A Model for Optimal Dynamic Control of Emissions

Abstract

This paper argues that, for large air pollution sources, it may be better to set emission standards which differ for days with differing ventilation conditions instead of the common method of setting a single emission standard. A highly simplified mathematical model is treated to illustrate how such dynamic standards may be set and how their advantages may be quantified. A more realistic model, utilizing results from the theory of optimization over Markov chains, is similarly analyzed.