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epa new clean-air standards

updated tue 31 dec 96

 

"Rafael Molina-Rodriguez (Rafael Molina-Rodriguez)" on sat 30 nov 96

Clayarters :

In Thursdays Dallas Morning News there was a front page article titled
"EPA proposes tough new rules to fight airborne particles, ozone". It
states "The new standards cover urban ozone and tiny, airborne
particles called particulates". The article goes on to say "The new rule
covers only the tiniest particle, mostly from steel mills, diesel engines,
wood stoves, and other sources of combustion".

It's the latter quote that concerns me. Should potters, like myself, who
fire natural gas kilns in reduction and those who fire with wood be
alarmed? Maybe I should start researching scrubbers to clean up the
emissions. Perhaps someone on the list with knowledge about this
subject can advise. TIA.

Rafael
rmr3431@dcccd.edu

Don Sanami on sat 30 nov 96

Dear Rafael, Indeed,we should beconcerned. We gave up wood-firing,(very
dear to our hearts) 10 years ago, because of the particulate
problem.Smoke particles may travel vast distances depending upon wind
temperature and humidity as well as the size of the particles. Some years
ag,while working the the US,I suggested that a survey be carried out
examining AC filters from,large buildings. This was during the time of
fears about air-born radioactive particles. Although I carried out only a
cursory investigation,the evidence did show that R-a particles could
accumulate on filters.Some research has been carried out on the
problem...somewhere on this earth is a Paper. I do believe that the
problem would make a good thesis project. kinokoOn Sat, 30
Nov 1996, Rafael Molina-Rodriguez (Rafael Molina-Rodriguez) wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Clayarters :
>
> In Thursdays Dallas Morning News there was a front page article titled
> "EPA proposes tough new rules to fight airborne particles, ozone". It
> states "The new standards cover urban ozone and tiny, airborne
> particles called particulates". The article goes on to say "The new rule
> covers only the tiniest particle, mostly from steel mills, diesel engines,
> wood stoves, and other sources of combustion".
>
> It's the latter quote that concerns me. Should potters, like myself, who
> fire natural gas kilns in reduction and those who fire with wood be
> alarmed? Maybe I should start researching scrubbers to clean up the
> emissions. Perhaps someone on the list with knowledge about this
> subject can advise. TIA.
>
> Rafael
> rmr3431@dcccd.edu
>

Kirk Morrison on sat 30 nov 96

On 30 Nov 96 at 9:51, Rafael Molina-Rodriguez (Rafa wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Clayarters :
>
> In Thursdays Dallas Morning News there was a front page article titled
> "EPA proposes tough new rules to fight airborne particles, ozone". It
> states "The new standards cover urban ozone and tiny, airborne
> particles called particulates". The article goes on to say "The new rule
> covers only the tiniest particle, mostly from steel mills, diesel engines,
> wood stoves, and other sources of combustion".
>
> It's the latter quote that concerns me. Should potters, like myself, who
> fire natural gas kilns in reduction and those who fire with wood be
> alarmed? Maybe I should start researching scrubbers to clean up the
> emissions. Perhaps someone on the list with knowledge about this
> subject can advise. TIA.
>
> Rafael
> rmr3431@dcccd.edu
>
File with the EPA, they need to realize that some of this stuff is not
really workable for people, scrubbers cost more than your kiln did.
Reading on there is a major question in the Article in the post, is
questionable, for most of the country.

Wesley R. Handrow on sun 1 dec 96

The new standard that the rule refers to might just cover kilns firing
with wood. The small particle size is produced through the incomplete
burning of fuel(soot), this would take place during reduction. High
carbon content fuels like oil and wood since they have to go through a
phase change in order to burn are more likely to produce soot. I've not
had a chance to go through the new standards with a fine toothed comb
but some of examples cited were two cycle engines that burn a fuel
mixture of gas and oil not meeting the new standards.

Bob Hanlin on mon 2 dec 96

Folk:
This reminds me of an article in Studio Potter some years ago where the
editor was standing on the brink of a strip mine for borax. He was
bemoaning the fact that he, as a potter, had used borates in his glazes and
that he had contributed (caused) this ugly scar on the earth. I know that
there are thousands of potters firing reduction out there. Maybe the most
prolific of us fires once a week, maybe more. More of of fire twice monthly
or even monthly. I find it hard to feel that we are the problem. Autos,
manufacturing, publishing and others make our collective emmisions look tiny
in comparison. So let's try to fire as cleanly as possible and not hoist
the weight of the whole earth on our shoulders. I'm an environmentalist and
quite concerned about what is happening to creation but I hope that I'm
realistic enough to know that moving all potters to oxidation would be like
taking a cup of water out of the ocean. Let's get real shall we???????/


>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Dear Rafael, Indeed,we should beconcerned. We gave up wood-firing,(very
>dear to our hearts) 10 years ago, because of the particulate
>problem.Smoke particles may travel vast distances depending upon wind
>temperature and humidity as well as the size of the particles. Some years
>ag,while working the the US,I suggested that a survey be carried out
>examining AC filters from,large buildings. This was during the time of
>fears about air-born radioactive particles. Although I carried out only a
>cursory investigation,the evidence did show that R-a particles could
>accumulate on filters.Some research has been carried out on the
>problem...somewhere on this earth is a Paper. I do believe that the
>problem would make a good thesis project. kinokoOn Sat, 30
>Nov 1996, Rafael Molina-Rodriguez (Rafael Molina-Rodriguez) wrote:
>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Clayarters :
>>
>> In Thursdays Dallas Morning News there was a front page article titled
>> "EPA proposes tough new rules to fight airborne particles, ozone". It
>> states "The new standards cover urban ozone and tiny, airborne
>> particles called particulates". The article goes on to say "The new rule
>> covers only the tiniest particle, mostly from steel mills, diesel engines,
>> wood stoves, and other sources of combustion".
>>
>> It's the latter quote that concerns me. Should potters, like myself, who
>> fire natural gas kilns in reduction and those who fire with wood be
>> alarmed? Maybe I should start researching scrubbers to clean up the
>> emissions. Perhaps someone on the list with knowledge about this
>> subject can advise. TIA.
>>
>> Rafael
>> rmr3431@dcccd.edu
>>
>
>
Bob Hanlin
3504 N. Tulsa
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

e-mail bhanlin@ionet.net