Ethanol Refinery Emissions The Air Quality Permit Document at the Alexandria Public Library expresses the acceptable emissions levels for General Industrial facilities in this case a Chemical Manufacturing Plant which is where the listing for an Ethanol Refinery can be found.            page showing acceptable emissions levels (pdf) It then lists the potential emissions from the facility.  Each of the expressed emissions are under the acceptable levels from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and EPA.            page showing potential emission summary (pdf) IN A PERFECT SITUATION, THE PLANT IS JUST UNDER THE ACCEPTABLE LEVELS. Up till now, we have not been able to get a serious answer to the potential where these emissions will fall.  We have met with opposition to finding out mainly by those who are over 2 miles from the plant and have corn to sell to the plant. If you have any questions regarding this information please feel free to contact info@ethanolrailroad.com Everyone needs to know the impact of the emissions from the proposed ethanol plant.  Knowing the facts is the only way to make a conscientious decision to support economic development or the quality of life of the parties involved.

Misconception of knowing how to use a calculator and public information?? Proximity to the proposed plant seems to make the questions seem more important. Why do they evacuate areas from 2 to 10 miles when a spill occurs? Has Broin done any follow up studies to determine the effect on the soil around any or their plants that have been in business over 10 years? Setting the standard is one thing but just squeaking by is not acceptable

Why did the President Bush have to roll back the Clean Air Act to allow accelerated growth of ethanol plants throughout the United States?  No the answer, please send to info@ethanolrailroad.com If this plant goes in, we need to challenge Broin and Ultimate Ethanol to become stewards of the land by taking their testing and emission elimination to an un-heard of level.  Better communities begin with better leadership. True leaders do what is right for everyone and everything.  If it needs to be fixed, then fix it, don't wait for someone to point out that it is broken!  If they won't become stewards of the land, it is very probable that the neighborhood being infected will do it for them.

Emissions from Ultimate Ethanol as reported in the Air Quality Permit public document at the Alexandria Public Library and links to the EPA sites explanations for each type of emission.

Clean Air Act

TSP: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/emissions/pm10.html explained - Total Suspended Particulate Matter

PM10: PM-10 standard includes particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less - would appear as haze or cloud - makes up the TSP measurement
http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/pollchemicparticulatematterpm.html

PM2.5: Particulate Matter PM2.5 refers to particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller in size

NOx or http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/pollchemicnitrogenoxidesnox.html

• is one of the main ingredients involved in the formation of ground-level ozone, which can trigger serious respiratory problems.
• reacts to form nitrate particles, acid aerosols, as well as NO₂, which also cause respiratory problems.
• contributes to formation of acid rain.
• contributes to nutrient overload that deteriorates water quality.
• contributes to atmospheric particles, that cause visibility impairment most noticeable in national parks.
• reacts to form toxic chemicals.
• contributes to global warming.

NOx and the pollutants formed from NOx can be transported over long distances, following the pattern of prevailing winds in the U.S. This means that problems associated with NOx are not confined to areas where NOx are emitted. Therefore, controlling NOx is often most effective if done from a regional perspective, rather than focusing on sources in one local area.

SO₂ contributes to respiratory illness, particularly in children and the elderly, and aggravates existing heart and lung diseases.

SO₂contributes to the formation of acid rain, which:

• damages trees, crops, historic buildings, and monuments; and
• makes soils, lakes, and streams acidic.

SO₂ contributes to the formation of atmospheric particles that cause visibility impairment, most noticeably in national parks.

SO₂ can be transported over long distances.
SO₂ and the pollutants formed from SO₂, such as sulfate particles, can be transported over long distances and deposited far from the point of origin.  This means that problems with SO₂ are not confined to areas where it is emitted.

People with asthma are particularly affected by peak levels of SO₂. Short-term Peak Levels

High levels of SO₂emitted over a short period, such as a day, can be particularly problematic for people with asthma.  EPA encourages communities to learn about the types of industries in their communities and to work with local industrial facilities to address pollution control equipment failures or process upsets that could result in peak levels of SO₂.

Clean Water Act

Effects of Acid Rain - Human Health http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/effects/health.html

Acid rain looks, feels, and tastes just like clean rain. The harm to people from acid rain is not direct. Walking in acid rain, or even swimming in an acid lake, is no more dangerous than walking or swimming in clean water. However, the pollutants that cause acid rain—sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x)—do damage human health. These gases interact in the atmosphere to form fine sulfate and nitrate particles that can be transported long distances by winds and inhaled deep into people's lungs. Fine particles can also penetrate indoors. Many scientific studies have identified a relationship between elevated levels of fine particles and increased illness and premature death from heart and lung disorders, such as asthma and bronchitis.

Based on health concerns, SO₂ and NO_x have historically been regulated under the Clean Air Act, including the Acid Rain Program¹. In the eastern U.S., sulfate aerosols make up about 25 percent of fine particles. By lowering SO₂ and NO_x emissions from power generation, the Acid Rain Program will reduce the levels of fine sulfate and nitrate particles and so reduce the incidence and the severity of these health problems. When fully implemented by the year 2010, the public health benefits of the Acid Rain Program are estimated to be valued at $50 billion annually, due to decreased mortality, hospital admissions, and emergency room visits.

Decreases in NO_x emissions are also expected to have a beneficial impact on human health by reducing the nitrogen oxides available to react with volatile organic compounds and form ozone. Ozone impacts on human health include a number of morbidity and mortality risks associated with lung inflammation, including asthma and emphysema.
 

Effects of Acid Rain - Surface Waters and Aquatic Animals

Effects of Acid Rain - Forests

VOC  Volatile Organic Compounds: even though some compounds are organically derived, living in their presence has negative impacts on health.
   The informational links below are from the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America

Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants

Lead: What is it? Where does it come from?

Chief Causes for Concern

Health and Environmental Impacts of Lead

Carbon Monoxide

CO - How Carbon Monoxide Affects the Way We Live and Breathe

Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

gov-ern-ment  [guhv-ərn-mənt, ‑ərmənt] –noun 1. the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration: Government is necessary to the existence of civilized society. 2. the form or system of rule by which a state, community, etc., is governed: monarchical government; episcopal government. 3. the governing body of persons in a state, community, etc.; administration. 4. a branch or service of the supreme authority of a state or nation, taken as representing the whole: a dam built by the government. 5. (in some parliamentary systems, as that of the United Kingdom) a. the particular group of persons forming the cabinet at any given time: The Prime Minister has formed a new government. b. the parliament along with the cabinet: The government has fallen. 6. direction; control; management; rule: the government of one's conduct.

v. rail·road·ed, rail·road·ing, rail·roads v. tr. To transport by railroad. To supply (an area) with railroads. Informal. To rush or push (something) through quickly in order to prevent careful consideration and possible criticism or obstruction: railroad a special-interest bill through Congress. To convict (an accused person) without a fair trial or on trumped-up charges.