A Citizens Guide to What
Individuals and Communities Can Do
to Help Meet the Goals of the
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
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Cover photos: Photos provided by the South Coast Air
Quality Management District, an air quality agency
serving the 13 million residents of the four county Los
Angeles region. (Los Angeles, California, on a high
pollution day, as compared to photo inset taken on a
clear day when air pollutant levels were low.)
This publication was prepared by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency to help people
discover ways they can reduce air pollution. If you
would like to learn more about air pollution in your
state or your local area—or about indoor air
pollution—telephone numbers are provided at the back
of the pamphlet for your state's environmental agency
and the EPA regional office in your area.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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In this booklet you will
learn about—
• Sources of outdoor air pollution
• Health effects of air pollution
• The federal effort—the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990
• How air pollution is being fought on all
fronts
• The difference YOU can make
• Additional sources of information
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Air pollution
affects everyone
Air pollution threatens the health of human
beings and other living things on our planet.
While often invisible, pollutants in the air
create smog and acid rain, cause cancer or
other serious health effects, diminish the
protective ozone layer in the upper
atmosphere, and contribute to the potential for
world climate change.
Smog and other types of air pollution can
lead to or aggravate respiratory, heart, and
other health problems. It can be particularly
harmful to people with existing lung or heart
disease, the elderly, and the very young. Six of
every ten Americans live in areas that fail to
meet one or more federal air quality standards
during some portion of the year. However, not
everyone who lives in such areas will have
health problems. Level, extent, and duration of
exposure, age, individual susceptibility, and
other factors play a significant role in
determining whether or not someone will
experience pollution-related health problems.
Since polluted air can move from one area or
region to another, it has the potential to affect
virtually all of us.
A cid rain—caused by sulfur dioxide and
•**• nitrogen oxides combining with moisture in
the air—limits the ability of lakes to support
aquatic life, may damage trees and plants, and
erodes building surfaces and national
monuments. Pollutants in the air can also
reduce visibility, obscuring the majestic vistas
in national parks such as Grand Canyon and
Shenandoah.
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father air pollutants—called "air toxics"—are
^-^ known or suspected to cause cancer or other
serious heath effects, such as damage to
respiratory or nervous systems. Air toxics
include metals, particles, and certain vapors
from fuels and other sources.
chemicals used in refrigerators and air
'conditioners last a long time if released into
the air, rising to the upper atmosphere where
they destroy the protective layer. These and
other air pollutants (like methane and carbon
dioxide) also contribute to the suspected
accelerated warming of the earth, known as the
"greenhouse effect."
Air pollution has many sources. Some
sources are obvious—like industrial
smokestacks, chemical plants, automobiles,
trucks, and buses. Others are not so obvious—
like gasoline stations; dry-cleaners; outboard
motors; lawn, garden, farm, and construction
equipment engines; certain paints; and various
household products.
"Pveryone can play a role in preventing and
*-'reducing air pollution. This publication
describes efforts already underway, provides
you with some basic air pollution information,
and suggests ways that you can do your part
in helping to prevent and reduce air pollution.
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Major Air Pollutants—
What They Are, Where They Come From,
For six pollutants—ozone,
carbon monoxide, nitrogen
dioxide, particulate matter,
sulfur dioxide, and
lead—EPA has established
air quality standards
designed to protect the
health and welfare of
people, plants, and animals,
as well as buildings,
monuments, water
resources, etc. These
standards are based on
currently available scientific
data and health studies.
Levels of concern vary from
pollutant to pollutant.
Pollutant
Ozone. A colorless gas that is the major constituent of photochemical smog at
the earth's surface. In the upper atmosphere (stratosphere),however, ozone is
beneficial, protecting us from the sun's harmful rays.
Carbon Monoxide. Odorless and colorless gas emitted in the exhaust of motor
vehicles and other kinds of engines where there is incomplete fossil fuel
combustion.
Nitrogen Dioxide. Light brown gas at lower concentrations; in higher
concentrations becomes an important component of unpleasant-looking brown,
urban haze.
Particulate Matter. Solid matter or liquid droplets from smoke, dust, fly ash,
and condensing vapors that can be suspended in the air for long periods of
time.
Sulfur Dioxide. Colorless gas, odorless at low concentrations but pungent at
very high concentrations.
