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.

IN 11TH-HOUR MEETING WITH OMB, FARM GROUPS URGE NARROW CAFO MANDATES

The agriculture industry is urging White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) officials to back narrow permitting requirements in EPA's concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) rule, as the office is completing its review of changes the agency made to the regulation to comply with a federal appellate decision, industry sources say. The push comes amid growing pressure from environmentalists to include provisions in a final CAFO rule that some agriculture industry sources believe go beyond a decision last year...

EPA RESPONSES COULD AID CRITICS OF BILL EXEMPTING CAFOS FROM SUPERFUND

Recent EPA responses to questions on a House bill exempting concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from Superfund requirements could bolster arguments by the bill's critics that the legislation is unnecessary and would deprive regulators of unique authorities to require CAFOs to report and clean up their releases. In recent responses submitted to House lawmakers, EPA is acknowledging concerns raised by Democratic critics that the bill would deprive regulators of key cleanup authorities because clean air and water laws fail to...

EPA EYES RULEMAKING TO CODIFY MEMO REJECTING IGCC IN AIR PERMITS

EPA is considering a rulemaking to codify its controversial decision not to require evaluation of integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology as the "best available" emissions control technology for new coal-fired power plants, according to agency comments sent to a key lawmaker. EPA's decision, outlined in a letter to an industry consultant late last year, has already prompted a battle over permit considerations for new coal-fired facilities, with several environmental groups challenging EPA's decision in three separate petitions filed earlier...

EPA DENIES CLAIMS THAT CAIR MAY LEAVE MANY UTILITIES UNCONTROLLED

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL -- EPA is striking back against criticism that many power plants will not install state-of-the-art pollution controls to comply with the clean air interstate rule (CAIR), by projecting that a number of facilities will use second-tier technology that still achieves major emissions reductions. Industry officials say it is sometimes more cost-effective to install less expensive pollution controls at power plants that do not run at full capacity. But environmentalists and some state officials say the agency's...

EPA Proposal To Place Limits On Diesel Retrofit Funds Sparks Debate

EPA's proposal to limit $49.5 million in funding for retrofits of diesel vehicles to areas not attaining the agency's air standards is sparking disagreement among states, lawmakers and environmentalists over whether the funding should be available to parts of the country with cleaner air. Some state officials and a key GOP senator are urging EPA to earmark the funding for all areas of the country because every area is affected by diesel pollution. Other state officials and activists say that...

EPA PROPOSAL TO PLACE LIMITS ON DIESEL RETROFIT FUNDS SPARKS DEBATE

EPA's proposal to limit $49.5 million funding for retrofits of diesel vehicles to areas not in attainment with the agency's air standards is sparking disagreement among states, lawmakers and environmentalists over whether the funding should be available to parts of the country with cleaner air quality. Some state officials and a key GOP senator are urging EPA to earmark the funding for all areas of the country because every area is affected by diesel pollution. Other state officials and activists...

VOLATILE SO2 PRICES RAISE QUESTIONS ON UTILITIES' CAIR COMPLIANCE

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL -- The electric power industry is facing uncertainty over how to comply with major new federal air regulations due in part to wide fluctuations in the price of emissions credits for sulfur dioxide (SO2), industry analysts say. Under EPA's programs, power plants are able to meet SO2 standards in part by purchasing emissions reduction credits. The standards for both SO2 and nitrogen oxide (NOx) will become more stringent under EPA's clean air interstate rule (CAIR), which...

EPA DEFENDS CRITICISM THAT CAIR MAY LEAVE MANY UTILITIES UNCONTROLLED

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL -- EPA is striking back against criticism that many power plants will not install state-of-the-art pollution controls to comply with the clean air interstate rule (CAIR), by projecting that a number of facilities will use second-tier technology that still achieves major emission reductions. Industry officials say it is sometimes more cost-effective to install less expensive pollution controls at power plants that do not run at full capacity. But environmentalists and some state officials say the agency's...

CARPER TO CUT MERCURY TRADING FROM UPCOMING UTILITY EMISSIONS BILL

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) will prohibit any emissions credit trading for utilities to meet strict mercury pollution limits in legislation he is slated to introduce May 3, which will also contain revised targets and timetables for mercury and other pollutants, according to a source in Carper's office. Carper, lead sponsor of a legislative alternative to the Bush administration's Clear Skies proposal, will propose to mandate 90 percent mercury reductions from power plants by 2015, and prohibit any cap-and-trade program that...

RENEWABLE ENERGY TRADING MARKET GROWING AMID GHG IMPACT QUESTIONS

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL -- Industry analysts say there is a growing market in buying and selling alternative energy credits, known as renewable energy certificates (RECs), providing energy companies an opportunity to capitalize on a host of new state requirements for electricity to come from renewable sources. These analysts say the market for trading RECs will create financial openings for utilities despite the burden of generating a percentage of their energy from renewable sources under state-mandated renewable portfolio standards (RPSs)...

