Tighter EPA ‘Minor’ NSR Policy Will Help Address Colorado Permit Failures

EPA says planned guidance to clarify states’ obligations when issuing “synthetic” minor source air permits should help avoid errors such as those identified by the agency in Colorado’s new source review (NSR) air permit program, after the agency found that state regulators failed to ensure minor sources, such as oil wells, do not hike emissions. In a recently released July report , EPA faults Colorado’s permit program for a slew of failures, after whistleblowers at the state’s air regulator alleged...