaining health risks from each source category to determine whether the MACT standards protect public health with an ample margin of safety, and protect against adverse environmental effects. These maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards are based on emissions levels that are already being achieved by the controlled and low-emitting sources in an industry. The first phase is “technology-based,” where the EPA develops standards for controlling the emissions of air toxics from sources in an industry group (or “source category”). ![]() The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to regulate hazardous air pollutants (HAP) from large industrial facilities known as major sources in two phases. Indoor sources, e.g., building materials.Mobile sources, e.g., cars, trucks and construction equipment.See further details below about reductions from: ![]() These steps include: reducing toxic emissions from industrial sources reducing emissions from vehicles and engines through new stringent emission standards and cleaner burning gasoline and addressing indoor air pollution though voluntary programs. We can then multiply the weight of the carbon (5.5 pounds) by 3.What is Being Done to Reduce Hazardous Air Pollutants?ĮPA and our regulatory partners at the State and local level have taken significant steps to dramatically reduce toxic air pollutants and provide important health protections for Americans nationwide. Since gasoline is about 87% carbon and 13% hydrogen by weight, the carbon in a gallon of gasoline weighs 5.5 pounds (6.3 lbs. Therefore, to calculate the amount of CO 2 produced from a gallon of gasoline, the weight of the carbon in the gasoline is multiplied by 44/12 or 3.7. The hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water (H 2O), and carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO 2).Ī carbon atom has a weight of 12, and each oxygen atom has a weight of 16, giving each single molecule of CO 2 an atomic weight of 44 (12 from carbon and 32 from oxygen). When gasoline burns, the carbon and hydrogen separate. However, most of the weight of the CO 2 comes from the oxygen in the air rather than the gasoline. It seems impossible that a 6.3-pound gallon of gasoline could produce 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO 2) when burned. How can a gallon of gasoline create 20 pounds of carbon dioxide? A quick guide to the different kinds of hybrids and electric vehicles. ![]()
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