EPA FIGHTING STATE ADOPTION OF STRICT MERCURY CONTROL REGULATIONS

EPA officials are taking a series of steps designed to stop Pennsylvania and other states from enacting strict mercury control plans that bar credit trading and impose steeper emissions reduction requirements than EPA's controversial regulation. Agency officials last month testified before a Pennsylvania Senate panel in favor of a state bill that would block the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from finalizing its own mercury rule, and instead require regulators to adopt EPA's rule. EPA officials are also seeking...

MERCURY RULING MAY BOLSTER BROAD EFFORTS TO FORCE FOIA DISCLOSURES

A recent court ruling requiring EPA to turn over computer modeling for its mercury emissions rule could bolster industry and government watchdog efforts under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to seek information on federal agency decisionmaking and could prompt industry to intervene against EPA if the agency appeals the decision. Agency officials declined to speculate on possibilities for appealing the ruling, but a source with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the group would consider intervening in court in...

EPA FACES DIM PROSPECTS WINNING FUNDING BOOST AS HOUSE ACTION NEARS

House sources from both parties are casting dim prospects on whether the chamber will be able to restore major cuts the Bush administration is proposing for EPA in fiscal year 2007, as a key House panel prepares to mark up the agency's funding bill as soon as this week. "It's just an average year -- not as good as last year but better than next year," says one Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. The House interior, environment and related...

CONTROVERSIAL RAIL STUDY FACES CHALLENGE IN NOVEL NEPA CLIMATE SUIT

Environmentalists and landowners are challenging a new government review of the air quality impacts of a proposed railroad project that could provide lower-priced coal to Midwestern power plants, charging that the review flouts a landmark appellate ruling requiring the government to consider the project's greenhouse gas impacts. The Sierra Club and the Mid States Coalition for Progress, a group representing local landowners, say in an April 14 petition filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit that...

INDUSTRY GROUP SEEKS CREDIT FOR OIL PROJECTS IN STATE CLIMATE PLAN

An oil and gas industry group will urge Northeast states implementing a regional climate initiative to recognize carbon dioxide (CO2) injection during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects as an activity that generates emissions credits toward power plant emissions reduction obligations -- an effort that industry sources say could be influenced by a parallel debate occurring at the international level. The push to recognize CO2 injection during EOR comes in the wake of a draft model rule for implementing the Northeast's...

CALIFORNIA CLIMATE BILL BACKERS SEEK TO ALLAY FEARS OVER GHG REGISTRY

Sponsors of controversial legislation in California to set a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cap on multiple industry sectors are attempting to calm major stakeholder fears that the bill jeopardizes the state's five-year-old voluntary GHG reporting registry. The uncertainty over the registry's future is increasing anxiety among some participants that their early voluntary reporting efforts may not be acknowledged in a future mandatory state program, or that a state scheme may upset reporting and verification procedures they have used for the...

EPA EYES RULEMAKING TO CODIFY MEMO REJECTING IGCC IN AIR PERMITS

EPA is considering a rulemaking to codify its controversial decision not to require evaluation of integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology as the "best available" emissions control technology for new coal-fired power plants, according to the agency's comments sent to a key lawmaker. EPA's decision, outlined in a letter to an industry consultant late last year, has already prompted a battle over permit considerations for new coal-fired facilities, with several environmental groups challenging EPA's decision in three separate petitions filed...

PROPOSED EPA PACT ON REGIONAL HAZE RULE MAY EASE UTILITY BURDENS

EPA is proposing a settlement with a utility industry group that could reduce industry's burdens under the agency's regional haze rule, prompting concerns from environmentalists that the settlement could allow the industry to avoid strict controls. Despite the proposed settlement, the agency still faces several pending claims from industry and environmental groups over other provisions in the rule. EPA in a May 2 Federal Register notice announced a proposed settlement with the Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG) in the U.S...

ENGINE MAKERS URGE EPA TO REJECT DIESEL EXHAUST AIR TOXICS LISTING

The Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) is urging EPA to reject an environmental group's petition for listing stationary diesel exhaust as an air toxic regulated under the Clean Air Act, warning that such a listing would require burdensome rulemakings with no environmental results. EMA says in April 4 comments that there is little scientific or policy justification for a listing, and adds that such a move would likely impose significant costs on regulators and regulated sources, such as diesel engine-powered generators...

STATES URGE EPA TO ADOPT STRICTER REFINERY FUEL BENZENE STANDARD

A group of state and local air officials is urging EPA to require stricter reductions in the amount of the air toxic benzene found in gasoline than the agency is proposing, arguing that EPA's own data show more stringent controls are feasible. The State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators/Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (STAPPA/ALAPCO) is urging EPA to require refineries to reduce benzene content in fuel beyond the agency's recently proposed 0.62 percent content. EPA's mobile source...

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