422 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
detail; would you require pennits that specify time of day of burning, or distance from
shore of burning, or banning certain wastes from incineration?
21.4 Emissions from a nuclear power generating facility pose a unique set of
problems for local health officials. Radioactive materials are included in the list of
hazardous air pollutants. What precautions would you take if you were charged with
protecting the air quality of nearby residents? How would your set of rules consider
(a) direction of prevailing winds, (b) age of residents, and (c) siting new schools?
Suggest a model NESHAPS standard for nuclear power plant emissions.
21.5 Assume you live in a small town that has two stationary sources of air
pollution: a laundry/dry cleaning establishment and a regional hospital. Automobiles
and front porches in the town have a habit of turning black literally overnight. What
air laws apply in this situation, and given that they presumably are not being enforced,
how would you: (a) determine if, in fact, ambient or emissions standards or both were
being violated and, if either was, (b) advise the residents to respond to see that the laws
are enforced?
21.6 Emission standards for automobiles are set in units of grams per mile. Why
not ppm or grams per passenger-mile?
21.7 How would a small (25,000 persons), rather poor community handle its
municipal solid waste in the cheapest way without violating any law? What would be
the most environmentally sound way (rather than simply the cheapest)?
21.8 Using the latest World Alamanac or similar references, can you explain
why Japan is considered a “developed nation” under the Kyoto Accords, while China
is not?
21.9 What are all the ways in which the United States could reduce CO2 emis-
sions? Give some quantitative evidence for your answers.