(MERAF) for the Base Metals Smelting Sector - CCME

4.2. Current International Emission Management Practices,
Standards and Regulations 122,123
4.2.1. United States
This section presents information on air regulatory mechanisms in the US. In the
US, Federal air emission standards are promulgated under the authority of the
Clean Air Act (CAA). These standards establish a minimum stringency, which
must be enforced on all facilities. Enforcement is usually delegated to the states,
which issue permits for air, water and solid waste.
Ambient air quality standards have been developed for six pollutants; particulate
matter, lead, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone.
These are known as criteria pollutants because ambient air quality criteria exists
for them. These standards are found in CFR 40, Part 50 124 . Air quality in
designated geographical regions were then categorized as an attainment area if
the air quality met the ambient standard or non-attainment if the ambient air
quality standard was not met. Table 28 shows the US Ambient Air Quality
Standards.
Table 28: US Ambient Air Quality Standards
Pollutant
Particulate Matter (PM 10)
Particulate Matter (PM 2.5)
Lead
Ambient Standard
150 µg/m 3 (24 hour average)
50 µg/m 3 (annual average)
65 µg/m 3 (24 hour average)
15.0 µg/m 3 (annual average)
1.5 µg/m 3 (quarterly average)
Sulphur Dioxide
1310 µg/m 3 (3 hour average)
365 µg/m 3 (24 hour maximum)
80 µg/m 3 (annual average)
122 Hatch Associates Review of Environmental Releases for the Base Metals Smelting Sector,
Appendix C, International Environmental Standards, prepared for Environment Canada, dated
November 2000
123 Hatch Associates Proposed Emissions Standards for Particulate Matter and Sulphur Dioxide
for the Base Metals Smelting Sector, Appendix B, International Environmental Standards,
prepared for Environment Canada, dated May 2002
124 US Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Register, 40 CFR, Part 50 National Primary
and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards, Subparts 50.4-50.7
138