AIR QUALITY- Common themes between laws:o Nationally uniform standards sets by the EPAo Implemented by the EPA in cooperation with the Stateso Effect business and industry as well as the lives of citizens- Differences between lawso Controls for a different problemo Goalso Means- Causes of Air Pollution (by the EPA)o Stationary Sources  Combustion of fossil fuels Industrial and other processeso Mobil Sourceso Natural Sources Windblown dust Volcanic Eruptionso Area Sources Combination of small stationary sources- Effects of Air Pollutiono Human Health Premature deaths Respiratory, nervous system, cardiovascular, cancer Pg 146 of krafto Impact on Welfare Damage to trees and crops Reduced visibility Acid precipitation- damage to lakes, forestHistory of Air Pollution1800’s: cities regulate local emissions1900’s: Common Law Nuisance Action- Needed to prove causation and that it caused significant Harm- Remedy was money1963: Clean Air Act- Federal support for research- Assisted states for developing their own form of control- Considered inadequate1970: Clean Air Act Amendment- Found that:o The pollution crosses states lineso Dangers to public health and welfare from air pollutiono Prevention is the responsibility of the stateso Federal financial assistance and leadership is essential- Definition of welfare: effect on soils, water, crops, vegetation, animals, wildlife, weather, climate, visibility- Purpose: o Initiate a national research programo Provide financial and technical assistance to programsNational Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs) - Established by the CAA- Set criteria for Air Pollutantso Carbon monoxideo Particulateso Ozoneo Sulfur oxideso Nitrogen oxideso Lead- Set the max level of human exposures for the pollutanto Primary: to protect public healtho Secondary: protect welfare (forest, water, crops)o Most primary and secondary are the same- Uniform across the country- Implementation and enforcement are shared by state and federal governmento State Implementation Plan (SIP)o Federal Implementation Plan (FIP)- Set standards without considering costsSetting Environmental Standards- Science, values, economics all come into playOther Provisions of the CAA- Nonattainment Areaso Non attainment areas must have and implement a plan to meet the standard, or risk losing some forms of federal financial assistance- New Source Performance Standardso For new stationary sources or those that undergo major modifications- Emissions Trading for Acid Rain (SO2)o Cap and trade program- Limited Emissions for Hazardous Air Pollutants- New Permit Program for Major Stationary SourcesAir Quality Status- Has improved significantlyo Even as GDP and Population has increased- 2 Trillion in benefits vs. 65 billion in costs- Problemso Nonattainment Areas for ozone and particulateso Hazardous Air PollutantsIndoor Air Quality- Radon, second0hand smoke, mold- Synthetic materialsTrading Programs- Acid Rain- Nox Budget Trading Program- Clean Air Interstate Rule for SO2 and NOX\- Many success programsTransport of Air Pollutants- Clean Air Interstate Ruleo Goal is to reduce interstate pollutiono Required to consider local pollution as wells as impacts on other areaso Proposed for 2011Mercury- Clean Air Mercury Ruleo Regulated using the maximum achievable control technology_____________________________________________________________________________________________CLIMATE CHANGE DOMESTICGreenhouse gases- CO2- Methane (CH4)- Nitrous Oxide (N20)- Industrial gases (Anthropocentric-created by humans and added) o Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC’s)o Perfluorocarbons (PFC’s)o Sulfur Hexaflouride (SF6)- Ozone is not considered in GHG estimatedIPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)- Established by the United Nations- Peer-reviewed literature and researchKey Findings of the US Global Climate Change Research Project- 13 federal agencies involved- Primary human induced- The changes are only going to grow- Climate change will stress water resources- Crop and livestock production will be challenged- Coastal areas are at risk- Risk to human health- Large changes in climate and ecosystems- Future climate change depends on choices made todayThe Debate over Climate Change- Polarizing political issues- Skeptics:o Errors in reportso Climategate (release of emails critical of dissenting viewpoints) (used as proof that they manipulated data)o Try to make science appear to be more confusing- Independent reviews:o Has proved at all conclusions are still valid- Public opinion is changing- No catastrophic event yetEffects of Climate Change- Sea level Riseo Changes in sea ice and habitso Coastal inhabitants- Heavy Rainso Sewage in drinking water supply- diseaseso Crops losses from flooding- Rising Temperatureso Tainted seafood – toxic algae, warmingo Death from heat wavesClimate Changes effect on Industries- Fisherieso Ocean acidificationo Changing predator/prey structures- Agricultureo Growing seasonso Crop yields (both + and -)- Forestry, Health, Tourism, Energy Production, City Planning, Agriculture, commerce, culture- Water Resourceso Earlier snow melto Alterations in river flowso Reduced precipitation in some areasEffects of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions- Higher Energy Coasts- Impacts on Jobs and the Economy- Costs of New TechnologyState Policy Responses- Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)- Other regional partnerships- Clean Air act waiverExecutive Branch Actions- The Clinton Administration determined that the CO2 is a pollutant- The Bush administration said that CO2 is not pollutant. And that the CAA was not designed to regulate greenhouse gases- Massachusetts v. EPA pushed EPA to acto CAA authorizes EPA to regulate GHGs if it fits the requirementso Found that “welfare” unambiguouso GHG’s are air pollutants and EPA must Make Endangerment finding- December 2009- GHG are anticipated to be a danger to public health- Found that motor vehicles contribute to air pollution Or Provide Reasoned explanation for why notContinuing Conflict- The severity of the problem- The extend of government intervention needed- Whether federal or state or local government should take eth lead role- Which policy approaches are effective, efficient, and fair______________________________________________________________________________________________________INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGEChallenges- Incentives- Different contributions to the problems- Different impact of climate change-