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Acid Rain. What is Acid Rain?. Deposited material from the atmosphere containing high amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids Comes from both natural and man-made sources, often from burning of fossil fuels.
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What is Acid Rain? • Deposited material from the atmosphere containing high amounts of nitric and sulfuricacids • Comes from both natural and man-made sources, often from burning of fossil fuels. • It can come down as rain, snow or fog, in wet form. It can come down as dust, ash or smoke in dry form.
What Causes Acid Rain? • Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released from power plants • Burning fossil fuels, like coal and oil • Automobile use is a big factor
What are the Effects of Acid Rain? • Acidification of lakes and streams • Damages trees and soils • Can decay buildings and sculptures • Can harm ecosystems • Can harm human health
Solutions to Acid Rain • Study and education • Look for alternative sources of power besides fossil fuels, like wind and solar • Conserve energy • Get a fuel-efficient car, and keep your car in good condition to reduce emissions • Cap emissions
Reduction of Acid Rain • ResultsThe Acid Rain Program has produced remarkable and demonstrable results. It has reduced SO2 emissions faster and at far lower costs than anticipated, yielding wide-ranging health and environmental improvements. In fact, a 2003 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) study found that the Acid Rain Program accounted for the largest quantified human health benefits – over $70 billion annually – of any major federal regulatory program implemented in the last 10 years, with benefits exceeding costs by more than 40:1. Compliance. Compliance with the program has been consistently and extraordinarily high (over 99%). Stringent, automatic penalties provide a strong incentive for compliance and require that any excess emissions are offset. • Costs. The cost of compliance with the Acid Rain Program has been substantially lower than estimated.