摘要: |
Monetary values of emissions of criteria pollutants are needed for evaluating the costs and benefits associated with technologies that have the potential to reduce emissions. Emission values can be estimated by using either a damage value method or a control cost method. With the damage value method, emission values are estimated on the basis of estimated emissions, air quality simulation, damage identification, and valuation of damages. With the control cost method, the marginal control cost--the cost of controlling the last unit of emissions for meeting a given air quality standard--is estimated; the estimated marginal cost is treated as the value of emission reductions achieved by a given control technology. Although studies have been conducted to estimate emission values in some U.S. areas, emission values are still lacking in many others. Estimating emission values for various U.S. areas by using either method can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Regression relationships are developed between emission values and air pollutant concentrations and population exposed with emission values already estimated for some U.S. areas. On the basis of the developed relationships, emission values have been estimated for various U.S. areas that lack them. These estimates can serve as interim values for these areas until detailed, original estimates become available. |