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.

Topic Subtitle
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.

DOE Coal Panel Rejects Sen. Lieberman's Charge Of Biased Membership

The National Coal Council, a federal committee that advises the energy secretary, is defending the balance of its membership in response to a request by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) for the Department of Energy (DOE) inspector general to investigate the body. Lieberman's June 1 letter asks for an investigation into "whether the composition, funding, and recent conduct of the National Coal Council (NCC) comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and all U.S. Department of Energy regulations, orders and...

SIERRA CLUB EYES NEW TACTICS, POLICY TO ADDRESS CLEAN ENERGY PRIORITY

The Sierra Club is wrestling with how to draft a new policy that reconciles the group's efforts to elevate its advocacy on energy and climate change issues -- including a tactical shift toward endorsing climate-friendly energy projects -- with concerns that the projects could still be environmentally damaging. The group, one of the nation's oldest and largest environmental organizations, is seeking to finalize a "Smart Energy Future" policy adopted in draft form by the group's board of directors last month,...

EPA PROPOSES NEW MECHANISM IN EFFORT TO LIMIT MACT APPLICATION

EPA is proposing a rule that continues a trend of limiting the application of strict technology-based air toxic requirements -- known as maximum achievable control technology (MACT) -- by seeking for the first time to substitute a less-stringent Clean Air Act program for MACT requirements, critics say. In the June 12 proposal, EPA suggests that two categories of stationary engines can meet MACT by complying with less-stringent new source performance standards (NSPS) it is also proposing for the categories. The...

NORTHEAST STATES' PUSH FOR BOILER CONTROLS SPARKS INDUSTRY OUTCRY

BOSTON -- Northeast air officials are eyeing stringent new controls on industrial boilers as part of a region-wide plan to reduce emissions to meet EPA's air standards, but the plan is drawing fierce opposition from boiler owners who say the cost of the controls would be too high. The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC), which represents 12 Northeast states and the District of Columbia, is also urging EPA to issue or revise a host of air rules for several other industry...

BUDGET PLAN SHIFTING CLIMATE REGISTRY DUTIES TO ARB DRAWS BACKLASH

Legislation floated this week to shift the functions of the autonomous California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) to the state's air regulatory board has triggered a backlash among current registry members and other stakeholders. Utilities, power companies and other critics charge the legislation is a back-door attempt to resolve long standing questions about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting in the state. The proposal, supported by environmentalists, is being offered as an amendment to budget legislation in the Assembly, with proponents arguing...

SENATE LEADER PRESSES GOVERNOR FOR TOUGHER VEHICLE SMOG TEST

Senate leader Don Perata (D-Oakland) this week pressed the governor to implement a long-overdue component of the state's Smog Check program, reiterating charges by environmentalists that state officials are dragging their feet on the mandated enhancement. State officials responded that they are close to completing the vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) regulations, arguing their pace is reasonable. The incorporation of a low-pressure fuel evaporative test into Smog Check inspections is a key measure to significantly reduce smog-forming gases in the...

ROCKY ASSEMBLY HEARING ON KEY BILLS SEEN PORTENDING FUTURE FIGHT

A tough, sometimes testy Assembly Transportation Committee hearing this week may foreshadow future floor fights for three key Senate environmental bills. The committee, whose members include several moderate Democrats, is considered an important predictor of environmental bills' future success or failure on the floor, sources said. At a June 12 hearing, the transportation committee heard three key Senate bills, two dealing with railroads -- SB 419 (Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto) and SB 459 (Sen. Gloria Romero, D- Los Angeles)...

NEW BATTLES SEEN EMERGING OVER SOUTH COAST COATINGS RULE

Upcoming negotiations over a key South Coast air district rule seeking to cut volatile emissions from certain paints and coatings may bring new conflicts over the reliability of the products. The district recently adopted a stringent plan to reduce pollutants from some categories of architectural coatings. The rule is significant because it could require manufacturers to undergo an expensive reformulation of these products, and could set an example for regulators in other areas and at the national level. South Coast...

OUTCRY FORCES CIWMB, SOUTH COAST TO NARROW ODOR-CONTROL RULE

A waste board and South Coast air district proposal to crack down on odors from waste facilities statewide has been narrowed to focus only on southern California facilities, following stakeholder outcry. While the district will promulgate the rule, the waste board is still expected to play an enforcement role. Facilities may face a barrage of significant new fines and enforcement actions if both the district and the board seek enforcement authority, sources said. The South Coast air district plans to...

ENERGY GHG PERFORMANCE STANDARD DRAWS MIXED NATIONWIDE RESPONSE

Industry officials and environmentalists nationwide have faced off in urging California regulators to act on a controversial proposal to establish a greenhouse gas (GHG) performance standard in future electricity procurement contracts. Electric utilities and other energy companies, as well as emissions trading organizations, are opposing the standard; environmental groups and clean-energy advocates are lauding development of the rules. A GHG performance standard is considered a key state measure to meet the governor's GHG reduction goals and to trigger GHG emission...

