Air Quality

Area Source Standards (Small Air Toxics Facilities)

Since 1970, the Clean Air Act has provided the foundation for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of air pollution. In the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, the U.S. Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a strategy to identify and control emissions of no less than 30 of the 188 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that result in the greatest threat to public health in urban areas. Under the Urban Air Toxics Strategy, the EPA identified 33 HAPs and 70 area source categories, which accounted for 90 percent of the emissions of those 33 HAPs. The EPA is currently developing standards for those 70 area source categories. When the Urban Air Toxics Strategy is fully implemented, the EPA expects there will be a 75 percent reduction in cancer risk.

Most HAPs originate from human-made sources. These can include mobile sources such as cars, trucks and buses, as well as stationary sources such as factories, refineries, power plants, along with indoor sources including building materials and cleaning activities. Some HAPs can be released by natural sources such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires. There are two types of stationary sources that generate routine emissions of HAPs:

  • Major sources are medium to large industrial facilities that emit 10 tons per year of any of a single HAP, or 25 tons per year of a combination of HAPs. These sources may release HAPs from equipment leaks, when materials are transferred from one location to another, or during discharge through emission stacks or vents
  • Area sources consist of smaller-size facilities that release lesser quantities of HAPs into the air. Area sources emit less than 10 tons per year of a single HAP, or less than 25 tons per year of a combination of HAPs. Though emissions from individual area sources are often relatively small, collectively their emissions can be of concern - particularly where large numbers of sources are located in heavily populated areas. Area sources include, but are not limited to, dry cleaners, gas stations and paint and body shops.

DHEC’s Bureau of Air Quality is responsible for implementing the area source standards in South Carolina. These area source standards cover source categories such as chromium electroplating, dry cleaning, commercial sterilizers, gasoline stations, hospital sterilizers, auto body refinishing shops, electric arc furnaces, wood preserving, and iron and steel foundries.

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Area Source Standards

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