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.

NEW WHITE HOUSE RISK REVIEW REQUIREMENTS MAY SPUR DATA CHALLENGES

A proposed new White House risk assessment guidance may allow industry to challenge agency risk analyses under a 2001 data quality law because the document says its authority stems from that legislation, industry and environmental group sources say. Meanwhile, the document is also sparking considerable controversy because it is requiring agencies to demonstrate why changes caused by chemicals are "adverse," which may undermine a possible EPA effort to regulate chemically induced changes that cause the beginning stages of a disease,...

FORD MAKEOVER INCLUDES NEW APPROACH TO COMPANY'S ENERGY USAGE

Ford Motor Company's massive reorganization plan announced this week includes the construction of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility somewhere in North America as a model for low-cost operations that reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution. The little-discussed proposal promises to revolutionize the company's manufacturing process and expands on its environment-friendly agenda unveiled several years ago that includes reducing greenhouse gases, volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and hazardous wastes. Ford's plans also provide another example of what EPA is calling "stewardship," or...

STATES BACK NEW ENERGY, SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS IN EPA STRATEGIC PLAN

States are asking EPA to include new priorities in its next strategic plan that focus on integrating sustainability and promoting renewable fuels and energy efficiency to better address what they say are emerging issues not adequately addressed in previous years. In comments published on EPA's Web site Jan. 12, states call for new goals in the next agency strategic plan that focus on energy, sustainability and other priority issues such as mercury pollution, funding and enforcement. EPA regions consolidated comments...

INDUSTRY SEEKS EPA WAIVERS IN RESPONSE TO NATURAL GAS CRUNCH

Industry officials are urging new federal efforts to plan for possible natural gas shortages, including re-evaluation of environmental rules that encourage natural gas use, quicker emergency waivers of Clean Air Act and other EPA requirements during shortages and enhanced efforts to encourage conservation by consumers and electric utilities. The calls for federal action are contained in comments seeking to influence an upcoming report to Congress by the Department of Energy (DOE) on ways to balance natural gas supply and demand...

Utilities Urge Northeast States To Drop Regional Approach In Emissions Rule

LINTHICUM, MD -- Utility industry officials are urging Northeast states to abandon a pending model rule to require region-wide power plant emission cuts, and instead only issue controls on a case-by-case basis for individual plants if federal controls prove insufficient for reducing pollution. At a Jan. 24 meeting here of the Ozone Transport Commission's (OTC) control strategy committee, air officials announced a revised strategy for reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from utilities, beyond levels mandated in...

Group Urges DOE To Expand Climate Research Beyond Technology Focus

The Climate Policy Center (CPC), a Washington, D.C., think tank, is urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to retool its climate research program to broadly combat climate change, rather than focusing on individual technologies that can provide incremental steps in limiting greenhouse gas emissions. "Someone ought to be looking at a home run," a CPC source says, explaining why the group is pushing for an "exploratory research" program not tethered to technologies such as fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable energy...

EPA Report Urges More Collaboration For All Environmental Programs

In an upcoming major report, top EPA career officials are calling for greater collaboration with industry and other private sector groups to establish voluntary pollution-reduction efforts, and possibly more negotiated regulations, throughout all agency programs. EPA officials expect the report to be rolled out in late February after Administrator Stephen Johnson has a chance to review it. The report marks the most far-reaching statement to date of a possible "stewardship strategy" by EPA. It also in part represents EPA's follow-up...

Ford Makeover Includes Manufacturing Changes To Benefit Environment

Ford Motor Company's massive reorganization plan announced this week includes the construction of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility somewhere in North America as a model for low-cost operations that reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution. The little-discussed proposal promises to revolutionize the company's manufacturing process and expands on its environment-friendly agenda unveiled several years ago that includes reducing greenhouse gases, volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and hazardous wastes. Ford's plans also provide another example of what EPA is calling "stewardship," or...

White House Official Urges New Industry Focus On Clear Skies

TUCSON -- White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairman James Connaughton urged utility officials gathered here Jan. 23 to redouble their push for Clear Skies legislation in Congress, suggesting the legislation that allows for increased coal use is part of the solution to both air quality problems and high natural gas prices. Connaughton made his remarks to the 9 th annual Electric Utilities Environmental Conference during an opening session in which an energy company official also suggested that the industry...

NEW WHITE HOUSE AGENCY RISK MANDATES MAY SPUR DATA CHALLENGES

A proposed new White House risk assessment guidance may allow industry to challenge agency risk analyses under a 2001 data quality law because the document says its authority stems from that legislation, industry sources and environmentalists say. Meanwhile, the document is also sparking considerable controversy because it requires agencies to demonstrate why changes caused by chemicals are "adverse," which may undermine a possible EPA effort to regulate chemically induced changes that cause the beginning stages of a disease, rather than...

