Computerized regional air pollution abatement and fuels use modeling

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Abstract

The relationships between source emissions, meteorological conditions, and the air quality which results are very complex. The concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere are controlled by variables of time, space, and various chemical and photochemical reactions. Knowledge of these relationships is quite important since air pollutant standards set down under the Clean Air Act refer to pollutant concentrations in the ambient air. The states are responsible for developing their own State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for meeting the standards in each of the Air Quality Control Regions (AQCRs) in the State.

The thrust of an SIP is the control of concentrations through the control of emissions. Application of a least cost modeling approach to the development or modification of SIPs may permit meeting of standards at a savings of capital expenditures, operating and maintenance costs, and scarce clean fuels. A series of computer models developed under contract to and modified by EPA to support such analysis is introduced and the application of the model to a sample air quality control region is discussed.

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Paper presented at the Symposium on Computers and Operations Research, 20–21 August 1973.

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Mr. William Sanjour is a consultant in operations research currently engaged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was previously a manager of consulting services at Ernst and Ernst where he was instrumental in developing some of the models reported in this article as well as many other environmental studies. He has also worked for the American Cyanamic Co. and the Center for Naval Analysis as an operations research analyst. He received his B.S. (1958) from City College, New York and his M.A. in Physics (1960) from Columbia University.

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Mr. Ellison S. Burton is the Director, Policy Analysis Division, Office of Hazardous Materials Control for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was formerly employed as the Director of the Environmental Studies Group at Ernst and Ernst in Washington, D.C. Mr. Burton has authored over twenty papers and professional journal articles on pollution control and management science. He received a B.A. (1951) in mathemtics from Amherst College and a Diploma in Mathematical Statistics (1975) from Trinity College, Campbridge University.

Mr. Edward H. Pechan is an analyst and former consultant with the Office of Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He has consulted in operations research and computer systems with a number of public and private sector clients and headed a small software consulting firm for two years. He has participated extensively in the development and use of air pollution models. He has a B.S. (1968) in physics and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering (1970) from the University of Pittsburgh.

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