Preparing for the U.S. EPA's integrated urban air toxics strategy
US Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA) proposed Integrated Urban Air Toxics Strategy (IUATS) is geared to achieve the greatest reduction in exposure risk from hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) for the largest number of American people. In urban environments where industrial and residential settings coexist, specific groups of individuals, such as low-income communities and children, may be exposed to disproportionately higher risks. Unfortunately, available emissions data and ambient concentrations in many cases are not sufficient to quantify health risks from HAPs. As a result, the IUATS suggests specific measures, such as enhancing monitoring networks, that would improve the U.S. EPA's understanding of the risks from urban air toxic pollutants. As mandated by Section 112(k) of the Clean Air Act, the US EPA is proposing a strategy to reduce the public's exposure to urban HAPs by seeking controls of 34 area sources. Area sources are defined as those sources annually emitting either 10 tons or less of a particular HAP. Even though Section 112(k) requires at least 30 HAPs be recognized as posing the greatest threat to public health, the IUATS focuses on reducing exposure to 33 individual chemicals. The US EPA plans to finalize the IUATS by June 18, 1999. To ensure adequate control of HAP emissions, each of the 34 area source standards will eventually become subject to either maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards or generally available control technology (GACT) standards. The new area-source standards will be issued in three groups, with the first 17 standards to be finalized in 2002; another group of nine standards to be issued in 2004; and a final group of eight standards in 2006.
- Research Organization:
- Trinity Consultants (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20002224
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-990608--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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