NOx Reasonably Available Control Technology

      Category:  Regulatory Approaches
      Policy Type:  Environmental Caps & Limits
      Sector:  Urban
      Region:  North America
      Country:  United States
      Description: The US Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 required major stationary sources of NOx in nonattainment areas to install and operate Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) by May 31, 1995. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines RACT as the lowest emission limitation that a particular source is capable of meeting by the application of control technology that is reasonably available considering technological and economic feasibility. At the state level, the NOx RACT has been defined as category-wide emission rate limitations or control technology requirements, i.e. installing air pollution control equipment (such as selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) or selective catalytic reduction (SCR)). Once the state has defined and adopted the NOx RACT rules, EPA approves the rules into the state's State Implementation Plan (SIP). The state's NOx rule then becomes federally enforceable.
      Outcome:  NOx RACT helps to regulate the emission of NOx which would otherwise contributes to eutrophication in coastal waters.

      Reference:  NOx Reasonably Available Control Technology (US)

      National Agricultural Policy (NAP)

      Category:  Institutions & Capacity
      Policy Type:  Frameworks & Guidance
      Sector:  Agriculture
      Region:  Asia
      Country:  India
      Description: India’s National Agricultural Policy (NAP) promotes technically sound, economically viable, environmentally non-degrading, and socially acceptable use of the country’s natural resources - land, water and genetic endowment to promote sustainable development of agriculture.
      Outcome:  India's National Agricultural Policy aims to achieve a growth rate in excess of 4 percent per annum, and the agriculture sector growth is based on efficient use of resources and conservation of soil, water and biodiversity.

      Reference:  National Agricultural Policy (NAP)

      National Environmental Standard (NES) for Sources of Human Drinking Water

      Category:  Regulatory Approaches
      Policy Type:  Environmental Standards
      Sector:  Mixed
      Region:  Oceania
      Country:  New Zealand
      Description: The New Zealand's National Environmental Standard (NES) for Sources of Human Drinking Water requires regional councils to ensure that effects on drinking water sources are considered in decisions on resource consents and regional plans. Specifically, under the Compliance Requirements for Cyanotoxins of the NES, it states that the NES could help ensure that activities in the catchment do not introduce large quantities of nutrients into waters that are susceptible to algal blooms.
      Outcome:  The New Zealand's National Environmental Standard (NES) for Sources of Human Drinking Water helps reduce the risk of contaminating drinking water sources such as rivers and groundwater.

      Reference:  National Environmental Standard for Sources of Human Drinking Water (New Zealand)

      National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

      Category:  Regulatory Approaches
      Policy Type:  Environmental Caps & Limits
      Sector:  Mixed
      Region:  North America
      Country:  United States
      Description: As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. The primary focus of the NPDES permitting program is municipal and non-municipal direct dischargers. Municipal sources are publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) that receive primarily domestic sewage from residential and commercial customers. Specific NPDES program areas applicable to municipal sources include the National Pretreatment Program, the Municipal Sewage Sludge Program, Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), and the Municipal Storm Water Program. Non-municipal sources are industrial and commercial facilities. Specific NPDES program areas applicable to industrial sources include Process Wastewater Discharges, Non-process Wastewater Discharges, and the Industrial Storm Water Program. The two basic types of NPDES permits issued are individual and general permits. An individual permit is a permit specifically tailored to an individual facility, while a general permit covers multiple facilities within a specific category. The NPDES permits may contain limits for nutrient concentrations or requirements for certain treatment technologies. The NPDES permit program is administered by authorized states.
      Outcome:  The NPDES program in the United States contribute to reducing pollutant discharges as well as improving the quality of water resources.

      Reference:  National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (U.S.)

      National River Water Quality Network (NRWQN)

      Category:  Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation
      Policy Type:  Monitoring
      Sector:  Mixed
      Region:  Oceania
      Country:  New Zealand
      Description: The National River Water Quality Network (NRWQN) is New Zealand's most comprehensive freshwater quality monitoring network.The NRWQN collects water samples monthly and analyzes and provides reliable scientific information on many important physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of a selection of the nation's river waters.
      Outcome:  A range of physical and chemical variables are measured in the NRWQN, including total and dissolved forms of nitrogen and phosphorus.

      Reference:  National River Water Quality Network (New Zealand)