Humans and animals use earth’s natural resources daily to survive. One big problem effecting natural resources and the environment is acid rain. Acid Rain is precipitation with high levels of acidic components. Precipitation can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, fog, or dust. There are many different causes and effects of acid rain. Humans are trying to find a solution, and the Federal Government has enacted many laws to help prevent acid rain. Rain is naturally acidic, but pollution is increasing rains’ acidic value. Pollution from homes, factories, power stations, cars, and even humans are causing the increase in the acidic value of rain. The burning of oil and coal by plants and factories, homes and cars, is the main source of chemicals
…show more content…
The goal of the program is to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from electric power plants. One way of doing this was to set a maximum amount of sulfur dioxide that the power plants are allowed to emit. According to the EPA, in Acid Rain Program: 2005 Progress Report, the maximum amount was set at 8.9 million, which is half the amount normally emitted by power plants. Electric utility plants were also limited to the amount of nitrogen oxides emitted. The Federal Government believed these limitations would reduce nitrogen oxides by two-million tons by the year 2000. The reduction was implemented in two phases. Phase I began in 1995 and four hundred and forty five units were involved by the end of the phase. The plants involved were required to reduce their annual sulfur dioxide emissions by 3.5 million tons. In 2000, Phase II began. The Phase I units and two thousand more units joined. By the time Phase II ended, most power plants in the United States were affected by this program. The act cut emissions of sulfur dioxide by forty percent from the 1990 levels. The amount of nitrogen oxide emissions were half of what they would have been without the program. Lakes and forests affected by acid started showing signs of …show more content…
The EPA is responsible for establishing standards, as well as protecting and improving air quality. In order to get industrial factories to volunteer to enter the Acid Rain Program, the EPA awards allowances to those who volunteer to join. They also provide bonus allowances for installing clean coal technology, which results in a reduced amount of sulfur dioxide. The EPA also heavily fines plants that release more pollution than their permits allow. They monitor the amount of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide released by requiring factories to install emission
The goal of the program is to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from electric power plants. One way of doing this was to set a maximum amount of sulfur dioxide that the power plants are allowed to emit. According to the EPA, in Acid Rain Program: 2005 Progress Report, the maximum amount was set at 8.9 million, which is half the amount normally emitted by power plants. Electric utility plants were also limited to the amount of nitrogen oxides emitted. The Federal Government believed these limitations would reduce nitrogen oxides by two-million tons by the year 2000. The reduction was implemented in two phases. Phase I began in 1995 and four hundred and forty five units were involved by the end of the phase. The plants involved were required to reduce their annual sulfur dioxide emissions by 3.5 million tons. In 2000, Phase II began. The Phase I units and two thousand more units joined. By the time Phase II ended, most power plants in the United States were affected by this program. The act cut emissions of sulfur dioxide by forty percent from the 1990 levels. The amount of nitrogen oxide emissions were half of what they would have been without the program. Lakes and forests affected by acid started showing signs of …show more content…
The EPA is responsible for establishing standards, as well as protecting and improving air quality. In order to get industrial factories to volunteer to enter the Acid Rain Program, the EPA awards allowances to those who volunteer to join. They also provide bonus allowances for installing clean coal technology, which results in a reduced amount of sulfur dioxide. The EPA also heavily fines plants that release more pollution than their permits allow. They monitor the amount of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide released by requiring factories to install emission