Quote:
Originally posted by Hell Puppy@Feb 21 2004, 03:48 AM
Bush has proposals to remove that restriction. And the environmentalists have been fiercely opposing it. But here's the detail they neglect to tell you. Bush's proposals let you upgrade anything you want so long as the cumulative amount of pollution coming out of the plant is the same or less. In most cases it will be less because the new or upgraded piece will typically be more modern.
|
Hell Puppy,
The "Clean Air Act" was passed in 1990 which if you check was George Bush senior. The changes in 1997 under Clinton do not require what you have stated.
from:
http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/peg_caa/pegcaain.html
1997 Changes to the Clean Air Act
EPA recently reviewed the current air quality standards for ground-level ozone (commonly known as smog) and particulate matter (or PM). Based on new scientific evidence, revisions have been made to both standards. At the same time, EPA is developing a new program to control regional haze, which is largely caused by particulate matter.
Offsets
What if a company wants to expand or change a production process or otherwise increase its output of a criteria air pollutant? If an owner or operator of a major source wants to release more of a criteria air pollutant, an offset (a reduction of the criteria air pollutant by an amount somewhat greater than the planned increase) must be obtained somewhere else, so that permit requirements are met and the nonattainment area keeps moving toward attainment. The company must also install tight pollution controls. An increase in a criteria air pollutant can be offset with a reduction of the pollutant from some other stack at the same plant or at another plant owned by the same or some other company in the nonattainment area. Since total pollution will continue to go down, trading offsets among companies is allowed. This is one of the market approaches to cleaning up air pollution in the Clean Air Act.