Acid precipitation: the need for a new regulatory approach

The US has one of the world's most aggressive air pollution control programs, but the air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do not address the problem of long-range transport and acid precipitation. Inadequate health data on low-level pollutants resulted in standards that are too lax and that have no vehicle for imposing secondary standard attainment. The EPA plans to revise its rules on oxides and particulates in 1980 if there are adequate data to relate specific ambient concentrations to specific environmental effects. Political and economic pressures could continue the lax rules even if the data is forthcoming. The models presently used for state implementation plans (SIPs) are inadequate because they concentrate on local effects of ground-level emissions, which allow dispersion techniques, such as tall stacks, rather than limiting emissions and because they deal only with in-state sources. EPA regulation of new sources, motor vehicle emissions, and the clean air regions will not have any noticeable effect in the near future, but a new interest is developing in the nuisance law. Documentation of acid rain effects should provide enough information in the next two years to justify regulatory action, which must be accompanied by definite deadlines tomore » be effective. EPA could also set standards for fine particulates, limit stack heights, and retire old plants. The Clean Air Act Amendment could require the best available retrofit technology and stringent controls on plants converting to coal. Financial assistance is necessary for any of these strategies to work. 32 references. (DCK)« less