Lead and lead compounds can adversely affect human health through
either ingestion of lead-contaminated soil, dust, paint, etc., or direct inhalation.
This is particularly a risk for young children, whose normal hand-to-mouth
activities can result in greater ingestion of lead-contaminated soils and dusts.
Toxic Air Pollutants. Includes pollutants such as arsenic, asbestos, and
benzene.
Stratospheric Ozone Depleters. Chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform that are used in
refngerants and other industrial processes. These chemicals last a long time in
the air, rising to the upper atmosphere where they destroy the protective
ozone layer that screens out harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation before it reaches
the earth's surface.
Greenhouse Gases. Gases that build up in the atmosphere that may induce
global climate change—or the "greenhouse effect." They include carbon
dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
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and Their Potential Effects
Sources
Effects
Ozone is formed in the lower atmosphere as a result
of chemical reactions between oxygen, volatile organic
compounds, and nitrogen oxides in the presence of
sunlight, especially during hot weather. Sources of
such harmful pollutants include vehicles, factories,
landfills, industrial solvents, and numerous small
sources such as gas stations, farm and lawn
equipment, etc.
Ozone causes significant health and environmental problems at the
earth's surface, where we live. It can irritate the respiratory tract,
produce impaired lung function such as inability to take a deep breath,
and cause throat irritation, chest pain, cough, lung inflammation., and
possible susceptibility to lung infection. Smog components may
aggravate existing respiratory conditions like asthma. It can also
reduce yield of agricultural crops and injure forests and other
vegetation. Ozone is the most injurious pollutant to plant life.
Automobiles, buses, trucks, small engines, and some
industrial processes. High concentrations can be found
in confined spaces like parking garages, poorly
ventilated tunnels, or along roadsides during periods of
heavy traffic.
Reduces the ability of blood to deliver oxygen to vital tissues, affecting
pnmarily the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Lower
concentrations have been shown to adversely affect individuals with
heart disease (e.g., angina) and to decrease maximal exercise
performance in young, healthy men. Higher concentrations can cause
symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.
Result of burning fuels in utilities, industrial boilers,
cars, and trucks.
One of the major pollutants that causes smog and acid rain. Can harm
humans and vegetation when concentrations are sufficiently high. In
children, may cause increased respiratory illness such as chest colds
and coughing with phlegm. For asthmatics, can cause increased
breathing difficulty.
Industrial processes, smelters, automobiles, burning
industrial fuels, woodsmoke, dust from paved and
unpaved roads, construction, and agricultural ground
breaking.
These microscopic particles can affect breathing and respiratory
symptoms, causing increased respiratory disease and lung damage
and possibly premature death. Children, the elderly, and people
suffering from heart or lung disease (like asthma) are especially at risk.
Also damages paint, soils clothing, and reduces visibility
Emitted largely from industrial, institutional, utility, and
apartment-house furnaces and boilers, as well as
petroleum refineries, smelters, paper mills, and
chemical plants.
One of the major pollutants that causes smog. Can also, at high
concentrations, affect human health, especially among asthmatics
(who are particularly sensitive to respiratory tract problems and
breathing difficulties that S02 can induce). Can also harm vegetation
and metals. The pollutants it produces can impair visibility and acidify
lakes and streams.
Transportation sources using lead n their fuels, coal
combustion, smelters, car battery Dlants, and
combustion of garbage containing lead products.
Elevated lead levels can adversely affect mental development and
performance, kidney function, and blood chemistry. Young children are
particularly at risk due to their greater chance of ingesting lead and the
increased sensitivity of young tissues and organs to lead.
Chemical plants, industrial processes, motor vehicle
emissions and fuels, and building materials.
Known or suspected to cause cancer, respiratory effects, birth
defects, and reproductive and other serious health effects. Some can
cause death or serious injury if accidentally released in large amounts.
Industrial household refrigeration, cooling and cleaning
processes, car anc home air conditioners, some fire
extinguishers, and plastic foam products.
Increased exposure to UV radiation could potentially cause an increase
in skin cancer, increased cataract cases, suppression of the human
immune response system, and environmental damage.
The mam man-made source of carbon dioxide
emissions is fossil fuel combustion for energy-use and
transportation. Methane comes frcm landfills,
cud-chewing livestock, coal mines, and rice paddies.
Nitrous oxide results from industnal processes, such as
nylon fabncation.
