1. Explain what is meant when the Clean Air Act is described as "a classic command and control statute"? What are the shortcomings of a command and control system as applied to the environment?
The classic command and control system of the Clean Air Act focuses on controlling pollution in the air to a minimum level. There are three types of standards within the command and control system, which include ambient, emission, and technology. Ambient standards regulate the pollution around a surrounding area of an environment. Emission standards regulate emissions level allowed. Technology standards require certain techniques, technologies, and practices to be used. (Command and Control)
Costs are not taken into account when enforcing the command
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and control system within the Clean Air Act. Costs will only be taken into account when the large segments of the control of pollution will drive the company to bankruptcy. (Command and Control) The economic shortcomings of the command and control system are very noticeable.
The cost of the reduction in pollution is streamlined over an entire area. For an example, the Clean Air Act required the city of St. Louis to cut the emissions of the certain amount. There are two factories that could cut their emissions, with a paper factory paying $4 per ton and a brewery paying $600 a ton. The command and control system would require both the paper factory and brewery to cut emissions by ten tons each, costing $6,040. The new tradable permits solution allows the brewery to pay the paper factory to cut their emissions by 20 tons and reducing the total cost of the reduction to $80. (Crandall)
2. Using internet sources discuss the main health effects of air pollution and rank them in order of economic cost per year. You can use national, international, or state-level figures but be consistent in your use of the data.
There are six common pollutants in the air, which include ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead. These pollutants led to many different symptoms across the United States. Ozone pollution leads to impaired respiratory system. Particulate matter affects respiratory systems, causes cancer, and premature death. Carbon monoxide affects the bloodstream and reduces oxygen to the body’s organs. Nitrogen oxide causes influenza. Sulfur dioxide effects respiratory illness and pulmonary defenses. Lead causes effects in the liver,
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nervous system, and kidneys. (Air Quality Programs) The Environmental Protection Agencies conducted a study to see if the Clean Air Act was worth the cost. The study found the top seven costing health effects. Listed in order from the most costly to the less costly and the main pollutant: premature death (particulate matter), chronic bronchitis (particulate matter), ischemic heart disease (particulate matter), congestive heart failure (particulate matter and carbon monoxide), pneumonia (particulate matter and ozone), and acute asthma (particulate matter). (Lockwood, 2012) 3.
What is an AQCR? Find one attainment AQCR (anywhere in the U.S.) and one nonattainment AQCR. Describe them briefly and compare and contrast their characteristics THAT PERTAIN TO ATTAINMENT STATUS.
Air quality control regions (AQCR) were designated by the federal government to implement air quality standards in regions based on urban-industrial concentrations, jurisdictional boundaries, among other factors. (Reed, 1986) The AQCR deems to be classified as attainment and nonattainment area according to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which set the pollution level of the six common air pollutants. An AQCR may have attainment for one pollutant and have nonattainment for another. (Fact Sheet: The Clean Air Act: Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and New Source Review
(NSR)) The Cache Valley area in Logan, ID was designated and nonattainment area in 2009 for the air pollutant PM2.5. The region is encompassed in a bowl like shape with mountains on each side. During the winter PM2.5 pollutants rise due to the cold air settling in the valley and can be trapped for days. The top contributors to the pollutants are wood combustion and road sanding. (Attainment versus Nonattainment) The same region is in attainment for the 8 hour ozone requirement. This means that the ozone pollutant does not exceed NAAQS stand of 0.075 parts per million for an 8 hour concentration. (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) The difference between the two pollutants is that the region is primed for PM2.5 to settle in the region. The valley is laid out in such a way that the air gets trapped and high wood combustion from the cold winters make perfect ingredients for the high pollutant. The 8 hour ozone standard is not reached due to the rural location of the region and the small quantity of factories emitting pollutants.
The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA is the result of a 1970 executive order by President Richard Nixon for the purpose of protecting the environment of the United States through regulation on business and citizens. Public opinion on the Environmental Protection Agency has been divided fairly evenly across the population of the United States as of recently, as compared to the widespread public concern of the 50’s and 60’s that led to the agency’s creation. Recently the agency has come under scrutiny for its contributions of millions of dollars in grants to researchers in order to hide the potential trade off of its actions in order to further the agency’s agenda. The EPA’s ever-expanding regulation could end up harming more than it actually
Residents living closest to manufacturing plants and factories reap the most adverse health affect, however, hazardous air pollutants effect the ozone layer which effects everyone.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970, which established nationwide standards for air quality, is one such “unfounded mandate.” Although it is a federal law, states must pay the cost of implementation and enforcement.
