Copper smelters and atmospheric visibility in the southwest, seasonal analysis
Seasonal results from a study which evaluated the effects of sulfur oxides (SO/sub x/) emitted from 11 copper smelters on atmospheric visibility in 14 national parks and wilderness areas are presented. In addition two alternative strategies for controlling SO/sub x/ are compared. They are supplementary control systems (SCS) and continuous emission controls (CEC). The objective of each strategy is not to improve visibility but is to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for sulfur dioxide (SO/sub 2/). SCS is a strategy that has been used by almost all of the 11 copper smelters. It reduces SO/sub x/ emissions during adverse meteorological conditions through production curtailment. SCS has not been successful at eliminating NAAQS violations. The emissions used for the SCS control alternative are based upon actual copper smelter SO/sub x/ emissions and operating conditions during 1979. The year 1979 was selected because it is fairly representative of production levels, though highly variable, from 1965 to 1978 and copper smelter SO/sub x/ emissions during the latter half of the 1970s. In more recent years, the copper industry has been economically depressed and copper smelter production and SO/sub x/ emissions have been lower. The southwestern states are implementing the CEC strategy to control SO/sub x/ emissions from copper smelters as part of their state implementation plans. For production levels typical of 1979, the CEC regulations would require about a two-thirds reduction in SO/sub x/ emissions from that allowed under SCS. The study estimates the effect of this reduction upon the improvement of visibility in southwestern national parks and wilderness areas.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6503812
- Journal Information:
- J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 34:7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Copper smelters and atmospheric visibility in the southwest, seasonal analysis
Statistical exploration of the effects of copper smelter emissions on visibility in southwestern National parks
Related Subjects
NATURE RESERVES
AIR QUALITY
SMELTING
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
SULFUR OXIDES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
COPPER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
STANDARDS
THEORETICAL DATA
VISIBILITY
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTROL
DATA
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
INFORMATION
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
RESOURCES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VARIATIONS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)