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Module 7: Regulatory Requirements - Title IV: Acid Deposition Control
Lesson Material
Practice Problems
Objectives
- Identify the facilities affected by Title IV of the 1990 CAAA.
- State the objective of Title IV.
The requirements pertaining to acid deposition control were introduced under Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (1990 CAAA). Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are considered to be the two principal precursors responsible for acid rain related environmental problems. The Title IV requirements focus on large stationary source combustion systems, primarily electric utilities, because they are major sources of these two pollutant categories. Under Title IV, acid rain reduction is to be accomplished through energy conservation, clean coal technology, and the cap and trade program.
The purpose of the Title IV requirements is to minimize the adverse effects of acid rain by requiring a reduction in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions. Sulfur dioxide emissions are limited to 10 million tons per year. This amount is considered to be one-half of the total U.S. annual emissions of sulfur dioxide. The reduction in nitrogen oxides emissions is discussed later in this lesson.
Phase I of the program targets 110 fossil-fuel-fired power stations, which are explicitly listed in the 1990 CAAA as being the greatest polluters of sulfur dioxides. Phase I requires these power stations to reduce their emissions to a level equivalent to 2.5 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btus multiplied by their 1985 baseline heat input rate in million Btus. Phase I went into effect in January 1995.
In Phase II of the program, more than 2000 fossil-fuel-fired sources will be required to reduce their emissions of sulfur dioxide to levels equivalent to 1.2 pounds per million Btus times their 1985 baseline heat input rate in million Btus. These requirements became effective on January 1, 2000.
The acid rain program also includes a reduction in nitrogen oxides emissions of two million tons per year. This reduction must be accomplished without the aid of the cap and trade program. NOx limits are determined on a case-by-case basis.
Owners or operators of stationary sources subject to these new regulations are required to install continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volumetric flue gas flow, and opacity for each unit. These instruments are meant to be the primary sources of information for calculating the total pollutant emission rates in terms of tons per year. Alternative emission calculation procedures based on general plant operating parameters must be used when CEMS data are unavailable. The emission data must be reported to EPA on a regular basis. Enforcement personnel will review this data to confirm that emissions are less than the allotment for that specific facility.
Excess emission penalties will be assessed if any source exceeds the yearly emission limitation. Furthermore, sources will be required to offset the excess emissions by an equal tonnage amount in the subsequent year. Enforcement personnel will have an important role in evaluating the adequacy of the emissions data, determining the need for penalties, and confirming that excess emission offsets have been achieved.
Practice Problems
Title IV - Acid Deposition Control
- Instructions:
- Complete the Practice Problems before proceeding to the next lesson. Click on the button below.