The Emissions Inventory as a Building Block for the Future

摘要

Emissions inventories (EIs) are a fundamental building block of local, state, and federal agencies responsible for the implementation of the Clean Air Act. They are the basis for determining if new regulations have actually reduced the amount of criteria pollutants emitted; if the control of hazardous air pollutants is needed to reduce the health risks from public exposure; if specific sources warrant review for further reductions to reduce pollutants in nonattainment areas; and if one facility has greater emission rates than others. They have also been the basis of citizen lawsuits against their manufacturing neighbors. For industry, EIs are a source of potential violations from regulatory agencies, a basis for determining the applicability of a facility/source to new regulatory programs, an intensive manpower exercise in their preparation, and a potential planning tool for future operational changes or capital expenditures.