LABOR INTERESTS, TRIAL LAWYERS CRITICIZE EPA ASBESTOS ABATEMENT PLAN

A new method EPA is proposing to control waste and emissions from asbestos in buildings being demolished is being criticized by labor unions and trial lawyers, who say the plan may violate worker protection and environmental laws and does not reflect typical demolition efforts involving the contaminant, which is a known carcinogen. But municipal government groups support the new method because it is cheaper and less burdensome than the traditional methods that require removing all asbestos before demolition. The method...

NEW NANOTECH LAW SHOULD FOCUS ON LIMITING RISKS, KEY REPORT URGES

A just-released report on addressing risks posed by nanomaterials is recommending that any new law regulating the technology focus on preventing risks posed by the emerging products, as opposed to the remediation of pollution and exposure, which most current environmental laws target. The law should focus on the products, not the environment, because once the "materials get into the environment, it is probably too late to take remedial measures," the report says. The development comes as the Defense Department is...

RESEARCHERS EYE POLLUTION PREVENTION BENEFITS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

Researchers at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars next month will launch a major effort aimed at using cutting-edge nanotechnology processes in manufacturing to prevent the use of toxic chemicals and the production of wastes that trigger costly management and regulatory requirements. The Wilson Center's "green nano" project is part of the group's broader efforts to identify issues about managing the environmental and human health risks that nanotechnology might pose. The Wilson Center on Jan. 11 released a report,...

CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF NANOTECH MAY SHIFT TO REGULATORY FOCUS

As Congress reconvenes in the coming weeks, some observers expect that lawmakers will refocus their attention on the regulation of nanotechnology, after holding hearings last year on research gaps and funding needs posed by the emerging technology. While no hearings have currently been scheduled to address what statutory changes may be needed to regulate nanotech, sources from both chambers say hearings may be scheduled in the coming months to consider such issues. The interest comes as the Defense Department is...

NEW REPORT COULD PRESSURE EPA ON COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS

A new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) could bolster White House efforts to encourage EPA to adopt cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) -- a controversial technique for assessing regulatory benefits. But the agency could face hurdles because the report stops short of providing detailed recommendations on several key ethical and environmental issues. An EPA official says the agency is unlikely to adopt the approach on a widespread basis until after officials are better able to address criticisms that the approach...

NEW RESEARCH MAY FURTHER DELAY EPA'S VAPOR INTRUSION GUIDANCE

The upcoming release of new findings on how wind can affect indoor air pollution caused by groundwater and soil contaminants, a phenomenon known as vapor intrusion, may further complicate EPA efforts to develop guidance for determining public health risks. Industry has long opposed efforts by EPA and states to provide guidance on vapor intrusion, and the new findings could further delay the agency's release of an updated guide. The research also comes as EPA scientists are raising new concerns over...

Ruling Could Back Whistleblowers' Bid To Fight Administration Legal Limits

A federal appellate ruling upholding a federal employee's claim that he was unlawfully retaliated against under the Clean Air Act could back whistleblowers' efforts to fight what they say are Bush administration attempts to limit protections afforded to whistleblowers under environmental and other laws. The Jan. 17 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Knox v. U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) finds that the DOL's Administrative Review Board (ARB) -- which is the executive branch...

Carper Considers Changes To Clean Air Bill, Prompting Activist Fears

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) is considering whether to alter his long-stalled clean air legislation that would reduce emissions of four key air pollutants, changes environmentalists fear could be concessions to the utility industry in an effort to win Republican support and the bill's passage. Carper told Inside EPA in a Jan. 18 interview that his staff is meeting with the utility industry, environmental groups and other senators' offices in order "to see what changes if any we should make" to...

Redefining Dow: Chemical Giant Seeks To Regain Sustainability Status

Dow Chemical Company will announce within months a new set of sustainability targets, going beyond its previous goals by focusing on product lines as well as plant operations. While the new goals will mark the next major step in the company's bid to voluntarily reduce its impact on the environment, Dow will continue to face harsh criticism by some because of its past environmental actions both in the United States and abroad despite its recent position as a leader of...

States Back New Energy, Sustainability Focus In EPA Strategic Plan

States are asking EPA to include new priorities in its next strategic plan that focus on integrating sustainability and promoting renewable fuels and energy efficiency to better address what they say are emerging issues not adequately addressed in previous years. In comments published on EPA's Web site Jan. 12, states call for new goals in the next agency strategic plan that focus on energy, sustainability and other priority issues such as mercury pollution, funding and enforcement. EPA regions consolidated comments...

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