DOE/NETL’s Air Quality Research Program is in direct response to the need to ensure that fossil-fuel-fired power systems continue to meet current and future environmental requirements. Specific environmental regulatory requirements driving this research are briefly summarized below:

I. Clean Air Act (Including 1990 Amendments)

• Title I - Air Pollution Prevention and Control
  
  Part A - Air Quality and Emission Limitations
  Sect. 109 - National Ambient Air Quality Standards
  In July 1997 EPA promulgated new standards for particulate matter finer than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) and revised the ambient ozone standards.
  Sect. 111 - Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources
  
  Part C - Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality
  Sect. 169A&B - Visibility protection for Federal Class I Areas
  EPA has issued new requirements to improve the visibility in National Parks and other Class I areas primarily through the reduction of fine particles.

• Title III - Hazardous Air Pollutants
  
  Sect. 3.02 - Listing of 189 Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)
  Several HAPs are released as particles (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead) or as acid gases (e.g. hydrochloric acid) during the combustion of coal.
  Sect. 3.04 - Promulgation of Maximum Achievable Control Technology standards
  Sect. 3.11 - Atmospheric Deposition to Great Lakes and Coastal Waters
  Sect. 3.12 - Specific Studies
  Hazardous Air Pollutant Report to Congress
  Hydrofluoric Acid and Uses
  Sect. 3.15 - Prevention of Accidental Release
  Includes reporting of sulfur trioxide releases

• Title IV - Acid Deposition Control
  
  Sect. 404 - Phase I Sulfur Dioxide Requirements
  Sect. 405 - Phase II Sulfur Dioxide Requirements
  Sect. 407 - Nitrogen Oxides Emissions Reductions Program

II. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA)

Sect. 313 - Toxic Release Inventory
Requires electric-utilities to begin reporting toxic chemical releases starting in July 1999, including releases of certain trace metals and acid gases.

III. Proposed Air Toxics Monitoring Program

To address concerns posed by air toxics emissions and to meet their strategic goal of reducing air toxics emissions by 75% from 1993 levels, EPA has developed an air toxics program to characterize, prioritize, and equitably address the impacts of hazardous air pollutants on the public health and welfare.