A National Concern
Throughout the country, air pollution control work was becoming more complex and specialized, as investigations on the damaging effects of air pollutants continued. During the sixties, national statistics, as well as local data, indicated the influence of economic factors on air pollution levels. Mounting evidence indicated that air pollution problems had increased proportionately to the growth of urban and suburban areas, expanded industrial productivity, increased use of motor vehicles, and the population explosion.
During the sixties, the federal government began assuming a protective role toward nationwide air pollution control. The Federal Clean Air Act of 1963 provided financial assistance to local and state governments for the creation and improvement of air pollution control programs. The federal government allowed two dollars for every dollar of Cleveland’s share. The Cleveland Division of Air Pollution Control first applied for a federal grant in 1965 to expand its air monitoring station network from 12 to 30 stations. The 1965 grant amounted to $29,685.
The grant money allowed for the development of a modern air monitoring network with newly developed instrumentation, such as High Volume Samplers and Gas Sampling Units. Formerly, the only means for collecting particulate samples had been in dust fall jars, which accumulated heavier deposited dust. The High Volume Samplers were able to collect the finer suspended dust particles. Gas Sampling Units were developed to collect five different gases. Among these, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide were collected locally, as national research pinpointed the hazardous potentials of these pollutants.
Tax incentives were provided to encourage industrial sources to install air pollution control devices. State legislation, passed in 1963, exempted industrial air pollution control facilities from real estate property tax, corporate franchise and sales taxes if the requirements of the Tax Commission were met.
Locally, city air pollution code revisions continued. The 1962 code revision included lower limitations on fly ash emissions, limitations on metallurgical dust and fumes from ferrous and non-ferrous foundries, smelters and steel operations, and an opacity scale for particulate emissions other than from fuel burning equipment. A public nuisance clause made illegal any quantity of air contaminants that had a detrimental effect on health, comfort and property.
In addition, the 1962 code contained specifications for fuel composition and the regulation of the use and design of equipment and zoning standards. Prior to the code revision, industry and builders had been accustomed to submitting structural plans to the City’s Building Division, without needing to stipulate if devices capable of causing air pollution were to be used in the proposed operation or building. The 1962 code established that the City’s Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals would be the official appeals board to which local air pollution violators could appeal via a hearing procedure.
Next: Regulation of air pollution expands locally and at the Federal and State level.
Contributed by David Hearne and Andrew Shroads