Program Manager: Gwen Clifford, (410) 293-1029 (mailto:gray@usna.edul)

     The Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 provides the regulatory guidance for the Air Program at the Naval Academy. The Naval Academy is committed to full compliance with the Clean Air Act. 

    With one of the largest Dry Cleaning Plants in the state and the Central Heating Plant, air compliance is critical to maintaining our operations. Through the Engineering Field Activity, Chesapeake, we have prepared the Clean Air Act Title V (Part 70) Operating Permit Application. The Maryland Department of the Environment has done an initial review and has deemed the application administratively complete; based on this completeness and our timely application they have granted us an application shield while the permit application goes through an in-depth technical review. Twenty-three individual emission sources are covered under this permit application. The largest emission sources are the three 95 MMBtu/hr natural gas fired boilers at the Central Heating Plant; other sources include the dry cleaning equipment at the laundry, the gasoline storage tanks at Perry Center, paint booths, a helicopter engine, and other boilers.

What requires a permit?

1. A boiler unit which has a capacity > 1 MMBtu/hr.
2. A stationary internal combustion engine (ICE) > 500 brake horsepower (373 kilowatt); if a stationary ICE is between 500 brake horsepower and 1,000 brake horsepower (746 kilowatt) and will operate for less than 2,000 hours per year it DOES NOT have to be permitted.
3. Other examples of stationary equipment falling within the above capacity thresholds that would require permits are gas-fired driers, perchloroethylene dry cleaning equipment, charbroilers/pit barbecues > 5 sq ft, paint booths, abrasive glove boxes, and stationary welding machines.
4. open fires, such as the Army/Navy week bonfire; 01 June - 31 August most open fires prohibited.

    Ozone Action Days occur when the air quality is predicted to exceed the EPA health-based standards. These days are usually hot (>90 F), humid, hazy days with little or no wind. Ozone is an invisible gas formed from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (Nox). In the upper atmosphere, ozone protects the earth by forming a shield against the sun's ultraviolet radiation. But at ground level, ozone is a pollutant created when a mixture of air pollutants react with sunlight. These pollutants are from sources such as the fumes from vehicles, boats, lawnmowers, and other small gasoline engines, or emissions from power plant, industrial facilities and consumer products such as paints and household cleaners. This ground-level ozone is a health hazard that can affect anyone. But it is particularly hazardous to people with respiratory illnesses, the young, the elderly and those who work or exercise strenuously outdoors. It is also a hazard to the environment by reducing crop yield and damaging trees and other plant life. Ground-level ozone also causes nutrient pollution damage in the Chesapeake Bay. 

A Few Facts

The Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 designated the Baltimore Metropolitan area as severe nonattainment for ozone.

The Peak Ozone period is June/July/August.

Motor vehicles account for about 30 - 40% of the ozone causing pollutants in the Baltimore/Washington areas.

Mowing with a gasoline-powered lawn mower for one hour produces as much VOCs as driving a car for 50 miles.

Using a chain saw for one hour produces as much VOC pollution as driving a car for 200 miles.

Operating an outboard motor for one hour produces as much VOC pollution as driving a car for 800 miles.

What can you do to help?

Limit driving; carpool, walk , or bike; combine errands; take public transportation.

Refuel carefully - don't top off the tank and avoid spilling gasoline; don't refuel on an Ozone Action Day, if you must, refuel in the cooler evening hours.

Avoid excess idling.

Don't use gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Ozone Action Days.

Avoid using oil-based paints and other solvents on Ozone Action Days; use rollers or brushes instead of sprays to cut down on fumes.