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Operating Principles, Allowance Trading, Allowance Tracking System, Annual Reconciliation, Auctions and Direct Sales, Voluntary Entry through the Opt-in Program, Pollution Prevention, Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Reductions, Emissions Monitoring and Reporting, Permitting, Compliance Options. Of the above programs the Allowance T rading Program is the most remarkable. An allowance is an authorization to emit 1 ton of SO 2 . Under this system the affected utility units are allocated allowances based on their historic fuel consumption and a specific emissions rate. Each allowance permits a unit to emit one ton of SO 2 during or after a specified year. For each ton of SO 2 emitted in a given year, one allowance is retired, that is, it can no longer be used. Allowances may be bought, sold or banked (carried over). Anyone may acquire allowances and participate in the trading system. However, regardless of the number of allowances a source holds, it may not emit at levels that would violate federal or state limits. This system capitalizes on the power of the marketplace in the most cost-effective manner possible. A similar approach was taken to reduce the NOx emissions in that it is a results-oriented approach with built-in flexibility to achieve emission reductions. It does not have a “cap and trade” program but fixes an emission rate for each source, leaving it up to the generator to find the most cost-effective means of reduction. The Acid Rain Program in the US is already viewed around the world as a prototype for tracking emerging environmental issues. The results of the Acid Rain Program have been remarkable in some areas of the country. In 1980, the SO 2 emissions from 263 major utilities amounted to 9.4 million tons. In 1995, the first year of the Program implementation, the SO 2 emissions dropped to 4.5 million tons, i.e. they were cut in more than half. The largest emission reductions took place in the most polluted areas, particularly in Midwest, the Northeast, and in the Mid-Atlantic regions. On the other hand, the overall NOx emissions have remained constant since the 1980s, even though the utilities have decreased their emissions by more than 42 percent. This is due to the fact that there is no absolute “cap” or ceiling for the NOx Their emission is regulated on a rate basis, that is, on the basis of lbs/MM Btu generated. While it is true that the utilities have cut their NOx emissions, their overall presence has remained steady since 1980 because more electricity is being generated and also because vehicular traffic has increased. There are other quantifiable results of the Acid Rain Program. Field monitoring data by such organization as the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)/National Trends Network (NTN) and the Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNet) show nation-wide consistent drops in S 0 2 trends, wet sulfate depositions, wet sulfate concent rations and positive relationships between emissions and the air quality. The effects of acid rain reduction on the bodies of water and their eco systems, as well as on the trees and forests and on other bio systems, will take a much longer time to determine. There is an inherent time lag between the pollutant reduction at the source and the ultimate effects on the eco-system. This time lag depends on the extent of the acidification, chemical composition of soil and acid neutralization capacity as well as on many other factors. But it should be obvious that the consequences of decades of pollution cannot be reversed and undone in a few years. Surveys of bodies of water in eastern US show mixed results. Some surface water chemistry in New England is showing signs of recovery, whereas ecosystems in the Adirondacks, which are most severely impacted by acid pollution, have not yet shown signs of recovery. Streams in the Shenandoah National Park are still increasing in acidification with declines in fish populations. The Chesapeake Bay seems to be increasing in acidification and oxygen depletion, caused primarily by nitrogen emissions. This is probably due to the fact that the NOx levels have not decreased since 1980 despite reductions by utilities. What can we do as individuals to help reduce acid rain? Remember that major contributors to acid rain are utilities that are supplying us with electricity. Therefore, a step in the right direction is to use electrical power as efficiently as possible. Among steps to be taken are such mundane details as turning off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use, buying energy efficient appliances, keeping thermostats cool in winter and warm in summer, insulating your home, buying vehicles with low NOx emissions, carpooling, and being informed. All of us can and should do our best to protect our environment. References: www.epa. gov/airmarkets/acidrain/ www. epa. gov/airmarkets/progress/arpreport www.cnn.com/2000/nature www.cnn.com/2001/nature www.encarta.msn.com Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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