VERMONT LAW MAY BE MODEL FOR NORTHEAST CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAMS

Vermont has adopted a new law that designs its cap-and-trade program under the Northeast's regional greenhouse gas initiative (RGGI) to encourage investment into energy efficiency and renewables, with state officials hoping the law could set a precedent for other states as a way to implement the climate program. The law would require utilities to purchase emission credits from Vermont's public service board so the state could invest the money into efficiency and renewable projects. Industry groups have generally argued that...

EPA GUIDANCE MAY SPEED CREATION OF TRIBAL WATER, AIR STANDARDS

EPA is crafting a guidance document to speed its reviews of requests from Indian tribes to be treated as states when administering clean water and air programs, a status tribes must win in order to set their own, more stringent water quality and air pollution standards. The so-called treatment as a state (TAS) strategy is one of several recent EPA initiatives involving tribal governments and water quality, and comes as state officials say they are seeing an increasing trend among...

EPA Seeks Scaled-Back OMB Risk Guide To Maintain Current Practices

EPA is preparing to formally ask the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) to scale back its plan to set strict new analytical standards for agencies' risk assessments and allow EPA to craft its own guidelines, consistent with current practices and requirements, according to a draft version of the comments reviewed by Inside EPA . The agency urges significant changes to the language of the plan to narrow its scope, reduce agencies' requirements, and set out ground rules...

EPA Guidance May Speed Creation Of Tribal Water, Air Standards

EPA is crafting a guidance document to speed its reviews of requests from Indian tribes to be treated as states when administering clean water and air programs, a status tribes must win in order to set their own, more stringent water quality and air pollution standards. The so-called treatment as a state (TAS) strategy is one of several recent EPA initiatives involving tribal governments and water quality, and comes as state officials say they are seeing an increasing trend among...

EPA STAFF PUSH AGENCY FOR TIGHTER PARTICULATE POLLUTION CONTROLS

EPA staff are pushing agency managers to tighten the agency's proposed ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standard, arguing that stricter standards would not force the agency to amend strategies such as its clean air interstate rule (CAIR), which EPA claims will ensure localities attain existing air pollution standards. But some sources say any efforts to tighten the proposed limits could face an uphill battle within the Bush administration even if EPA itself endorses changes. Any changes will also be scrutinized...

EPA QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF STATES' PLAN TO RETIRE SO2 EMISSIONS CREDITS

BOSTON -- EPA is questioning the legality of a proposal from a group of Northeast states to restrict the number of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions credits that utilities can trade under their model power plant emissions rule that would be more stringent than the agency's clean air interstate rule (CAIR). Sam Napolitano, director of EPA's clean air markets division, told state officials meeting here June 6 not to "monkey with" emissions credits allocated under CAIR, saying it is legally "problematic."...

EPA FACES GROWING PRESSURE TO STUDY PM RISKS FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS

EPA is under growing pressure from the electric utility industry and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to study the relative risk of particulate matter (PM) from different industry sectors for its next round of national ambient air quality standards, which the agency will begin studying after it completes a new PM rule later this year. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a utility industry funded research group, is seeking a series of meetings with EPA to ask that...

COALITION SEEKS STRONGER EPA MOBILE SOURCE RULE TO BOOST ETHANOL

A broad-based coalition of alternative energy advocates is urging EPA to significantly tighten standards in its proposed mobile source air toxics (MSAT) rule as a way to encourage greater use of biofuels such as ethanol. The extensive recommendations from the Energy Future Coalition -- a broad bipartisan group -- go further than many states and environmental groups in asking EPA to strengthen the proposed rule's emissions standards. And they even suggest that EPA's proposal may not be lawful, arguing that...

ACTIVISTS EYE NEW FARM BILL CONSERVATION PLAN TO FOSTER RENEWABLES

Environmental and some conservation groups may push for a new Farm Bill program to encourage production of switchgrass and other biomass for use in ethanol as an alternative to proposals a key renewable energy group is considering to use existing agricultural conservation programs to promote biomass. The environmentalists are concerned that the 25x'25 Coalition, which promotes energy independence, is discussing amending the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to promote the use of CRP land to grow and...

EPA PLAN TO EXEMPT 'EXCEPTIONAL EVENTS' FROM AIR RULES PROMPTS DEBATE

EPA's proposal to waive air quality requirements for pollution based on "exceptional events" is fueling controversy between state officials, environmentalists and industry over how much impact the pollution from such an event would have to cause in order to be exempted. Additionally, the groups are disagreeing over how to regulate cleanups from exceptional events. The plan has major significance for Western states in particular, where wind-borne dust and forest fires often cause violations of EPA's particulate matter (PM) standards. Regulators...

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