Air

Tracking the latest agency and congressional debates over rules to cut emissions of traditional pollutants, and a broad range of novel EPA policies including the agency's shift to a "multipollutant" regulatory approach for individual sectors.

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Tracking the latest agency and congressional debates over rules to cut emissions of traditional pollutants, and a broad range of novel EPA policies including the agency's shift to a "multipollutant" regulatory approach for individual sectors.

Possible MY21 GHG Rule Changes Could Scuttle Deal On Light Truck Gains

If federal officials follow through with their suggestions that they might weaken model year 2021 greenhouse gas and fuel economy rules for light-duty vehicles, it could give a particular break for light trucks, critics say, jettisoning an automakers' agreement to accept tougher standards in the later years of the regulatory program in exchange for softer limits in early years. The dynamic comes as automakers are publicly reticent to discuss their views on possible changes to the MY21 requirements, even as...

Trump EPA's First Air Toxics Rule Review Eases Cement Sector Standards

The Trump EPA is proposing its first residual risk and technology review (RTR) -- a Clean Air Act mandated review of existing air toxics standards years after their issuance -- by floating eased emissions standards for cement production facilities, while also clarifying some compliance mandates that may save the sector money. In a proposed rule slated for publication in the Sept. 21 Federal Register , the agency finds no additional health risks from cement plants that require stricter air toxics...

EPA Eyes March Release Of Plan For Delayed AFO Air Estimation Methods

EPA is eyeing a March release for a plan outlining how it will craft long-delayed emissions estimation methods to quantify air pollution from animal feeding operations (AFOs) that could inform Clean Air Act rules for the facilities, in response to an Inspector General (IG) report that urges the agency to develop a strategy for swiftly issuing the methods. Under a 2005 “compliance agreement” negotiated with the agricultural sector, EPA said it would not pursue further air law civil enforcement against...

2012 Rule Fact Sheet

2012 Rule Response To Comments




Court gives EPA 90 days for decisions on PM SIPs

A federal court is giving EPA 90 days to issue final decisions on whether several states have failed to satisfy Clean Air Act requirements for crafting complete state implementation plans (SIPs) detailing the particulate matter (PM) reduction measures they will use to comply with federal air quality standards. In its Sept. 18 ruling in Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), et al. v. EPA , the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California gives EPA 90 days from the...

Environmentalists Claim EPA 'Uptick' In Approving Weaker State Air Plans

Environmentalists claim they are noticing an "uptick" in EPA approving weaker state implementation plans (SIPs) for complying with Clean Air Act mandates than they argue the law requires, though some state air regulators see the approvals as encouraging signs of increased cooperation with the agency on the long-delayed SIP process. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has prioritized restoring what he sees as states' primacy in the Clean Air Act's "cooperative federalism" balance between the agency and states on implementing the law...

States, Utilities Spar With Environmentalists Over CSAPR 'Update' Rule

States and electric utilities are squaring off against environmentalists in litigation over the Obama EPA's 2016 “update” to its Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) emissions trading system that tightened state emissions limits, or budgets, to help states comply with the agency's 2008 ozone air standard. In opening briefs filed Sept. 18 in State of Wisconsin, et al. v. EPA, et al. , states and industry are challenging the update rule for being unlawfully stringent, based on alleged flaws in EPA's...

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