"EPA to Hold Public Hearing on Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide"
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/5941ACD46AC1EBD18525769B005911E7Today's announcement (12-29-09), is regarding the Air Division of the (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency. The administrators are working on the rules for Sulfur Dioxide* emissions into our Air. That is all of our Air. Not many of us live in Bio-Domes, so it is safe to take Atmospheric scientist conclusions, that water travels in worldwide currents. Air currents as well travel many miles. We all share this Air.
Yesterday I blogged about an announcement from EPA asking People to submit comments regarding the rules in the process of the final remediation of dirt containing Dioxides [SFUND 2009-00907]. Remediation being restoring it to it's former use. It must be rendered useful and no longer a toxic filter. A Brownfield of Superfund site usually full of dioxins and must be cleaned up; usually of harmful dioxins are in the soil.
This public meeting (accepting public comments http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/contact.html )
will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on January 5, 2010. It will begin at 10:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. it will be held:
Atlanta Federal Center
Conference Rooms B and C
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
This is the EPA working to do the "Protecting" part as they have been assigned to do. For too many years, these pollutants; S02, Nox, have been allowed in emissions inventories without any limitation in many States. The Southern States of the U.S.have typically allowed the biggest pollution permits, because the Southern States are influenced more by business interests than conservation. The EPA and States cannot regulate to protect human health if they do not get input from more citizens.
The EPA is proposing to make the nation's sulfur dioxide (s02) standards stricter. Presently when a Facility (Industrial Site) permitted, they pay for every ton of pollution that gets through scrubbers and other stacks on their site.
In order to know how many tons they must purchase, they must do "stack testing". The stack test is supposed to simulate production levels of an hour run. Each 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years, permitted facilities who fall under EPA Air Division, Title IV 40 CFR 60.8 must test their emissions; or smoke coming out of their stacks. Because of the chemical processes, it is scientifically measured as to what pollutants will come from their operation.
The new national one hour S02 standard will be 50 - 100 ppb (parts per billion), meaning that in one hour of operating, the tonnage of emissions will be measured for how many part per billion of the released smoke contains So2. This is a link to 40 CFR, Pt 60, this is what facilities have to operate under and it is obviously complex. http://law.justia.com/us/cfr/title40/40-6.0.1.1.1.html#40:6.0.1.1.1.2.110.5
The new standards will decrease the allowable amounts of S02 that can be emitted per hour in industry.
It is understandable that Industry will balk and go on about paperwork, extra costs for testing, permitting and consulting. It is expensive and it does cut that bottom line.
I know individuals who work at large facilities. Most are family men that love the woods, rivers and clean air. They are u.s. It is as simple as thinking of a problem in a different way. Change happens, and it can be good.
Please have your say. Get involved. It has been said before; all it takes is for each of us to do one thing. People who come together for a good cause are a powerful force, with many of us out of jobs, maybe struggling to keep our home. We can go to the libraries, search public notices, and show up for public meetings; in letter or person. None of will be sorry for enhancing the Eco balance of our planet.
Thank you for getting involved. Peace.
For more information about participating contact: Tricia Crabtree crabtree.tricia@epa.gov or 919-541-5688.
*http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide/
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