The quality of air we intake on a daily basis is essential to our health, therefore, the EPA’s Clean Air Act provides the groundwork to support the quality of the air which we breathe. One of the goals of the Act was to set and achieve NAAQS in every state by 1975 to address the public health and welfare risks posed by certain air pollutants. The setting of these pollutant standards was coupled with directing the states to develop state implementation plans (SIPs), applicable to appropriate industrial sources in the stat...
"Illness Cost of Air Pollution." Illness Cost of Air Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014
People who work or exercise outside for a lengthy period are also vulnerable. Exposure to air pollution increases sensitivity to allergens, impairs lungs, causes asthma attacks and death (Climate change, 2007). Air pollution can cause short-term respiratory symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation, and shortness of breath (California’s drought, 2015). The most harmful pollutants in the air are ozone, fine particles, and air toxics. Since the drought causes warmer weather, levels of ozone or smog increase in the air. Ozone is the principal component of smog and it is dangerous on ground level, which affects human health, crops, and buildings. Ozone smog is formed when vehicle and factory pollution react with sunlight and heat (Climate change, 2007). The lack of storms due to the drought eliminates the natural cleansing effect of precipitation. The low levels of precipitation trap fine particles on ground level. Fine particles in the air are harmful when inhaled and can heighten respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. Air toxics are the chemicals in the air that can cause cancer or serious health problems. Mercury, asbestos, and benzene are dangerous air toxics and diesel exhaust particulate is the number one airborne carcinogen in California (California’s drought, 2015). Allergens in the air also affect pollution as
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) . "Tools of the Trade: A Guide to Designing and Operating a Cap and Trade Program for Pollution Control." (2003): Web. 24 Apr 2010. .
Air pollution is known to affect human and animal life. Plants are also affected indirectly as air pollution is known to cause acid rain, an even deeper detriment to plant life than most. Lung related diseases are among the most important features that the world have come
The Clean Air Act is the elected law which has conveyed to assurance that we have air that isn't contaminated and alright for us to relax. The law principle goal is for public health assurance, and likewise looks to secure the environment from air pollution. The characteristics of the Clean Air Act: Set national health-based air quality standards for insurance against basic pollutants including ozone, carbon monoxide, model dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. New methodologies were made for cleaning of the air to meet the heath standards inside a concurred period. EPA sets national standards for significant wellsprings of air pollution as autos, trucks and electric force plants.
There are many kinds of air pollution. The ones I want to talk about are the ozone, acid rain, carbon monoxide and toxic air contaminants. Ozone is formed when hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide react in sunlight. Therefore, ozone is at its peak during hot summer days. Exposure to high levels of ozone can have serious consequences on your health. It can cause respiratory disease, loss of pulmonary elasticity, and premature aging of our lungs. Next, is acid rain, which occurs in the atmosphere in the form of sulfur and nitrogen oxide. These pollutants can have serious damaging affects on aquatic, forest and wildlife ecosystems, as well as deterioration of buildings. Carbon monoxide is another form of pollution. It reduces the blood?s ability to carry oxygen. If a human is exposed to higher levels, it can cause chest pains, angina attacks or even death.
One of the most dangerous environment issues Southern California is facing today is air pollution. This includes the burning of fossil fuels and natural disasters. Los Angeles is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and the most polluted city in the United States. I will research information about the causes, the effects, and the history of air pollution in the Los Angeles. For my research, I have relied mostly on, the school’s database and library, as well as current events.
Until 10 years ago, air pollution was thought to be just an urban or local problem until it was discovered that the pollutants could move across continents and oceans. Air pollution is the fundamental factor that causes greenhouse gases, hence climate change and global warming. Air pollutants are the waste products generated from industrial and other processes. They usually come in gases, though aerosols (particles suspended in air, emitted as or formed by transformatio...
In conclusion, air pollution affects the immune system, making it weak and vulnerable to certain bacteria, illnesses, viruses and foreign invaders. Common diseases that are affected the most include asthma and allergies. Air pollution in general has been seen to modify the immune system's handling of particular allergens. The exposure to toxins like dioxin can cause serious health problems for people. Having long-term exposure to this toxin is connected to weakening of the immune system, as well as the nervous system, endocrine system and certain reproductive functions. Hence, everyone has a particular level and exposure of dioxins in the body. Improving air quality is the key answer to avoiding any type of development of disease, but it is a long term goal that will require the help and commitment at the national and global level.
Contact the pollution control authorities in your community for the levels or air pollutants. Identify main air pollutants and the possible causes of air pollution. How does your community compare to others? Discuss your findings.
Air pollution is a type of pollution that can severely damage our environment as well as the earth’s atmosphere. Air pollution occurs all the time when the air contains many substances ...