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Definition: 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 from certain industrial processes. 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 the 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. EPA Website (http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/).
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Definition: Title V permits must assure compliance with all of the requirements that apply to a source.Common sources of applicable requirements are: The state implementation plan (SIP); Authority to construct permits previously issued to the source (NSR and PSD); Standards promulgated by EPA, e.g., new source performance standards (NSPS, including NSPS general provisions) and national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAPs, including MACT standards, and general provisions for these).
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Definition: 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 an acceptable level for one criteria air pollutant, but may have unacceptable levels for others. Thus an area could be both attainment and nonattainment at the same time. Attainment areas are defined using federal pollutant limits set by EPA.
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Definition: Best Available Control Technology is the emission control level required for sources subject to PSD. From the regulation (reference 40 CFR 52.21(b)), BACT means "an emissions limitation (including a visible emissions standard) based on the maximum degree of reduction for each pollutant subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act which would be emitted from any proposed major stationary source or major modification which the Administrator (EPA), on a case-by-case basis, taking into account energy, environmental, and economic impacts and other costs, determines is achievable for such source or modification through application of production processes or available methods, systems, and techniques, including fuel cleaning or treatment or innovative fuel combustion techniques for control of such pollutant. ...".
Acronym: BACT
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Definition: A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gasoline, oil and wood. Carbon monoxide is also produced from incomplete 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 chemicals 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 exposures. 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 harmful to people with heart, lung and circulatory system diseases.
Acronym: CO
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Definition: 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. EPA often refers to the 1990 amendments as the 1990 Clean Air Act (http://www.epa.gov/caa/).
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Definition: EPA believes that any credible evidence can be used to show a violation of or demonstrate compliance with an emissions limit. Credible evidence may come from monitoring required by a permit, or from other sources. A permit may not be written in such a manner that it would interfere with the use of credible evidence. The permit should specify the source's obligations for monitoring, but it should do it in a way that does not establish an exclusive link between the test method and the emissions limit.Examples of unacceptable language include: Compliance with the emissions limit shall only be determined by test method X; The permittee shall be deemed in compliance with the emissions limit if the results of an emissions test done in accordance with test method X are less than Y. Example of acceptable language: The permittee shall monitor the emissions unit weekly in accordance with method X.
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Definition: A group of very common air pollutants regulated by EPA on the basis of criteria (information on health and/or environmental effects of air pollution). Criteria air pollutants are widely distributed all over the country.
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Definition: EPA guidance (White Paper 2) allows permits to incorporate applicable requirements into the permit by citation, instead of including the details of these requirements. This approach is limited to situations where the applicable requirement is readily accessible to the permittee and the public, and to where there is no ambiguity regarding how the requirement applies to the facility. For example, if a rule provides more than one option of how a source can comply, the citation should be specific enough that it is clear which option the source will be using. An example of acceptable permit language that incorporates a requirement by reference is: "The permittee shall comply with the notification and record keeping requirements of 40 CFR 60.7."
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Definition: Emissions Units include all individual pieces of equipment that emit air pollutants at a stationary source. EPA regulations define an emissions unit as any part of a stationary source which emits or would have the potential to emit any pollutant subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. Examples of common emissions units include Stationary Internal Combustion Engines, Boilers or Steam Generators, Combustion Turbines, Printing Presses, Solvent Degreasers, and Paint Spray Booths.
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Definition 1: Some sources are unable to comply with their emissions limits during startup and shutdown. Excess emissions may also result if process equipment or pollution control equipment breaks down. Some regulators have tried to address these situations through the adoption of rules that give special treatment to sources under such circumstances. These rules are usually called "excess emissions rules" or "startup/shutdown rules" and, if properly written, only apply in situations where it is technologically impossible for the source to comply, or where circumstances beyond the source's control cause it to exceed its emissions limits.
Definition 2: In addition to the emergency provisions of Part 70, permits will sometimes contain excess emissions provisions. Where these provisions are based on federally promulgated standards or are derived from state standards approved by EPA (approved SIP rules), it is ok to include them in the Title V permit. If, however, the permit condition is based on a rule that has not been approved or promulgated by EPA, it should not be included in the permit.
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Definition: Chemicals that cause serious health and environmental effects. Health effects include cancer, birth defects, nervous system problems and death due to massive accidental releases such as the one at the pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. Hazardous air pollutants are released by sources such as chemical plants, dry cleaners, printing plants, and motor vehicles (cars, trucks, buses etc.)
Acronym: HAPs
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Definition: Part 70 allows states to establish a list of "insignificant activities." The items on this list, which is approved by EPA as part of the state's Title V program, generally do not need to be included in a source's permit application. This particular provision has often been misunderstood to allow the state to exclude applicable requirements that apply to insignificant activities from the Title V permit.
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Definition: Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate is the emissions control level required of a source seeking a permit in a nonattainment area. LAER is generally considered to be the most stringent level of control required under the Clean Air Act. Note that in California, many air pollution control agencies use the term BACT to refer to LAER.
Acronym: LAER
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Definition: Major is a term used to determine the applicability of permitting regulations to specific sources. What constitutes a major source varies according to what type of permit is involved, the pollutant(s) being emitted, and the attainment designation of the area where the source is located. In general, a source is major if its emissions exceed certain thresholds that are defined in terms of tons per year. For example, under Title V of the Clean Air Act, any source that emits or has the potential to emit 100 tons per year or more of any criteria air pollutant is a major source and must obtain a Title V operating permit.
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Definition: Measurement of air pollution is referred to as monitoring. EPA, state, and local agencies measure the types and amounts of pollutants in community air. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires certain large polluters to perform enhanced monitoring to provide an accurate picture of their pollutant releases. Enhanced monitoring programs may include keeping records on materials used by the source, periodic inspections, and installation of continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS). Continuous emissions monitoring systems will measure, on a continuous basis, how much pollution is being released into the air. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires states to monitor community air in polluted areas to check on whether the areas are being cleaned up according to schedules set out in the law.
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Definition: National Ambient Air Quality Standards are federal standards for the minimum ambient air quality needed to protect public health and welfare. They have been set for six criteria pollutants: sulfur dioxide (S02), particulates (PM/PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and lead (Pb).
Acronym: NAAQS
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Definition: NESHAP, or National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants, is a technology-based standard of performance prescribed for hazardous air pollutants from certain stationary source categories under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act.
Acronym: NESHAP
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Definition: NSPS, or New Source Performance Standard, is an emission standard prescribed for criteria pollutants from certain stationary source categories under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act.
Acronym: NSPS
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Definition: New major statio |