The extent of the effects of climate change on human health and the
environment is still uncertain, but could include increased global
temperature, increased severity and frequency of storms and other
"weather extremes," melting of the polar ice cap, and sea-level rise.
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Goals of the
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
The overall goal of the Clean Air Act
Amendments is to reduce the pollutants in
our air by 56 billion pounds a year—224 pounds
for every man, woman, and child—when the
law is fully phased in by the year 2005. The
new law builds on the strengths of the Clean
Air Acts of 1970 and 1977 and the
environmental lessons learned over the past
twenty years. As the provisions of the new
law are implemented, we will be breathing
cleaner air every year.
Goal: Cut Acid Rain In Half
Acid rain is caused in large part by power
plant emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
oxides. These pollutants, which combine with
moisture in the atmosphere to produce acid
rain, will be dramatically reduced. A two-
phase cost-effective system will reduce sulfur
dioxide emissions from power plants by more
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than half. By the year 2000, total annual
emissions will be reduced by 10 million tons
from 1980 levels.
Goal: Reduce smog and other pollutants
Urban smog or ground-level ozone pollution,
produced by motor vehicles and other sources,
will be substantially reduced. The object is to
reduce volatile organic compounds, nitrogen
oxides, and carbon monoxide, which can cause
health problems. Diesel-powered buses in
urban areas will be regulated to reduce their
exhaust emissions by 95 percent by 1995.
In cities with more severe carbon monoxide
and ozone levels, states may have to initiate or
upgrade inspection and maintenance programs
for motor vehicles and adopt new clean fuel
programs. In areas where safe levels of
particulate matter in the air are not being met,
states may have to require use of emissions
control measures, Jimit the use of wood stoves
and fireplaces, or both.
Goal: Reduce air toxics
Chemical plants, steel mills, and other
businesses will need to reduce their emissions
of an additional 189 air toxics—pollutants
associated with cancer, birth defects, and other
health risks—in addition to those already
regulated.
Goal: Protect the ozone layer
Finally, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and related
chemicals that deplete the ozone layer may be
phased out of production as early as the end of
1995. CFC recycling, especially for automobile
air conditioners and residential, commercial,
and industrial cooling and refrigeration
systems, will be iriciximized to reduce current
emissions.
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Air pollution control:
It's everybody's business
Federal
Government
Business
And
Industry
State
And Local
Governments
Environmental
Groups
•••MW
County
And Local
Groups
Denver comes
out from under
a cloud
Government, industry, environmental
groups, and citizens are working together to
clean up our air. Here are some examples of
what they are achieving:
Denver, Colorado: Denver was once so
renowned for its pure mountain air that
tuberculosis victims traveled there for
treatment. However, in 1985, Denver was
under a "brown cloud" much of the time.
Pollutants from motor vehicles, industry, and
wood stoves clouded the skies and obscured
the view of the Rocky Mountains that made
the Mile High City a major tourist attraction.
The city violated federal carbon monoxide
exposure limits 33 days during the winter of
1985.
The public, as well as businesses and
community leaders, demanded that something
be done to bring clean, healthful air back to
Denver. Responding to these concerns, the
governor established the Denver Metro Air
Quality Council. With technical support from
EPA and the Colorado Health Department, the
Council mobilized public and governmental
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action, worked with industries, civic groups,
and the news media to help remove the area's
brown cloud and clean its air. How did they
do it?
• New legislation required use of oxygenated
fuels during the winter months to reduce cold
weather carbon monoxide emissions from
gasoline engines, Automobile owners'
individual participation helped make this
successful.
• The Denver schools switched from diesel
fuels to compressed natural gas in new school
buses.
• The state avoided legislation that would
have delayed implementation of strict emission
standards for wood stoves.
• Wood burning in the area was limited.
• The local electric utility replaced
particulate-emitting coal fires in powerhouse
boilers with a mix of "clean" natural gas and
coal. The public bus company converted to
low-sulfur fuel during the high-pollution
season, tested me'thanol-fueled buses, and
implemented an emissions inspection and
maintenance proj^ram for its vehicles.
• The public, including employees and
shoppers, found ways to drive fewer miles.
