Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 44 OF 1409

Main Title Air pollution : emissions from older electricity generating units : report to congressional committees /
CORP Author United States. General Accounting Office,
Publisher United States General Accounting Office,
Year Published 2002
Report Number GAO-02-709
OCLC Number 50145254
Subjects Electric power-plants--Environmental aspects--United States ; Air--Pollution--United States
Internet Access
Description Access URL
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02709.pdf
https://apps.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA402654
Holdings
Library Call Number Additional Info Location Last
Modified
Checkout
Status
EJBM  TD888.E43 U54 2002 Headquarters Library/Washington,DC 05/07/2015
EKBD  GAO-02-709 Research Triangle Park Library/RTP, NC 05/04/2015
Collation i, 22 pages : illustrations, maps (some color) ; 28 cm
Notes
Title from cover. "June 2002." "GAO-02-709." Includes bibliographical references.
Contents Notes
Electricity is critical to the nation's economy and standard of living. The nation depends on a variety of fuels to generate this electricity, including coal, natural gas, nuclear power, oil, and renewable sources. While fossil fuels-coal, natural gas, and oil-account for more than two thirds of our electricity, generating units that burn these fuels are major sources of airborne emissions that pose human health and environmental risks. Two of the substances emitted, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, have been linked to respiratory illness and acid rain. A third, carbon dioxide, has been linked to global climate change and its potential adverse effects, including drought and severe weather conditions. Addressing these concerns without compromising economic and energy goals continues to pose significant challenges. To help limit emissions and protect air quality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Clean Air Act, regulates emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from a variety of sources including electricity generating units that burn fossil fuels, other industrial sources, and automobiles. EPA does not regulate carbon dioxide. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA requires certain electricity generating units built or modified after August 17, 1971, to meet uniform national emissions standards for the regulated substances. 1 Units built before that date that have not undergone modifications do not have to meet these standards.