The power plant is to be operated in a region where the same company operates several other coal fired power plants that were all built in the 1960s. The new power plant is planned to have 500 MW energy generating capacity. The next largest plant is 50 MW and each is emitting pollution at least twice the NSPS. Based on the design the power plant is planned to have a raw pollution rate of 4 times the NSPS
for SO2 and 10 times the NSPS for PM
10. To make things worse the region where this plant is to be built is already in non attainment for PM10 having a 24-hour mean concentration of 200μg/m3. Also, local laws don't allow the local 24hour average ground level concentration of PM10 to exceed twice the NAAQS levels at any residential structure, given a normal atmospheric class C and an average wind speed of 2.5m/s.
Determine the required reductions in SO2 and PM10 to be compliant with NAAQS and NSPS, and ultimately comply with the clean air act?
To determine the required reductions in SO2 and PM10 to comply with NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) and NSPS (New Source Performance Standards), we need to consider the given information and regulations.
1. Calculate the NSPS levels for SO2 and PM10:
- The new power plant is planned to have a raw pollution rate of 4 times the NSPS for SO2.
- The NSPS level for SO2 can be derived by dividing the design raw pollution rate by 4:
NSPS for SO2 = (Raw pollution rate for SO2) / 4
- Similarly, the new power plant is planned to have a raw pollution rate of 10 times the NSPS for PM10.
- The NSPS level for PM10 can be derived by dividing the design raw pollution rate by 10:
NSPS for PM10 = (Raw pollution rate for PM10) / 10
2. Determine the NAAQS level for PM10:
- The region where the power plant is to be built is already in non-attainment for PM10, with a 24-hour mean concentration of 200μg/m3.
- The NAAQS level for PM10 is the maximum allowable 24-hour mean concentration set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
3. Consider local laws and restrictions:
- The local laws don't allow the 24-hour average ground level concentration of PM10 to exceed twice the NAAQS level at any residential structure.
- This implies that the maximum allowable 24-hour average concentration at any residential structure is 2 * NAAQS for PM10.
4. Calculate the required reductions:
- To comply with NAAQS and NSPS, the power plant needs to reduce its emissions of SO2 and PM10 to levels below the respective NSPS levels calculated earlier.
- Calculate the reduction needed for SO2 by subtracting the NSPS for SO2 from the emissions rate for SO2.
- Calculate the reduction needed for PM10 by subtracting the NSPS for PM10 from the emissions rate for PM10.
By following these steps, you can determine the required reductions in SO2 and PM10 to comply with NAAQS and NSPS, ultimately ensuring compliance with the Clean Air Act.