What did it all add up to? Carbon
monoxide violations dropped from thirty-three
in 1985 to only three in 1990. Average daily
ozone (smog) levels for the ten highest days
dropped considerably. In June of 1990, the
United States Conference of Mayors called
Denver "the most liveable city in the United
States."
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Air pollution control:
It's everybody's business
Klamath Falls,
Oregon:
A woodsmoke
success story
Among the highest participate matter (PM-10)
concentrations recorded anywhere in the
nation were those which occurred in a
southern Oregon community of 37,500 called
Klamath Falls. In January of 1988,
measurements of PM-10 were recorded which
were five times the federal health standard.
The major problem was smoke from residential
woodstoves and fireplaces in conjunction with
wintertime inversions that trapped the air,
causing woodsmoke concentrations to build to
very unhealthy levels. Despite some initial
resistance, Klamath County initiated strong
public awareness and voluntary woodburning
curtailment programs.
These programs proved to be insufficient.
A 1989-90 health study of school children
showing significant declines in lung function
during PM-10 episodes alerted the community
to the seriousness of the problem. To further
improve air quality, in 1991-92 over 325
woodstoves were replaced with alternative
heat sources purchased with federal and local
funds. In 1991, the community also adopted
restrictions on the use of residential wood
burning devices when inversions threatened to
cause high PM-10 concentrations. As of the
summer of 1992, these renewed efforts
appeared to have paid off—preliminary data
for the 1991-92 wood heating season suggested
that the federal health standard was never
exceeded. While favorable weather conditions
may have contributed in part to that winter's
air quality, Klamath Falls has made significant
progress in improving air quality and
ultimately assuring long-term protection of
public health.
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Getting the
lead out
By the 1970s, high levels of lead in our nation's
air became a major health concern. Beginning
in 1974, EPA launched a major new program to
introduce emission control equipment on new
cars and phase-out lead in the nation's
gasoline. As a result, lead emissions have
dropped by 97 percent from 1970 levels. By
1992, about 95 percent of all gasoline sold in
the United States was lead-free. Over the next
few years, the remainder will be phased out
entirely.
Green Lights:
Shedding
new light on
emission
reductions
Ml
» Lights
Green Lights is an EPA program aimed at
cleaning the air and saving energy by reducing
emissions from power plants. About one
quarter of the electricity sold in the United
States is used for lighting. EPA is encouraging
organizations and individuals to voluntarily
switch to energy-efficient lighting. In 1992,
over 600 companies, state governments and
others had enrolled in the Green Lights
program and were using 50 percent less
electricity while saving money on their
electricity bills.
The current square footage in the program
equals all of the commercial real estate of Los
Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, and New
York combined. When all the profitable
lighting changes are in place, the reductions
will likely add up to thousands of tons of
nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide and 202
million metric tons of carbon dioxide every
year. This is the equivalent of removing 44
million cars from the road, a third of the
vehicles in use, simply by making profitable
investments in modern lighting. Over the next
five years, actions of Green Lights participants
are expected to prevent over 8.4 million metric
tons of air emissions and be a mainstay of the
United States' strategy to stabilize greenhouse
gas emissions.
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Three weeks
in 1984:
An Olympic-sized
story
A new
Clean Air Act:
Scrubbing our
skies
Prior to the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in
Los Angeles, there was considerable concern
that the region's heavily polluted summer air
would adversely affect Olympic competitors.
The regional air quality agency, city and
county officials, transit companies, and area
employers developed a plan for staggered
working hours that resulted in fewer cars and
buses on the road. The driving and riding
public cooperated. The result was a twelve
percent drop in ground-level ozone (smog)
levels during that period!
The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments set new
goals for improving our nation's air quality
and offered new approaches to achieve these
goals (see pages 6 and 7). By 1992, EPA had
already proposed, issued, or begun
implementing new rules designed to achieve
about 85 percent of the 56 billion pounds of
annual air pollution reductions to be phased in
by 2005.
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What YOU can do to
help reduce air pollution
We have described some
examples of how government,
industry, and private citizens are
working successfully to reduce or
prevent air pollution. Everyone in
the country has an Important part
to play in achieving clean air. Here
are a few suggested ways that you
can make a difference in your own
community.
How you drive and
care for your car is
important
Since automobiles are a major
source of air pollution in most
areas, your driving habits and your
car maintenance can either add to
the problem or help to solve it.
Driving tips
• Plan ahead. Organize your trips.
