Risk and Technology in Air Toxics Control California and the Clean Air Act Amendments

Abstract

A comparison of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments and California air toxics programs identifies conceptual and procedural differences for the control of routine releases of air toxics. At the federal level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to implement a mostly technology-based approach involving controls determined by categories of industries. In California, an approach based primarily on public health risk assessment is used. One reason for the difference in approaches is the definition of an acceptable level of risk. While the former National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) program came to a near standstill over the issue of zero risk, California risk-based programs were made operational by the use of acceptable levels of public health risk. Despite their differences, both federal and California air toxics control programs will require industry to become more knowledgeable about its use and emissions of air toxics. By preparing accurate emission inventories and developing effective pollution prevention programs, industry should be better able to respond to the new air toxics requirements.