Driving fewer miles will help
reduce air pollution. Combine
several errands into one trip.
Avoid driving during peak traffic
periods when stop-and-go traffic is
at its worst. This will not only save
you gas but will also reduce the
wear and tear on your car. Try
walking or bicycling for short
errands and leisure activities.
• Ride share. Carpools and public
transportation reduce the number of
cars on the road and miles driven.
If you own or manage a business,
create incentives that encourage
employees to carpool. As an
employee, form a carpool with
others at work or in your
neighborhood. Consider taking
public transportation as an
alternative to driving.
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• Use an energy-conserving grade
of motor oil. Look for the EC grade
on the container and be sure to use
multigrade. An EC multigrade can
improve your mileage by as much
as 1.5 percent. An EC II-rated oil
can provide a 2.7 percent mileage
boost over single grades.
• Use clean fuels. Reformulated or
"clean" gasolines are becoming more
widely available. Use them when
possible.
• Drive at a medium speed. In
normal traffic conditions, most cars
operate most efficiently between 35
and 45 miles per hour; lower or
higher speeds are less efficient. If
you drive 55 miles per hour rather
than 65 miles per hour on the
highway, you can increase your gas
mileage by as much as 15 percent,
depending on your car.
• Drive at a steady speed. It is
more fuel efficient to drive at an
even speed than it is to keep
speeding up and slowing down.
This is true in heavy traffic as well
as on the open road.
• Stop and start evenly. Gently
accelerating reduces gas
consumption. Coasting to a stop lets
the car's momentum, not its fuel,
get you where you want to go.
• Don't idle the engine
unnecessarily. Contrary to popular
belief, turning off and starting an
engine uses less gasoline than
letting the engine idle for 30
seconds. Stop the engine if it is
idling at a drive-up window or in
traffic jams. Limit engine warm-ups
in winter.
• Travel light. The more weight
your car carries, the less
fuel-efficient it becomes. Take
unnecessary items out of the trunk.
• Follow your owner's manual.
The owner's manual that comes
with your car will recommend
which grade of gasoline to use, how
to shift gears, and other ways you
can keep your engine running at
maximum environmental and
economic efficiency.
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Maintain your car
• Don't remove or tamper with
pollution controls. The pollution
control equipment on cars helps
limit the pollutant emissions at the
tailpipe. Removing or tampering
with these controls puts more
pollution into the air.
• Don't overfill or "top off" your
car's gas tank. Even if you don't
spill gasoline, fumes can escape.
They react with nitrogen oxides and
sunlight and create smog.
• Avoid releasing gas vapors. Gas
vapors can harm your health as
well as the environment. Many
service stations are installing vapor
controls on their pumps to help
reduce air pollution. While many of
the new nozzles have what look
like elephant trunks, others look
more conventional.
• Get regular engine rune-ups and
car maintenance checks. Tune-ups
improve your gas mileage and car
performance. The spark plugs are
especially important, because a
worn spark plug will cause poor
starting, rough idling, and poor gas
mileage.
• Make sure your tires are
properly inflated and your wheels
aligned. Doing this can prevent
excessive drag and improve fuel
economy up to one mile per gallon.
• Keep car filters and catalytic
converters clean. Dirty air filters
increase fuel consumption; and
your car's pollution control devices
need to be in good working order
to be effective. Follow the car
manufacturer's guidelines.
• Use your car air conditioner
wisely. Air conditioning is a drag
on your car's engine, reducing gas
mileage by as much as 20 percent.
On not-so-hot days or while in
stop-and-go traffic, roll down your
window instead. Have leaks in your
car air conditioner fixed by a
certified technician using required
CFC recycling equipment.
• Consider buying fuel efficient
cars. When buying a car—new or
used— check its posted fuel
efficiency and seek the most fuel-
efficient, "clean" car in the size
category that meets your needs.
15
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Reducing pollution and conserving
resources at home and at work
• Conserve electricity. Electricity
generation can be a major source of
air pollution. New home and office
oriented technology can help. At
home or work you can save
electricity by using energy-efficient
lighting wherever possible.
Replacing a common incandescent
light bulb with an energy-efficient
compact fluorescent bulb saves 45
watts and 157 kilowatt hours. Make
sure that lights and appliances are
turned off when not in use. In
addition, you should raise the
temperature level on your air
conditioner a few degrees in
summer, and turn down your heat
a few degrees in winter.
Purchasing energy-efficient
appliances will also aid in
conserving energy use. Conserving
electricity reduces air pollution
caused by power plants.
• Participate in your local utility's
energy conservation programs.
Ask your local utility about its
customer energy conservation
program. If they have one, join up.
If they don't, encourage them to
start one.
• Buy fuel-efficient motorized
equipment. If you are buying a
power mower or other motorized
garden tools, construction or farm
equipment, or outboard motors,
seek out those that are designed to
minimize emissions and reduce
spillage when being refueled.
• Avoid spilling gas. Take special
care to avoid spills and the release
of fumes into the air when refueling
gasoline-powered lawn, garden,
farm and construction equipment,
and boats.
• Properly dispose of household
paints, solvents, and pesticides. Do
not pour these chemicals down the
drain, into the ground, or put them
into the garbage. Call your local
environmental agency for
information on proper disposal of
these products.
• Seal containers tightly. Make
sure that containers of household
cleaners, workshop chemicals and
solvents, and garden chemicals are
tightly sealed to prevent volatile
chemicals from evaporating into the
air. Don't leave containers standing
open when not in use.
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• Reduce waste. When you make
purchases, consider using products
that are durable, reusable, or use
less packaging. Repair broken items
rather than buying new ones.
Recycle and compost potential
wastes before they become part of
the waste stream. Such actions help
reduce the pollutants that might
reach the air during the
manufacturing process or during
the collection and processing of
wastes for incineration or landfill
disposal. If there is no local
recycling program in your
community, start one with the help
of your neighbors and the local
trash collection company.
• Use wood stoves and fireplaces
wisely and sparingly. If you have a
wood stove, learn how to burn
cleanly and more efficiently.
Remember to burn dry,
well-seasoned wood, and build
efficient fires that burn hot and
clean. Check your stack, clean your
chimney, and inspect your catalyst
annually. A well maintained and
operated stove produces less
pollution and is better for the
environment. Adhere to local or
state regulations about when and
where wood stove use is permitted.
• Properly dispose of refrigeration
and air conditioning equipment.
The Clean Air Act prohibits the
release into the atmosphere of
refrigerants from automobiles and
home appliances during the
disposal of this equipment. Contact
your local government or trash
pickup service to find out what
procedures are being implemented
in your area to ensure the safe
disposal of cars and home
appliances. In some areas,
municipalities arrange for periodic
pickups of home appliances that
contain refrigerant. In others, it is
required that homeowners have the
refrigerant removed by a qualified
service technician before the
appliance can be picked up.
• Recycle refrigerant. As of July 1,
1992, individuals are prohibited
from knowingly venting refrigerant
into the atmosphere while
maintaining, servicing, repairing, or
disposing of air conditioning or
refrigeration equipment. Make sure
that the technician who services,
repairs, or maintains your
refrigerator or air conditioner has
recovery equipment to capture any
refrigerant that may be released.
This refrigerant can later be
recycled. Also, when possible, don't
just refill leaky air conditioning or
refrigeration systems—repair them.
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Get involved in
local efforts to reduce air pollution
• Let people know you care. One
of the driving forces behind
reducing air pollution is citizen
concern and involvement (as in
Denver, for example1). As an
individual or as a representative of
a concerned group, speak up at
hearings and let your local public
officials know how you feel about
air pollution problems in your
community. Your state and local
environmental agencies can tell you
when hearings are held and what
agency is responsible for clean air.
• Learn about local efforts and
issues. Talk to your state
environmental agency to find out
what it is doing in your area.
• Work with a local group. Join a
community group that is working
to improve air quahty.
• Report problems. If you think you
see an air pollution problem, advise
your local or state agency, or the
EPA regional office near you.
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You can make
a difference
When environmental scientists
talk about air pollution, they
talk in terms of millions of tons of
pollutants. It is not easy to relate
such figures to the smoke that
comes out of your chimney or the
exhaust coming out of your car.
However, even small sources of
pollution, when added to hundreds
or thousands of other small sources,
do harm the environment and are
dangerous to your health.
If we all do our share
to reduce air pollution,
the benefits will be
tremendous:
• If 190,000 car owners started to
get regular tune-ups, they will keep
some 90 million pounds of carbon
dioxide out of the atmosphere.
• If each commuter car carries one
more passenger, 600,000 gallons of
gasoline will be saved and 12
million pounds of carbon dioxide
will be kept out of the air.
• If consumers set their air
conditioners six degrees higher, it
will save 190,000 barrels of oil a
day—and eliminate all those
pollutants that come from burning
the oil to produce the electricity
involved.
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Sources of information
about air pollution in your community
You don't have to rely solely on
your own perception of what is
happening to the air around you.
There are official sources of
information—your state and county
health department and environmental
agencies and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Your state and
local agencies will have information
about local problems and the State
Implementation Plan that has been
developed to deal with them. The
EPA has available an annual National
Air Quality and Emissions Trends
Report that includes specific
information about air quality
standards for specific pollutants and
air pollution levels in hundreds of
metropolitan areas. Your state or local
environmental agency or health
department usually has information
about specific areas, and local
weather reports on television, radio,
and in the newspapers frequently
include a daily air quality statement.
The news media also report air
quality concerns expressed by
community groups or public agencies.
"Cor more information about how
•*• you can help keep our air clean,
contact the appropriate EPA regional
office or your state agency responsible
for air quality. These numbers are
listed below. You may also contact
the Department of Energy or your
local power company for publications
on energy conservation.
State Air Quality Agencies
Department of
Environmental Management
Air Division
Montgomery, AL
(205)271-7861
Department of
Environmental
Conservation
Air Quality Management
Section
Juneau, AK
(907)465-5100
Department of
Environmental Quality
Office of Air Quality
Phoenix, AZ
(602)257-2308
Department of Pollution
Control and Ecology
Air Division
Little Rock, AR
(501)562-7444:
Air Resources Board
Sacramento, CA
(916)445-4383
Department of Health
Air Pollution Control
Division
Denver, CO
(303)331-8500
Department of
Environmental Protection
Bureau of Air Management
Hartford, CT
(203)566-2506
20
Department of Natural
Resources and
Environmental Control
Division of Air and Waste
Management
Air Resources Section
Dover, DE
(302)739-4791
Department of Consumer
and Regulatory Affairs
Environmental Control
Division
Air Quality Control and
Monitoring Branch
Washington, DC
(202)404-1120
Department of
Environmental Regulation
Air Resources Management
Tallahassee, FL
(904)488-1344
Department of Natural
Resources
Environmental Protection
Division
Atlanta, GA
(404)656-6900
State Department of Health
Laboratories Division
Air Surveillance and
Analysis Branch
Honolulu, HI
(808)586-4019
Division of Environmental
Quality
Air Quality Bureau
Boise, ID
(208)334-5898
Environmental Protection
Agency
Division of Air Pollution
Control
Springfield, IL
(217)782-7326
Department of
Environmental Protection
Bureau of Air Quality
Control
Augusta, ME
(207)289-2437
Department of Department of the
Environmental Management Environment
Office of Air Management Air Management
Indianapolis, IN
(317)232-8384
Department of Natural
Resources
Air Quality Section
Des Moines, IA
(515)281-8852
Department of Health and
Environment
Bureau of Air and Waste
Management
Topeka, KS
(913)296-1593
Department for
Environmental Protection
Division for Air Quality
Frankfort, KY
(502)564-3382
Department of
Environmental Quality
Office of Air Quality and
Radiation Protection
Air Quality Division
Baton Rouge, LA
(504)765-0110
Administration
Baltimore, MD
(301)631-3255
Department of
Environmental Protection
Division of Air Quality
Control
Boston, MA
(617)292-5630
Department of Natural
Resources
Air Quality Division
Lansing, MI
(517)373-7023
Pollution Control Agency
Air Quality Division
St. Paul, MN
(612)296-7331
Department of
Environmental Quality
Office of Pollution Control
Air Division
Jackson, MS
(601)961-5171
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Department of Natural
Resources Division of
Environmental Quality
Air Pollution Control
Program
Jefferson City, MO
(314)751-4817
Department of Health and
Environmental Sciences
Air Quality Bureau
Helena, MT
(406)444-3454
Department of
Environmental Control
Air Quality Control
Lincoln, NE
(402)471-2169
Division of Environmental
Protection
Bureau of Air Quality
Carson City, NV
(702)687-5065
Air Resources Division
Concord, NH
(603)271-1370
Department of
Environmental Protection
and Energy
Division of Environmental
Quality Air Program
Trenton, NJ
Oklahoma State Department
of Health, Air Quality Ser.
Oklahoma City, OK
(405)271-5220
Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality
Air Quality Control Div.
Portland OR
(503)229-5287
Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources
Bureau of Air Quality
Control
Harrisburg, PA
(717)787-9702
Tennessee Department of
Environment and
Conservation
Division of Air Pollution
Control
Nashville, TN
(615)741-3931
Texas Air Control Board
Austin, TX
(512)908-1000
Department of
Environmental Quality
Division of Air Quality
Salt Lake City, UT
(801)536-4000
Department of Agency of Natural
Environmental Management Resources
Division of Air and Air Pollution Control
Hazardous Materials Division
Providence, RI Waterbury VT
(401)277-2808 (802)244-8731
South Carolina Department
of Health and
Environmental Control
Bureau of Air Quality
Control
Columbia, SC
(803)734-4750
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Point Source
Department of
Air Pollution Control
Richmond, VA
(804)786-2378
Washington State
Department of Ecology
Air Program
Olympia, WA
(206)459-6632
Air Pollution Control
Commission
Charleston, WV
(304)348-2275
Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources
Bureau of Air Management
Madison, WI
(608)266-7718
Wyoming Air Quality
Division
Cheyenne, WY
(307)777-7391.
Department of Planning
and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental
Protection
Christiansted, St. Croix
U.S. Virgin Islands
(809)773-0565
Puerto Rico Environmental
Quality Board
Air and Water Division
Santurce, Puerto Rico
(809)767-8071
Environmental Quality
Commission
Pago Pago, American
Samoa
011(684)633-4116
|W,,«^,*u ^.mroi^rrogram Guam Environmental
New Mexico Environment (605)773-3351 Protection Agency
P. * ' Harmon (_>uam
Uepartment 011(671)646-8863
Environmental Protection . v '
Division liPA Regional Offices
Air Quality Division
Santa Fe, NM
(505)827-0070
New York State Department
of Environmental
Conservation
Division of Air Resources
Albany, NY
(518)457-7230
Department of
Environment, Health, and
Natural Resources
Air Quality Section
Raleigh, NC
(919)733-3340
North Dakota State
Department of Health
Division of Environmental
Engineering
Bismarck, ND
(701)221-5188
Ohio Environmental
Protection Agency
Division of Air Pollution
Control
Columbus, OH
(614)644-2270
U.S. EPA - Region 1
John F. Kennedy Federal
Building
One Congress Street
Boston, MA 02203
(617)565-3420
(Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island,
U.S. EPA - Region 2
Jacob K. Javitz Federal
Building
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212)264-2301
(New Jersey, New York,
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)
U.S. EPA - Region 3
841 Chestnut Building
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215)597-9800
(Delaware, District of
Columbia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia,
West Virginia)
U.S. EPA - Region 4 U.S. EPA - Region 7
345 Courtland Street, NE 726 Minnesota Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30365 Kansas City, KS 66101
(404)347-4727 (913)551-7000
(Alabama, Florida, Georgia (Iowa< Kansas, Missouri,
Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska)
North Carolina, South v s EpA . R ion g
Carolina, Tennessee) 999 18th Streef Suite 50Q
i r c CD A o . T Denver, CO 80202-2405
U.b. tFA - Region 5 ttfWXM lAfc*
77 West JacksoV, Boulevard <303>293-1603
Chicago, IL 60604 (Colorado, Montana, North
(312)353-2000 Dakota, South Dakota,
/in- • T j- »*• i-- Utah, Wyoming)
(Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, U.S. EPA - Region 9
Wisconsin) 75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
U.S. EPA - Region 6 (415)744-1305
First Interstate Bank Tower (Arizona, California,
at Fountain Place Hawaii, Nevada, American
1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Samoa, Guam)
Floor, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202-2733 U.S. EPA - Region 10
(214)655-6444 1200 Sixth Avenue
... ... .. Seattle, WA 98101
(Arkansas, Louisiana, New (206)553-4973
Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)
(Alaska, Idaho, Oregon,
Washington)
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ISBN 0-16-038145-2
Illl Illlll II Hill III Illlllllll 90000
9"780160"381454"
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